Monthly Archives: October 2013

Two New Royal Hats at Ascot

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Queen Elizabeth and her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice of York attended Ascot today to watch the Queen’s horse ‘Estimate’ compete in the QIPCO British Champions Day. While Estimate did not win his race, it looks like a good time was hat by all. Queen Elizabeth debuted a new hat, a pale pink straw lampshade style hat trimmed in blue and mocha feathers and a tailored band and bow made in the same tweed as her coat. I am fascinated by this hat- it is a pastel spring colour but has somehow managed to be a very autumn feeling hat! The feathers, however, make it look too cluttered and frantic for my taste.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly. Made by Stella McLaren

Princess Beatrice wore a lovely grey (or slate blue as it appears in some photos) wool hard shelled beret trimmed with trailing bow tails and a costume jewelry bow brooch. I think this is a fantastic hat for her. It’s fun, charming and youthful without being totally zany. The colour is also great with her auburn hair.

NOTE: This is not a new hat! Beatrice wore it for Christmas Day in 2008 but added the bow brooch for today

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown. My guess is Stephen Jones.
Previously Worn: December 25, 2008

What do you think of these two new royal hats?

Photos from Alan Crowhurst/Getty via Zimbio and Getty via The Daily Express

Queen Máxima Opens Exhibition

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Queen Máxima was back to her turbaned, technicolour self today with a repeat of my least favourite of her hats. She looked very glamorous for an exhibition opening this evening at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam but I’m afraid this hat still looks like a 1950s pin cushion to me. What do you think?

Queen Máxima, Oct. 18, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog  Queen Máxima, Oct. 18, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog

Queen Máxima, Oct. 18, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog  Queen Máxima, Oct. 18, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: December 7, 2012

Photos from Dutch Photo Press

Belgian King and Queen in Arlon

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I don’t know about you but I am enjoying the Belgian inauguration tour very much. So far, it has been celebration, smiles and a new hat at each stop. What more could be better?! King Philippe and Queen Mathilde moved on to Arlon today and the fun continued. Queen Mathilde also debuted quite the hat- a tomato red convertible hat with large folded side bow. I have not expressed much affection for these open-topped millinery wonders and while this piece is attractive, I think it would be a show-stopper with a closed crown. What do you think?

Queen Mathilde, October 18, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats  Queen Mathilde, October 18, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne

Photos from Olivier Polet/Corbis 

Queen Máxima Opens Hospital

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Queen Máxima of the Netherlands opened the new Isala hospital in Zwolle. She repeated a repeated the grey hat with sharply upturned brim…

Queen Máxima, Oct. 17, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog Queen Máxima, Oct. 17, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog Queen Máxima, Oct. 17, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog

If you are feeling a sense of déjà vu, you’re not crazy. Máxima also wore a grey hat with an upturned brim for her engagement yesterday (and a grey dress). Here are side by side photos of the two hats to keep us all from scratching our heads this afternoon. I can’t imagine a life so filled with gorgeous hats that one grey wool felt hat with a sharply upturned brim just isn’t enough. I also can’t imagine why this colourful queen chose all grey ensembles, two days in a row.

Queen Máxima, Oct. 17, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog Queen Máxima, Oct. 16, 2013 in Fabienne Delvigne | The Royal Hats Blog

What’s even more amazing… there’s a third grey wool hat lurking somewhere in the back of Máxima’s closet (it has a squared crown and you can see it here). And a fourth one that is brown-grey (see that one here).

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: I am too overwhelmed with grey wool hats to figure it out. Can anyone help, please?!

Photos from Dutch Photo Press

Duchess of Cornwall Celebrates Harvest

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Westminster Abbey celebrated the harvest during British Food Fortnight with a service today which was attended by the Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla repeated a cornflower blue beret hat trimmed with large open rings and a blue silk bloom. It’s a slightly avant garde hat but one I think looks marvelous on her.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer:
Previously Worn: May 2, 2012; April 28, 2008

Photos from Getty as indicated