Crown Princess Victoria represented the Swedish Royal Family at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in Johannesburg today. She wore a simple black straw picture hat with band around the crown.
In sorting through pictures from this event, I do not believe any of the other royals in attendance wore a hat.
Photo from Odd Anderson/AFP via The Swedish Royal Court
The Duchess of Cornwall presented medals to soldiers from the 4th Battalion The Rifles to mark their return from Afghanistan at their barracks in Bulford yesterday. For this engagement, Camilla repeated her slouchy black hat with faux fur upturned brim. If this hat looks very familiar you are quite correct- Camilla has this same hat in chocolate brown, in grey, in lighter brown, in medium brown, in brown tweed and in black (the other black version has a bushier faux fur brim). To own the same hat in six versions obviously shows that the Duchess is mad about this hat. I’m afraid I can’t say the same thing as the top is just too slouchy for me to fall in love with. What do you think about this one?
Designer: Lock & Co. “Natalia” design in black
Previously Worn: Feb 7, 2012; Feb. 6, 2012; Jan. 27, 2012
Photos from Matt Cardy via Zimbio
Crown Princess Masako of Japan (née Masako Owada) celebrates her 50th birthday today. In celebration of this milestone, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of her hats.
At the official announcement of her engagement to Crown Prince Naruhito, Masako wore a demure lemon yellow pillbox (below left). This demure style did not remain long, however, as Masako’s following hats featured quirky embellishment and increasingly vibrant colour. Even the brims on her hats were slightly larger than we are used to seeing on members of the Imperial Family.
Miss Masako Awada during her engagement in January and April 1993; Crown Princess Masako in the mid 1990s
Crown Princess Masako in 1996; Dec. 23, 1998; Dec. 4, 1999; and Dec. 24, 1999
After the birth of Princess Aiko, Crown Princess Masako became unwell and we saw very little of her (and even less of her hats) for several years. There is a noticeable change in her hats during this time – most of the brims became smaller, and the embellishment and bright colours nearly disappeared.
An expectant Princess in Masako in June 2001; with Princess Aiko in March 2002; Dec. 23, 2005; June 8, 2006
Crown Princess Masako in May 14, 2005; Nov.10, 2008; Dec. 27, 2006 and Dec. 23, 2008
Over the past two years, we have seen Crown Princess Masako at a number of public events as she eases back into royal life. Not only is she looking very well, but her hats are showing larger brims and a little more colour. It really is marvelous to see her back. Let’s hope these hats (along with Masako’s health and ease in the public eye) continue growing as well. I would love to see her back in that striking royal blue feathered hat from 1999!
Crown Princess Masako in May 16, 2012; April 30, 2013; Oct.18, 2013; Oct.13, 2013 and Nov. 30, 2013
What do you think of Crown Princess Masako’s hats over the past 20 years? Which one is your favourite? (**Out of respect for her Imperial Highness, let’s keep the comments focused on her hats and not commentary about her health).
Photos from Row 1: Pool and Kurita Kaku via Getty; Royal Dish, The Ruling Dynasty
Row 2: The Ruling Dynasty; Toru Yamanaka/Getty via People Magazine; RD.nl; Jiji Press via Getty
Row 3: Lecturas; Yoshikazu Tsuno via Getty; Issei Kato and Yoriko Nakao via Corbis
Row 4: Toshifumi Kiatmura and Pool via Getty; Pool via Corbis; Kiyoshi Ota via Zimbio
Row 5: Issei Kato via Corbis: Peter Dejong – Pool via Getty; Imperial Family of Japan; Asahi Shimbun via Asahi Digital; Yuya Shino via Corbis
Last week, the Japanese Imperial couple spent the week on tour in India. On Wednesday, December 4, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Kalakshetra Art Academy in Chennai. The Empress debuted a new hat, in her signature ‘saucer’ shape. This hat, one of Michiko’s larger saucers in white, was trimmed with silk orange blossoms and green leaves. I thought it was quite delicate and looked rather pretty on the Empress.
The Imperial couple returned to Japan on Friday. Empress Michiko repeated the dove grey saucer hat with charcoal grey origami flower she wore while on the Indian tour.
Designer: unconfirmed
Previously Worn: December 2, 2013
As is tradition, they were greeted at Haneda International Airport by other members of the Imperial family (from right: Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako, Prince Fumihito, Princess Kiko, Princess Mako, Princess Hanako, Princess Akiko and Princess Hisako). I’m not sure I have ever seen so many blue small brimmed royal hats at the same event…. I wonder if a memo was sent requesting all the Imperial ladies to wear a blue hat?!
Photos from FNN and The Imperial Family of Japan
Queen Elizabeth visited Westminster Hall today and viewed the Diamond Jubilee Window which has been installed in the Great Window. She repeated a pink straw cloche with wide diagonally wrapped brim. It’s not my favourite hat although I must admit, I am warming up to it each time I see it.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: May 22, 2013; July 11, 2012
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 