Yearly Archives: 2013

Catching Up With Queen Margrethe

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Last Sunday morning, May 26, Queen Margrethe attended Emmauskirken in Frederiksberg to take part in a commemoration service marking the church’s 150th anniversary. For this celebration, she repeated a turquoise hat with a mushroom shaped brim and a smart two-toned blue ribbon around the crown that she has worn numerous times (most recently in early May). I stand by my previous evaluation of this hat as a great one for this queen. I think the colour and brim shape are particularly good on her.

On Wednesday, Queen Margrethe met with representatives from the Arthritis Society for the presentation of the Queen Ingrid Research Prize in Copenhagen. She repeated a textured red straw hat she wore last month for a visit to Haderslav Cathedral and in 2008 for the 350th anniversary of the Royal Danish Life Guards. The crown of this hat is divided diagonally and the left side features the same open weave texture as the brim. I think this makes it a very interesting hat without needing to add feathers, bows, ribbons or other froufrou. The angled brim and with one side slightly upturned also looks great on Margrethe. As I’ve said before, I think the shape, proportion and colour of this hat are all perfect for Margrethe.

Photos from Thomas Lekfeldt & Thomas Arnbo; and The Danish Rheumatism Association via Kongehuset

More Royals at the Races

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and his junior wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Princess of Jordan, Sheikha of Dubai, also attended the Epsom Derby today.  These two are certainly horsey types – Princess Haya is President of the International Equestrian Federation and Sheikh Mohammed owns numerous stable operations and is a major (and sometimes controversial) player in international thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. For the races today, Sheikh Mohammed wore the customary black silk top hat and Princess Haya wore a dramatic picture hat with wide black and white stripes by Philip Treacy.

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It’s a fantastic hat, although it might have overwhelmed her petite frame a little.

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These two usually stay in England for Ascot so I expect we’ll see a few more hats (and more couture fashion!)  from them later this month.

Photos from Getty as indicated

British Royals Attend Epsom Races

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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended the Epsom Derby today, one of the biggest days in the British racing calendar. The Queen repeated a pale blue hat designed by her dresser, Angela Kelly (she wore it previously for Trooping of the Colour in 2011, a visit to Norwich in May 2010, a visit to Derby in April 2010 and to host an Indian state visit in 2009). This hat, like most Angela Kelly hats, features a distinctly shaped crown (this one is another teardrop shape). I don’t like these shaped crowns but I do like the contrasting black upturned brim (at such a jaunty angle!), the feather trim and the whimsical curly cues made of the same polka dot fabric as is trimming her coat. If it weren’t for that funny shaped crown, I could really like this hat.

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Prince Philip looked very distinguished in a black silk top hat. I thought it was rather cute he chose a blue necktie to compliment his wife’s ensemble.

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The Queen and Duke were accompanied by their granddaughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Both princesses created a fashionably retro vibe with their millinery choices.

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Princess Beatrice wore a new burgundy wool cashmere cloche with ribbon trim designed by Karen Henriksen (see a photo from the designer’s workshop here).I think I might have liked this hat if she had tucked her hair behind her ears (that wing of hair on  the left side of her face is driving me nuts) and paired it with a less graphic dress. The hat feels very vintage and the dress feels very modern and somehow, they aren’t working well together for me.

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Princess Eugenie wore a new hat designed by Sarah Cant that I absolutely adore. The “Grey Blades Landscape” is a lovely shape on Eugenie and the soft feather trim beautifully complimented her blue and grey patterned 50s inspired day dress. It’s a great hat and I thought she had one of the best looks of the day.

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The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also attended the races today. The Duchess wore my other favourite hat of the day- she repeated a slate blue straw beret we first saw on her here at Epsom last year (she also wore this hat in November 2012 at St. Paul’s Cathedral). I think this beret is a wonderful hat shape and colour on her that blends perfectly with her hairstyle. It is also fun and fresh while remaining unquestionably elegant. For a more mature royal, I think it’s a perfect hat.

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All in all, it was a great day of hats for the British royals at Epsom. Which hat was your favourite?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Princess Beatrix Attends Awards Gala and Opens Museum

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Princess Beatrix has been busy with a number of events this week. On Tuesday, May 28 she attended the European Inventor Awards in Amsterdam; she wore a very smart silver grey straw hat with flat crown, upturned brim and band around the crown. With her blue and grey patterned dress, I thought this was a beautiful ensemble.

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Today, Princess Beatrix has inaugurated a new building of the museum of art in Zwolle. She repeated the jade green “pyramid” hat she wore in Utrecht last summer and in Aruba in October 2011.

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Photos from Getty as indicated

 

Queen Visits Woolwich Barracks

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Queen Elizabeth visited the The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery unit at Woolwich Barracks today. She repeated the mint green Rachel Trevor Morgan hat with feather detail that she wore earlier this month for the Order of Merit at the Chapel Royal.

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This is another one of the hats which debuted last year during the Queen’s Jubilee tours – she wore it in May 2012 for a visit to Accrington, in June 2012 for Ascot and in November 2012 to unveil her Jubilee stained glass window. I think Rachel Trevor Morgan hats are beautifully shaped with just the right amount of ‘pizzazz’ and I love this hat.

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What do you think?

Photos from Getty as indicated