The Duchess of Cambridge celebrates her 32nd birthday today. Instead of looking back at one of her hats (as we did for all royal birthdays last year), let’s celebrate Kate’s birthday (and every royal birthday this year) with a look forward… to the future!
I challenge all of you, dear readers, to celebrate royal birthdays this year by giving each royal a hat! Not just any hat- a hat that you would like to see them wear. It might be a hat similar their current millinery style or it might be a complete departure. You simply offer up a hat (a photo or a link to a hat) with a brief explanation of why you chose that hat for that royal. If you are a designer, show us which one of your hats you would suggest for that person!
We kick things off today with the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate often wears small percher hats in neutral colours with rather sedate trim- not the kinds of hats that stand out. I have chosen a hat that is a complete departure for her- Gina Foster’s Malplaquet design. I think the vibrant blue would be beautiful on Kate and the lines of this hat would go well with her clean fashion aesthetic and apparent preference to wear her hair down. This hat does look a little like a ceiling medallion but it is unique (that’s what I love about it most!) and I think it’s time for Kate to try some different millinery styles.
What hat would you like Kate to wear this year? Do you like her percher hats or would you like to see her in something different?
**UPDATE- If you would like to share a hat, please post a link to that hat in your comment (original sources preferred). When I approve your comment, I will link the photo so that it is visible to all readers.
*Note- if you have no idea where to look for a hat to suggest, links to the websites of most royal hat designers is on the bottom of the “In The Design” page . Online hat shops Love Hats, Samuel’s Hats and also showcases the work of many designers, as does and
Photos from Gina Foster and WPA Pool via Zimbio
Royal Hats 
I prefer classic hat shapes, my favorite the cloche. Would love to see classic Kate wear this.
http://www.goorin.com/shape/cloche/vilma
Lovely. I choose Helene Berman for my hats. This red pillbox would be elegant on Kate.
http://helenebermanhats.com/acatalog/Pleated_Flower_Pill_Box.html
That hat is gorgeous! I love the shape and the pleated gold band is the perfect contrast. The feathers are just the right size. Usually the feathers are so big an ruin the hat.
I can’t see a hat with a pleated gold band and feathers. Am I missing something?
Can you see the red and black pillbox? It’s just above (a teal blue wool hat with pleated gold ribbon around the crown and small peacock feathers at the side). With so many comments and photos now showing up, it’s difficult to sometimes tell which comments are about which hats!
Kate would be beautiful in this… Great color for her too!
I saw this hat a few weeks ago and thought of Kate right away. It’s bold and graphic but still very elegant. She usually wears a black hat with her black suits/coats and but this would be such a chic change.
http://boticca.com/bundlemaclaren/gallia/10903/
It took me a few days to remember where I had seen this hat… it’s the “Gallia” design by Bundle MacLaren
I always love Kate in Jane Corbett hats. They suit her well.
I have died and gone to heaven! I love looking at all these hats and just adore this new birthday feature! I just love Duchess Kate but her hats have not been inspiring me this year. I would love to see her in large, feminine, southern-style hats. You are a princess, sweetheart. Embrace it!
http://www.samuelshats.com/ecommerce/kentucky-derby-hats/nigel-rayment-f72.html
This is positively brilliant! What great fun. Because I adore pillboxes I have to chose a pillbox. The red one here made by Rachel Trevor Morgan, please. I would really like to see Kate get her hats off her forehead.
http://www.racheltrevormorgan.com/collections/spring-summer/
I also wish Kate wore more pillbox hats. I don’t know how to get the picture to show up. Maybe you can help?
http://www.hatagories.com/odette-pillbox/
No problem! The embellishment on this pillbox is really lovely. I would just prefer a slightly darker shade of blue for Kate.
I would love to see Kate wear this vintage design! Love the shape! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/243194448601691036/
Kate seems to like the smaller beret type hats but she needs some bling! My favorite hat designer is Jane Taylor and I think this hat would be great on Kate.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/lydia
I agree. This other hat by JT in any of the metallic colours would be chic and modern.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/luna
This would liven up one of Kate’s grey sheath dresses or one of her pale dress coats.
http://www.onyourheadbeit.co.uk/hats-for-sale-hire/magenta-silk-disc-hat-purple-flowing-feathers
IMO Makowski Millinery makes the nicest hats that real people can actually wear. A lot of the royal hats have such huge bows and feathers no regular person could wear them. Kate’s hats are the most real and wearable moreso than most other royals that way. Kate also looks really good in blue. That’s why I choose this hat for her. Happy Birthday Kate! http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/163411349/black-fur-felt-medium-brim-hat-for-women?ref=shop_home_active_19
Too much of a granny hat for Kate.
I want that hat for myself!
Pippa Middleton wore Edwina Ibbotson for George’s christening. Maybe she was trying out the brand for Kate? It’s time for Kate to try some new designers. This red hat could be great on Kate if it was styled right.
Here in San Francisco, Tricia Roush is a well known hat designer. Her hat with burgundy feathers would be stunning on Kate.
http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/88202240/maximum-feathers-maxima-cocktail-hat-in?ref=shop_home_active_5
Princess Diana had a very similar hat!
With a a summer dress this could be super cute for Ascot
green and pink hat
I believe that hat was designed by Rachel Trevor Morgan
This Dawn Guibert design is a little edgy and rock & roll. I’d love to see it on Kate for a bit of a change.
http://www.onyourheadbeit.co.uk/hats-for-sale-hire/aubergine-satin-disc-gold
Goodness. I LOVE that hat!!
Love it!!
That hat’s much better suited to Sophie than to Kate.
Wouldn’t it be fun if Kate started wearing hats like this?! I know a lot of people like that she’s so elegant but I wish she had more fun with her fashion and hats.
Um… NO! It would be very entertaining! Maybe Prince Harry will marry someone with this kind of millinery taste!!
I took a look at this Guibert Millinery website and there are some interesting and fantastical hats. The hat on the home page is my dream of the perfect hat for Ladies’ Day at Ascot. Since I’ll probably never get to Ascot, I’d love to see this hat on Kate!
http://www.guibertmillinery.com/
This is easy question! She needs a chic French chapeau like this from Laurence Bossion.
It’s interesting but the construction looks off. It looks like a regular hat that was just folded in the middle and tacked down.
I was not familiar with this French milliner. This hat is spectacular!
I can get on boarxd with that one. Bet she could too!
I really like the hat you suggested and have never ever seen anything like it. I was looking through Jane Taylor’s hat and found another one of these hats that sit diagonal on the head but this one has feathers and is red. Kate looks very nice in red. And I thought it would be nice for her to have a large winter hat.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/erin
I hope Kate chooses an Irish designed hat this year.
http://www.fionamangan.com/index.php?id=3&galAlbum=5
pink fedora http://www.lockhatters.co.uk/WRITER-details.aspx
I love this hat!
My granddaughter, Poppy, was born the morning that Kate and William announced their engagement. For these sentimental reasons, I hope she wears the Jane Taylor Poppy hat this year! Perhaps in the raspberry pink or red?
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/poppy
Nice hat but too predictable for Kate. I’d like to see her in something that surprises us a little.
Uma Turan hats are lovely for Kate
http://www.miratis.com/textiles/hats-fascinators/three-feathers.html
http://www.lovemydress.net/.a/6a0120a65f64b9970c0120a87159cc970b-popup
Kate’s style is classic, subdued and elegant. She needs a hat to fit with this.
http://www.lovehats.com/p/mark-t-burke-olivia
I so agree! This gray fascinator (not sure who its made by) would be so elegant on Kate.
I believe that hat was designed by Jane Taylor (several collections ago). It really is a beautiful hat.
That hat is so beautiful. I can imagine it looking exquisite on Kate.
I like this hat from Fabienne Delvigne.
http://en-ca.lovehats.com/p/fabienne-delvigne-black-and-white-stitched-straw-hat
I picked this hat because I think it is very different from what she normally wears, but is still chic.
This hat looks better in the original link I posted than in this still picture…so if anyone wants to see this hat from all angles as it rotates click on the original link. I “gotta pimp my hat out!” lol 🙂
Sorry, Rodney. The still images that come up on the Love Hats site look awful compared to the rotating images. I tried for a while but it’s not possible to embed the rotating image here!
It has been absolutely marvelous to read everyone’s hat suggestions for Kate!
I love this challenge, however, it would be easier and more enjoyable to be able to upload photos instead of just the links. Less time consuming to view all of these great suggestions, too. Just my humble opinion.
Beth, I agree. I’m working to move this site off wordpress where we will have this capability. Stay tuned over the next few weeks.
In the meantime, I will try to edit the comments so that the photos appear. Give me a few hours to experiment with this today.
I too love this new feature! What fun we will have this year.
I want to see Kate in something more… ALIVE. Her hats have been flat and boring and one of these beautiful Rosie Olivia hats would liven things up.
http://www.rosieoliviamillinery.com/Designer-Hats/Bespoke-Hats/Wedding-Hats/Race-Hats/collection/harewoode
http://www.rosieoliviamillinery.com/Bespoke-Hats/Race-Hats/Designer-Hats/Wedding-Hats/collection/avalino
Fabulous. Love the sequins. Also LOVE Rosie Olivia’s Delta hat. It would make SUCH a statement for Kate
http://www.rosieoliviamillinery.com/Bespoke-Hats/Designer-Hats/Aintree-Race-Hats/collection/delta
I LOVE the top one!
Well I would love to se her with one of my designs at Ascot ¡¡A dream come true!!
I have only been learning Millinery for one year now, and of my few designs, I would chose this one, as I find it very minimalist, a light design with a japanesse clean line efect and a Philip Treacey orchid touch that inspired me to creat it.
Hope you like it, wish she would like it to 🙂
Emma, your hat would be absolutely beautiful on Kate! Best wishes as you embark on your millinery career.
Thank you HatQueen 🙂
By the way, I follow your blog, and I translate it to spanish so my facebook followers can see some of your posts. So now you not only reach to the English you allso do to the Spanish (or the few that follow my work 🙂
¡¡Congratulations, love your Blog!!
Emma Jane, that is beautiful!
Thank you Laisy 🙂
What a fantastic hat. I would love to see it on Kate!
I would like to see Catherine wear something soft and feminine. This would be gorgeous.
http://en-ca.lovehats.com/p/jill-courtemanche-millinery-le-melon
I was thinking the same thing, but with a vintage vibe. We have not seen Kate in a cloche. It would be perfect on her especially for the big family occasions when it seems she doesn’t want to stand out. The Mara hat by Gabrielea Ligenza would be so beautiful on Kate.
http://www.lovehats.com/p/gabriela-ligenza-mara
I clicked over to see a bigger picture of this hat and it is so elegant. I looks like a 1920s hat but with Kate’s long hair and one of her pastel dresses, this would be so gorgeous.
Rachel Trevor Morgan’s hats are elegant, creative and refined. Any of them would be beautiful on Kate.
http://www.racheltrevormorgan.com/collections/spring-summer/
Linda S- were there any you had in mind? There are just too many in the collection to link photos here.
This would be super cute on her
http://www.lovehats.com/p/justine-bradley-hill-jade
Kate wore that divine burgundy fedora for Christmas a few years ago. I’d love to see her in another. You can never go wrong in Philip Treacy
You can go so very wrong in Philip Treacy.
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG8529823/Princess-Beatrices-Philip-Treacy-hat-sells-for-81101-on-eBay.html
Nothing tops this
http://beauty.popsugar.co.uk/Philip-Treacy-Michael-Jackson-Hats-London-Fashion-Week-24991036?slide=20&image_nid=24993571
To be clear- that’s NOT a hat I’m suggesting for Kate!
You can also go very wrong in just about every other designer. These Philip Treacy hats (similar to the kind Lady Gabriella Windsor wears) would be brilliant on Kate
Very, very, very wrong in PT.
To be fair, these are all haute couture hats. Haute couture millinery (as in fashion) is conceptual and not ready-to-wear. With that said, let’s get back on topic, please!
This is the ultimate crazy Philip Treacy hat
This pink Philip Treacy with beautiful bow would be really nice on Kate. Some of his hats are a little out there but his hats with curling ribbons are so beautiful.
http://en-ca.lovehats.com/p/philip-treacy-london-chalk-disc-bow
I secretly love the butterflies.
The pink Philip Treacy saucer with large bow is sweet- a little too sweet for me but all right for a Duchess. Good pic.
Just what I was thinking. 🙂
That green fedora is SO high fashion. LOVE IT.
I actually loved this thread… It exposed me to the Philip Treacy hats. And it makes me smile that Laisy secretly loves the butterflies. The toned down ribbon hat would be stunning on Kate. It is beyond amazing that the wedding day hat on Beatrice auctioned on eBay for more then £81,000. I’d like to see who else wears it!
Whenever Kate comes back to America, I hope she chooses an American hat designer! Karen Morris hats are so chic and high fashion.
http://www.kmhats.com/products-page/fw-13/green-loops/
http://www.kmhats.com/products-page/fw-13/straw-free-form/
Gigi I love this hat! (and that surprises me because I am very conservative)
http://www.kmhats.com/products-page/fw-13/straw-free-form/
That hat is beautiful.
I love Maggie Mowbry hats and think Kate would look beautiful in this
http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/170793518/peacock-feather-hat-races-hat?ref=shop_home_active_5
First of all, great idea for a feature! #2: I love your suggestion, beautiful color & cheeky design. As for the hat I’d wish for Kate, something that stands out – color? Size? http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/bird-of-paradise. ? Too much? Yeah, probably. I’d just like something a little out of the box and there have been a lot of great suggestions here.
That looks like a hat Queen Máxima would wear! I prefer to see Kate in a bright hat that is still the small shape. I like very much the hats of Rachel Black. The Lexington Beret in hot pink is my choice for Kate
http://www.rachelblackmillinery.com/spring-summer/
here is my pic for her. Another small percher hat but with beautiful twisted pink bow tails. It’s the kind of shape and color that she seems to like.
http://www.lovehats.com/p/sophie-beale-millinery-breadth
Gorgeous. Love a hat with some movement.
Here is a larger picture of the same hat directly from the designer Sophie Beale’s website
I would like to see Kate wear something light and pretty like this hat. Maybe for Ascot?
http://thehatshopnyc.com/detail/1,5/
That hat is just beautiful. I would also like to see her in something light and pretty. The two pink hats here by Bobbi Heath would be perfect.
http://chicchapeau.co.uk/collections/summer-hats/
That green hat is a very pretty hat. I like it for Kate.
William Chamber’s SS2014 collection is wonderful and would be a slight departure in style for the Duchess.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151900556653459.1073741832.131977103458&type=1
My pic is also a William Chambers. It’s a soft but very fun hat for Kate!
http://www.lovehats.com/p/william-chambers-millinery-crin-summer-wave-1
I think she would look smashing in this navy Gina Foster hat:
http://www.ginafoster.co.uk/collections/bestsellers/products/hortensia
That is a lovely hat. This one by Jane Taylor (I just love Jane Taylor hats!) is the prettiest blue and would look beautiful on Kate too.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/sale-641
I think Gina Foster is a great designer for Kate but I’d like to see her not play it so safe. This would be brilliant
http://www.lovehats.com/p/gina-foster-marlborough
I love the Marlborough! Kate attended Marlborough College and this would be the perfect hat to wear on a return visit.
Didn’t Princess Beatrice wear that hat?
ooh, yes, in beige and navy. I love that hat!
Something big, fun, and girly like the CoW wears.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/collection/heather
Or this.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/collection/alison
But, I think we’re more likely to see something like this. Which I also like.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/cherry
Kate has a lovely salmon pink dress and coat that she wore last year.
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/yc2l8mUM_U1/Kate+Middleton+Visits+Children+Hospice+2/6I4vHPIoHRV
It was so beautiful on her but can you imagine how gorgeous it would be with this hat? SWOON.
http://www.lovehats.com/p/sophie-beale-millinery-awash
Love it!
Here is a larger photo of the hat, from designer Sophie Beale’s website. I was not familiar with her work and it is lovely!
This is, indeed, beautiful and sophisticated. Perfect with that salmon coat. Thanks for the larger photo.
Your suggestion that teal ceiling medallion thing is out of this world. Litterally. As in it looks like a UFO transporting aliens.
Um… no thanks. Her hats now are way better than that joke.
A picture hat please! I would take just about any picture hat but I think she would look beautiful in this one by Vivien Sheriff. I love Vivien Sheriff hats and don’t understand why royals don’t wear them.
http://www.lovehats.com/p/vivien-sheriff-samphire
The picture hats are the big ones, aren’t they? I think a large hat in a bright color would be too much for her but something in cream or blush would be perfect for Ascot or the Queen’s Birthday. Thank you for such a beautiful blog. I love seeing all the royal hats here.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/eva
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/bonnie-190
YES. Kate needs to OWN IT in some bigger hats.
My pick would be Jane Taylor’s ‘Alice’ hat dyed purple. I just don’t think that Catherine wears enough purple. http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/collection/alice
I picked this hat because I want to see her in bigger purple hats too!
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/sale-623
Here is another idea for a wide brimmed purple hat. Kate needs to wear more purple!
Kate in purple? I would DIE of happiness
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=36942626″ rel=”nofollow
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=50610560″ rel=”nofollow
That pair of purple hats above were both designed by Rachel Trevor Morgan.
What about something purple and gray? I love the back of this hat.
http://www.polyvore.com/royal_milliner_rachel_trevor-morgan_beautiful/thing?context_id=2476294&context_type=lookbook&id=52606705
Another Rachel Trevor Morgan design. The back of this hat is stunning.
If the Duchess ever makes it to America for our racing season, she can’t go wrong with a Christine A. Moore hat – http://thatsaprettyhat.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-have-race-named-after-you-at.html
Girlfriend you are looking FABULOUS.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to upload all of these pictures. What a pleasure to scroll down and see all of these amazing hats. Love this blog!!!
I think Kate’s best hat was the one she wore to Zara Phillip’s wedding. This one is by the same designer but it’s blue and I think it would be great on Kate.
http://www.lovehats.com/p/gina-foster-kimberley
My other favorite Kate hat was the red one she wore in Canada. This Jane Taylor hat is large like the hat she wore to Zara’s wedding but in red. I would really like to see this on her!
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/erin
Kate wore the red maple leaf hat when she toured Canada. I think it would be nice if she chose an Aussie designed hat when she comes to visit this spring. http://www.millinery.com.au/melbourne-fashion-hat201.html
I believe this hat was designed by Australian milliner Louise MacDonald
That’s the hat I suggested she should wear for Prince George’s christening! I don’t usually like pastel coloured clothes and hats but I think it could look great on Kate.
I think you mean the pale blue diagonal Gina Foster hat with white flowers above, yes?
I forgot to say what a brilliantly fun idea. So. I think posters are going to enjoy this feature immensely.
Thanks, Adelaide. The response has been much larger than I ever anticipated but it’s been fun!
Bobo, I found a cloche too. It is pictured in black, but I would prefer to see Kate in a dark chocolate brown. She is, in my opinion, one of the few who can wear brown with panache.
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/1920s-cloche-hat
I would like the Duchess of Cambridge to wear one of my own creations, the “Chapeau Macaron”. Just to add a touch of French for the day!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.164148380457398.1073741845.109868255885411&type=3
Merveilleux! I also think your red wool pillbox would be wonderful on Kate (although it is difficult to top the “Chapeau Macaron”).
Thank you very much!
This red hat would be great addition to the duchess wardrobe. She really has coats to pair.
No offense but are you serious she should wear a pink hamburger hat?
It’s actually a macaroon- a traditional French cookie. It’s a whimsical and cheeky hat!
All of the other hats are a “go” or at least a “try” but for this macaron, I put my foot down with a resounding “no” … Macarons are meant to be eaten, not worn on the head (and hopefully not on our hips, either!). 😉
No,no, NO! I don’t want to see this tael blue hat at all!
I believe Jelsta and Jules, you are referring to my suggestion at the very top, the teal blue Gina Foster hat?! I suspected that some of you dear readers would not agree with me!
All hail the royal Frisbee. I like the color but the shape is awful! She’d do much better to chose a lovely Jane Taylor. This cerise colour would be brilliant on Kate.
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/onlinestore/penelope
I find that jat excellent choice, Jules !
Beautiful!
I love the hat shape & color:)
GORGEOUS. Kate would be fabulous in that hat.
I have to agree. That is a show-stopping hat that would be spectacular on Kate. It’s a little bright for the large family events but it would be great for Ladies’ Day at Ascot.
That hat is silly. What is wrong with a nice regular hat like this one? I think it would be very smart on the Duchess.
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Collection-Pure-Floral-Corsage-Cloche/dp/B002GPZDTA?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_1&nodeId=53465031&sr=1-1&qid=1389266205&pf_rd_r=0Z4Z793Q9CSK7605WDD0&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=321381407&pf_rd_s=center-3
That’s a very nice hat for Kate