The second day of the Chinese state visit to The Netherlands yesterday saw another new hat worn by Queen Máxima! This sweeping headpiece in pale pink stripes strongly reminded me of the hat Queen Mathilde worn for her enthronement last year (I think the two hats are made of the same material). At first glance, I didn’t think I liked this hat… but when I saw it with Máxima blush pink dress (without that dowdy brown coat), I thought it was beautiful. I think there is something about the lightness and movement that makes it so lovely. What do you think of this interesting new hat?
Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Photos from Patrick van Katwijk via Dutch Photo Press
Royal Hats 
An oversize clam shell is an accurate description of this headpiece. A brighter coloured hat would have enlivened the drab beige-pink ensemble.
This is much better than the previous day. I think her hair made a big difference today. (Dislike the coat)
Crumpled serviette with starch.
Good one!
This is my favorite hat! Absolutely LOVE it.
Have also got a ‘deja vu’: did not GDMT wear this hat a few years ago, at them festivities in june?
The hats she wore for Luxembourg National Day in 2009 and 2010 were similar but not the same. Both were designed by the same designer, Fabienne Delvigne. The hat worn in 2010 (bottom) does seem to be made of a similar striped light straw, but in grey.
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Grand+Duchess+Maria+Teresa/National+Day+in+Luxembourg/yrzpsoRb6W1
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Grand+Duchess+Maria+Theresa+of+Luxembourg/National+Day+Celebrations+Luxembourg/GFqP4wYQCpc
Yes, the one below is the one I had in mind, thank you! Feel rather neutral about Maxima’s hat, not bad but not ‘wow’ either. And the coat: as if she is still rehearsing for the enthronement, someone should waken her up, don’t you agree?!
I like it! Suits Max very well and is a huge improvement over recent choices. I like the whole look-minus the coat, of course, which must be snatched away and burned. Or returned to Willem’s closet. Immediately.
She KNEW the Chinese first lady would wear something tailored and extremely proper. Why, why, WHY could she not do the same? Even the purple hat and checked dress she wore last week would have been a vast improvement.
Thank you for the link to Queen Mathilde’s “Evole” hat. The hats are similar, but unique in their own way. The stripes of the hat fabric match the pleats of the dress perfectly.
Somehow there is sort of a post-modern Queen Mum vibe here….(not that it’s a bad thing!)
It certainly is dramatique. MrFitzroy didnt even notice the large rose tucked into the left side at first, because there is just so much going on.
Total agreement with Snug Harbor that Max needs to be more cognizant of how the coat impacts her overall outfit (perhaps a nice simple cream colored coat would be less assertive for all purpose wear).
Also, beach gal is right on the mark: “…if anyone could pull this hat off, it would be dear Max!” — INDEED!
The color is a little pale and washed out. It’s pretty but I prefer Queen Maxima’s hats when they are in the bright colors she wears so well.
Don’t like the hat – too floppy and messy. My eye doesn’t know where to go – too many things happening. As for the coat – every time she wears it like this I want to shout “stick your arms through the sleeves!” If she wants a cape then get her a cape – it’s a perfectly legitimate item of clothing.
Fabulous!
I do like this because I like the fabric and it is adventurous; I’m always one to enjoy a bit of experimentation. I don’t think it is quite as attractive as Queen Mathilde’s, though – somehow that shape just works better for me.
Hat goes well with the dress. I like the hat’s size; if smaller, it probably wouldn’t show up from a distance, particularly from the right.
Máxima must ditch that awful coat. This is precisely why Queen Elizabeth has unique coats for all outfits: one’s first view is just of the coat, causing one to miss the effect of the rest of the outfit. If nice outfits are routinely covered with the same ill-fitting tan-brown coat, one tends to think Máxima wears just one outfit.
Edgy and cool. Love it.
Haven’t we seen someone else other than Max were something similar to this? Was it Sophie Wessex and we didn’t like it then?
Don’t think we’ve seen anything like this on Sophie. Love this on Max!
The volume seems too large from the angle the first photo is taken – some of the other photos it looks like it’s much smaller or almost a different shape. Her dress reminds me of one I had in 1976! Over all, I would say if anyone could pull this hat off, it would be dear Max!
It is nice but maybe too large.