Last week, Queen Elizabeth chose a peony pink straw hat and matching coat for her visit to the Rambert dance company.
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This coat looked familiar to me and after some research, I discovered that Her Majesty has indeed worn it with a different, coordinating hat:
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At the Commonwealth Day Observance Service, March 12, 2012
This hat, with a squared crown and rolled brim, appears to be made of the same fabric as the Queen’s coat (some type of wool silk or cashmere). I assume that the first straw hat was made for spring/summer while the fabric hat was made for winter, although the hats seen here were both worn during the month of March. The shapes of these two hats are quite different as is their overall impression, despite both being trimmed in monochrome pink feathers. I believe both were designed by Angela Kelly. The question remains- which hat do you prefer with this coat?
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
The tight feathers on the second hat make a much more succinct decoration.
Straw. Definitely. The dye match is much better on my monitor. I love the colour of the coat, but agree that there is that there is something off about thr neckline….but that is another blog….
I prefer the straw mostly because I think the slightly diagonal brim is more flattering to HM.
Actually I think both are very successful hats.
I like the second hat better. It is traditional and the brim is very smart. The first hat shape is a little bit messy although it is a nice summer hat.
I prefer the cashmere.
I agree although the straw is quite nice too.
I like the straw best – nice shape.
I like the straw one too. It seems to add a bit of flair to the outfit:)
I like both–but the pink cashmere with rolled brim wins for me.
I’m in the fence. I think the coat is the problem, that collar is a bit twee for me, and the colour a tad pepto bismol. So erm, perhaps the rolled brim; mainly because it’s a nice change. Mind, she does have a few rolled brims now – worthy of a feature perhaps?!
I’m already working on it, James!
I much prefer the straw one – not a big fan of the other one’s shape – it always borders on a bit like something from the Mad Hatter in Alice and Wonderland when she does this shape hat.
I like both hats but I think the bottom one is a better match and looks better on the Queen.
I prefer the older one. It is neat and not as fussy as the feathered one…. but as always she looks wonderful!
I believe that the older hat is the straw with the feathers. It’s been around for at least 5 years. The rolled collar hat just appeared last year, although the most recent wearing was back to the straw.
I agree with JamesB: the collar of the coat is the problem with the outfit. It actually looks a little sloppy since it hangs down so far, but I imagine the point was to have the dress show through. In most photos it looks as though the dress is of another fabric from the coat.
Having said all that, I prefer the rolled brim hat because the roll goes better with that somewhat ugly collar. It softens the outfit. I like the straw hat itself, but its angularity seems a little out of place with the coat. Instead of commissioning a new hat, perhaps the Queen should have kept the straw hat and commissioned a new coat.
Both hats are standard Angela Kelly designs, are they not?
Yes, I believe both hats are Angela Kelly designs. I omitted that in the post but have updated it now. Thanks!