Hat Mystery: Queen Margrethe’s Straw Hat

Royal Hats  I usually use a Hat Query post to answer a reader question but I’m turning the tables today, dear readers, and posing a question to all of you! Here goes.

Last week, Queen Margrethe was pictured in Shanghai in this classic straw hat:

Queen Margrethe, April 28, 2014 | Royal Hats

The last time she wore this hat, however, it looked like this:

2013-08-30 Arhaus Gymnasium 1b

Visiting the  Aarhus State Gymnasium, August 30, 2013

My first thought was that this was a completely different hat. The brim of the hat worn last week in Shanghai noticeably curves up in front while the brim on the hat worn last summer (above) curves down. I was about to declare these different hats when two more photos from the royal couple’s summer cruise last year caught my eye.

Queen Margrethe, June 5, 2013 | Royal Hats Queen Margrethe, June 5, 2013 | Royal Hats

Queen Margrethe on the island of Fyn, June 5, 2013

Notice how this straw hat has the same textured weave as the hat we saw last week in Shanghai? And the distinct finishing seam around the brim? And how the brim curves up in the back but down in the front?  I think this is all the same hat!  If I’m right, Margrethe simply changes out the coloured band around the crown to coordinate with whatever outfit she is wearing. I suppose she wore it backwards last week in Shanghai for some variety.

There you have it, folks- I think this is the same hat. I’m curious, however, what you think of my hypothesis. Do you think this is the same hat?

Photos from Keld Navntoft via BT.dkMorten Hymoeller Laursen via Aarhus Statsgymnasium; and Michael Bager via Fyens

Hat Types: The Pork Pie

Pork Pie | Royal Hats

pork pie

Traditional English Pork Pie (inspiration for the hat!)

History: first Perhaps the most oddly named of the hat styles, the pork pie came into fashion around 1830 on the heads of American and English women and remained en vogue through the American Civil War. In the early 1900s, this style changed gear and was seen on fashionable men about town in Britain. American men adopted the pork pie style in the 1920s thanks to silent film star Buster Keaton who wore them in many of his films. Popularity of the pork pie continued through the American Great Depression until the end of World War II (when it topped many a zoot suit). It remains popular within African American jazz, blues and ska music culture today, where it retains many of it’s ‘cool cat’ associations with the 1930s and 40s.

Characteristics:  You can pick out a pork pie hat a mile away from the shape of the crown- a round, recessed dome that looks like the crust of a traditional English Pork pie. Made of wool or straw, pork pie hats are now usually worn on the top of the head, although we do see them worn tilted backwards from time to time. The brim on a pork pie hat is traditionally the same width all the way around the hat.

Royals Associated with this Hat Style: Queen Margrethe, Japanese Imperial Royal Family. It’s not a hat shape we see often on royal heads.

Queen Margrethe, November 15, 2004 | Royal Hats  Queen Margrethe, September 2, 2013 | Royal Hats Queen Margrethe, April 11, 2017 | Royal Hats

Queen Margrethe in November 2004, May 2013, June 2013 and April 11, 2017

2006-12-09  Princess Grace| Royal Hats Queen Elizabeth, Aug 20, 1995 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Masako, Apr 30, 2013; Princess Grace of Monaco in the early 1980s, Queen Elizabeth, Aug 20, 1995

   Princess Hanako, Jan 16, 2017 | Royal Hats Princess Alexandra, July 15, 2016 | Royal Hats

Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, Jun 23, 2016; Princess Hanako, Jan 16, 2017Princess Alexandra, Jul 15, 2016 

What do you think of this hat with the most interesting of names?

Photos from Taylor’s Butcher; Toshifumi Kitamura via Getty; Abaca via PurePeople; Martin Høien via Billed Bladet Henning Bagger/Scanpix via Kongehuset;Pool/Reuters via Corbis;  unknown; Tim Graham via Getty;  The Catholic Church of Luxembourg; The Asahi Shimbun via Getty; Craig Hayes/3 Rifles

Queen and Duke of Edinburgh Celebrate Journalists’ Charity

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Journalists’ Charity at Stationers’ Hall in London today. The Queen wore what I think might be a new hat in cream straw with a squared crown and small, flat brim. While I like the shape on Her Majesty, the embellishment made this hat one I do not like. The silk calla lilies look unattractive and their placement, plumb in the middle of the Queen’s forehead, is unfortunate. The cream jacquard band around the brim relates neither to rest of the hat or to the Queens suit, making me wonder if this hat was made to match another outfit? 

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new. 

Dutch Monarchs Visit Achterhoek

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visited the region of Achterhoek in the province of Gelderland. Máxima debuted a new blush pink hat that at first glance, looked like a ruched toque. 

Queen Máxima,May 6, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats  Queen Máxima,May 6, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

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With Queen Máxima, however, one needs to take a second glance. 

Queen Máxima,May 6, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

And at second glance, I’m afraid this headpiece looks like a large bandage wrapped around her head. I went from loving this hat to the exact opposite in less than 4 seconds. What about you?

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: I believe this is a new hat

Photos from Getty as indicated Hollandse HoogteAlbert Nieboer and Albert Nieboer via Corbis

Queen and Duke of Edinburgh Celebrate Diocese Centenary

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a service at Chelmsford Cathedral as part of the centenary celebrations of Chelmsford Diocese during day of engagements in Essex today. The Queen repeated her textured cream and gold wool check split crown hat. This is a hat that has grown on me since we first saw it last year; today, I am further impressed with how the trim on her coat pulls together the black feather and pouff on the hat. It works!

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Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: March 12, 2014; March 20, 2013October 31, 2012July 19, 2012

Photos from Getty as indicated