It’s Prinsjesdag! Every year on the third Tuesday of September, the Dutch monarch addresses a joint session of the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives in The Hague. This speech from the throne lays out government’s goals, policies and budget for the following session of parliament. The event is mired in tradition and pomp- the family arrives in their gold coach, dressed in finery fitting with the 18th century court dress requirement (that’s when Prinsjesdag began and the dress code has not changed). This dress code makes the event one of the very few royal events where we see full length gowns topped with hats!

This is a wonderful dress code for Queen Máxima and she did not disappoint. She topped her cherry red tailored Valentino gown with a coordinating ruched calot hat designed by Fabienne Delvigne. The hat beautifully framed her face and slightly softened the strong lines of the dress. Máxima wears many Delvigne designed ruched toque and calot hats, to varying degrees of success (as yesterday’s post illustrated). At first glance, I thought this hat was well-balanced with just the right amount of movement in all the right places. A second look, however, makes me wonder if this hat is just too small. It seems precariously perched on the back of Máxima’s head, almost as an afterthought. She does look spectacularly regal but I think that’s thanks to the gown and jewels. The hat really doesn’t add much, does it?

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The King and Queen were joined by Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien, who topped her purple coat with a camel hat. The hat, large-scale straw pillbox designed by Eudia, was trimmed with autumn-hued pheasant feathers. In some photos, it looked like the hat had a pointed peak in the front but I believe that was an illusion created by the feather trim. The hat helped tie Laurentien’s sash with her outfit and I think overall, it worked well for her. Her corduroy coat, however, is an entirely different matter…

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I must admit- I miss the days when the royal balcony also included Princess Margriet and Princess (then Queen) Beatrix. What did you think of this pair of royal hats for today’s important event in Holland?

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You can see all the hats Queen Máxima has worn to previous Prinsjesdags at this post. 

Photos from Pool/Getty via Zimbio; Mark Cuthbert and Pool via Getty; Pool/Getty via Zimbio; Mark Cuthbert via Getty; Jasper Juinen/Getty via Zimbio; Patrick van Katwijk via Monarchy Press; Mark Cuthbert, Mark Cuthbert, Mark Cuthbert and Jasper Juinen via Getty