Queen Máxima of the Netherlands openned the Center for Educational Excellence at University College Roosevelt in Middelburg this morning. Máxima wore an ecru straw picture hat with upturned brim edged in unfinished straw fringe – the rough fringe was repeated in a band around the crown of the hat. While the shape and scale of the hat is something we have seen on Máxima many times (because it works so well on her), the unfinished straw fringe makes the hat unique and interesting. We don’t often see Queen Máxima in beige from head to toe- the rough straw trim on the hat and the trim on her dress keeps the whole outfit far from boring.  I think the whole ensemble is elegant and the roughly edged hat works rather well. What do you think?

While this hat looked familiar to me, I was not able to find it anywhere so guessed it was new (these Fabienne Delvigne unfinished straw hats have been worn by several royals and have started running together in my mind).Thanks to those of you who pointed out this is the same hat that Máxima’s mother, María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart wore for Princess Amalia’s christening in 2004. Fantastic observation! This hat was such a perfect match for Carmen’s ensemble that I can only imagine it was custom made for her at the time. I wonder if it was always meant to end up in Máxima’s millinery closet?

Embed from Getty Images

María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart in Fabienne Delvigne and Queen Beatrix in Emmy Hill, June 10, 2004

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: June 10, 2004

Photos from Albert Nieboer, Patrick van Katwijk, Albert Nieboer, and Albert Nieboer via Corbis; and Getty as indicated