The Countess of Wessex travelled to Zambia on Monday to attend the State funeral of the late President of Zambia, Michael Chilufya Sata. For the funeral yesterday, Sophie repeated the black statement hat we saw her wear for Ladies’ Day at Ascot this year.
I suspect that protocol around state funerals is tricky, especially when held in tropical countries (where wool hats are simply too hot to wear). While African funerals tend to be more celebratory in nature (as indicated by the attire on other guests at this funeral), I still find the choice of this hat a surprise. It seems strange that a hat would have its first outing at the most fun and frivolous hat wearing day in the British Royal year and its second, at a foreign state funeral. Sophie’s black straw hats, however, are a very fancy bunch (see this trio, this one, this one and this one) and all would have made just as much of a style statement. Perhaps this situation is why the Duchess of Cornwall keeps a plain black straw hat on hand?
While I do have questions about the choice of this beautiful hat for this event, it bears noting that Sophie missed two flights home in order to stay until the end of this funeral, which was 10 hours long in the end. That’s dedication.
Designer: Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: June 19, 2014
Photos from Eddie & Thomas and Eddie & Thomas via The State House Press Office of Zambia Facebook page
Royal Hats 
Context is everything, visit a church on any Sunday morning in Harlem and that hat would be par for the course. I think Sophie knows what she is doing. If they didn’t think it was appropriate I am sure she could have found a simpler hat.
I think it is very important to keep in mind the culture being visited. while it might be questionable at a memorial service at home, I can’t imagine Sophie would wear it there. I don’t find it inappropriate here, the all-black color keeps it from being too much. Seems to me she represented quite well.
Wardrobe planning for these sombre occasions should be part of Sophie’s role and the emphasis should be on representing the Queen, Crown and Commonwealth as Lyn says rather than making a fashion statement. The Queen would never wear an Ascot hat to a funeral and if I were Sophie (perish the thought) I would take my lead from her. I think a plain black straw hat would have been better with this dress and for this occasion. HatQueen you might like to ask your followers to suggest styles. Good on her for staying the 10 hour course. In that regard she is a true representative of the Queen and has my utmost respect.
She stayed ten hours at a funeral in a stifling heat and managed to look cool and elegant. She is a very hard working Royal, and even though she doesn’t always get a lot of publicity, she has made an indelible impact on the family and on England. She is a wonderful person and has made a lot of people look at royalty in a different way. She has charm and energy to spare and has always done her part. She and the Queen are said to get on famously, and I believe it. Their personalities make them a good match. They are amazing ladies.
While Sophie is no doubt, a hard working royal, none of us really knows her personality or character beyond what we see at public engagements. Let’s please stay away from heresay comments about royals’ personalities and stick to what we know and see.
Don’t really give a fig about the hat, although I will own it was the best of all the others mentioned in here. But I do care deeply about her showing respect to the deceased and honouring her position as a representative of the Queen, Crown, and Commonwealth -a ten hour funeral in the heat and she stayed. Very proud to have her in the Royal Family right now.
I do not see any other women there. Based on that she can dress however she wants I guess. I have no critism whatsoever.
I think the hat design is too exuberant for a funeral. I would have preferred she wear the same black hat she wore for the Remembrance Sunday observance in London.
I agree. Keep it simple, especially for memorial services.
While the the hat you suggest is very pretty, it is made of wool felt. The weather in Zambia this week is 32-34 degrees Celsius (mid 90s Farenheit), with high humidity. I think that’s simply too hot to wear a wool hat for a 10 hour long outdoor event!
Here are two (2) possible suggestions: The Dianthus or Vettica straw pillbox hats from Gina Foster Millinery. http://www.ginafoster.co.uk/products/dianthus. A Jackie-O style straw pillbox with a straw bow trim secured with a comb and an elastic that sits under the hair or http://www.ginafoster.co.uk/products/vettica. A Silver grey pillbox with parasisal straw bow trim worn on the back of head.
Possibly the majority of those attending the funeral had no idea this outfit was worn at Ascot. She looks good for the occasion and good on her for doing this trip solo while the rest of the senior royals were committed elsewhere. The bottom photo shows the interim Zambian president, Guy Scott, shaking Sophie’s hand. Mr Scott was born in Africa and, apparently, Zambians couldn’t give a fig that he is white, and wonder why the rest of the world bangs on about it!
The Countess of Wessex looks good in this outfit and the sombre black is more at home at a funeral than it ever was at Ascot! This brimmed hat suits her face shape well.
Sophie looks great and while the hat is a trifle exuberant, I am certain that she carried it off well.
Wow, she really has a lot of black hats! Maybe it’s time to invest in a black pillbox for somber occasions… like QMaxima this week.
I was just thinking the same thing. a black pillbox would be so useful at times like this and a tad more appropriate.