Yearly Archives: 2014

Romanian Princesses Host Garden Party

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We do not hear much from the Romanian royals (they keep a rather low profile in the royal world) but this week, Crown Princess Margareta hosted a Garden Party at Elisabetha Palace in Bucharest. She wore an interesting mint green picture hat with wide, diagonal brim trimmed in lace appliqué by Kristina Dragomir. The hat was further trimmed with a spray of yellow and white flowers and feathers on the side. I am intrigued by the off centre crown and oval, instead of circular, brim because we don’t often see royal hats with oval brims. The colour also looks great on Margaretaa.

Crown Princess Margareta, May 16, 2014 in Kristina Dragomir | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Margareta, May 16, 2014 in Kristina Dragomir | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Margareta, May 16, 2014 in Kristina Dragomir | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Margareta’s youngest sister, Princess Maria, also was in attendance. She wore a pale blue picture hat with a curved, upturned brim edged in grey straw with a spray of blue and white feathers on the side. Paired with a blue suit and pearls, the outfit was just right for a garden party. That is, if I can overlook the slightly mismatched shades of blue (I’m not sure that I can). What do you think of these sorbet hued hats in Romania?

Crown Princess Maria, May 16, 2014 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Maria, May 16, 2014 in Kristina Dragomir | Royal Hats Crown Princess Maria, May 16, 2014 in Kristina Dragomir | Royal Hats

Photos by All Over Press via Svenksdam; Kristina Dragomir and Kristina Dragomir

Queen Máxima Sprouts a New Hat

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Queen Máxima officially opened new facilities for a Dutch company in Haaksbergen, Eastern Netherlands, yesterday. For this event, she debuted a new hat from Fabienne Delvigne’s 2014 summer collection. It’s a crazy hat that I love on Queen Máxima because I can’t think of another royal head who could carry it like she does. Perhaps the pairing with the green dress is a little much (both in terms of hue and literal interpretation of a plant) but I supposed if you’re going to go bold with this hat, you’ve got to pair it with an outfit that will hold its own. I just wish she had ditched the earrings. I can’t wait to hear all of your opinions weigh in on this hat!

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Máxima, May 16, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats Queen Máxima, May 16, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, May 16, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. This is the ‘Gold Leaf’ hat
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Photos from Getty as indicated and: Reuters via AD.nl and Metronieuws

Wessexes Celebrate Royal Marines in Scotland

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The Earl of Wessex and the Countess of Wessex arrived at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh yesterday where they inspected the guard of honour from the 42 Commando Royal Marines. This event kicked off the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines and it was no surprise to see both the Earl and Countess in hats for the occasion. Sophie paired a pale blue  straw percher hat trimmed with rolled organdy twirls and a pair of angular feathers. I thought the hat softened her militaristic coat dress and although the colour palate was very subdued, it worked. What do you think of this saucy little straw hat?

Countess of Wessex, May 16, 2014 in Jane Taylor | Royal Hats

Designer: Jane Taylor. As I suspected, it is a bespoke version of the “Bluebell” hat
Previously Worn: this is a new hat

Photo from Splash News via Corbis

Japanese Royal Ladies in Blue Hats for National Meetings

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On Thursday, Empress Michiko attended the Annual National Convention of Japanese Red Cross Society held in Tokyo. The Empress, who is honorary president of the Japanese Red Cross Society, wore a large white saucer hat trimmed with grey flowers and leaves. I thought the flower embellishment on this hat was especially pretty.

Empress Michiko, May 15, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: uncertain. I think this might be a new hat. 

Also on Thursday, Princess Hanako of Hitachi visited Utsunomiya City in Tochi Prefecture to attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition of Ikebana (Japanese traditional flower arrangement). Princess Hanako, who is the honorary president of Japan Ikebana Association, repeated her pale blue silk bumper hat with rolled brim. I am not a fan of this hat (see this closeup of the blue and white spaghetti noodles that look to be stuck on the side of this hat) but from this distance, Princess Hanako looks rather refined and elegant.

Princess Hanako, May 15, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: August 7, 2013

Photos from The Imperial Family of Japan and The Imperial Family of Japan

Queen Máxima in Huizen

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Queen Máxima attended a jubilee concert celebrating 15 years of Stichting Muziek in Huis (music for the elderly) yesterday in Huizen. While I’m not entirely sure this can be considered a headpiece, some of you might be interested to see that she repeated her large black hair bow. Last time we saw this bow (on Princess Beatrix’s last Queen’s Day), I thought it was a little twee for my taste but like many other unusual and unique pieces of millinery, it somehow worked on Máxima  Yesterday, however, with her unkempt coiffe, it was simply another layer of mess. I don’t like to be critical but this was not a good look. 

Queen Máxima, May 15, 2014 | Royal Hats

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: April 30, 2012