January 20 is the birthday of two prominent royal women- the Countess of Wessex and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. While we’re going to celebrate the Countess of Wessex’s milestone birthday in depth tomorrow, I didn’t want the day to pass without sharing our best wishes for Queen Mathilde on her 42nd birthday today.
Queen Mathilde has worn some very bold hats during her royal life (some are reviewed at this post) and it was difficult for me to choose one piece I would like to see return into circulation. My final choice is a quirky, creative and unique piece that surprised me when Mathilde first wore it in July 2009. It’s not a hat for the faint of heart and that makes me love Mathilde for being brave enough to wear it. I would love to see it brought out for another outing in 2015.
What hat would you like Queen Mathilde to bring back this year?
Designer: Fabienne Devigne
Previously Worn: July 21, 2009
Photo from Bauer Griffin via Zimbio
Royal Hats 
HatQueen I can’t share your enthusiasm to see Queen Mathilde bring back the shocking pink rings.
My family and I want to wish Queen Mathilde a very Happy Birthday and to thank her for giving us much joy including giving us a wide range of hats to talk about. While I can’t like everything she wears, she impresses me that she always tries hard to look elegant and chic, and she does take more risks with her outfits and hats than many other women in the public eye do. The vivid pink thing on her head worn with the matching outfit and bag, does not suit her at all. Is it meant to represent electrons orbiting a nucleus? If she wears it again, perhaps it would be more at home at a Science Convention. Please keep away from the bandages too Your Majesty.
I love the following hat featured in your blog on October 2, 2014: https://royalhats.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/belgian-king-and-queen-in-namur/
This “New Look” (from Dior’s 1947 collection that took fashion in an entirely new direction) inspired hat featured a unified, curved crown and brim trimmed with a large ribbon motif. The brim raised at the back to reveal a flat bow against Mathilde’s head.
I like this hat and it is a great colour on Queen Mathilde.
The hat (and dress) from the Spanish royal wedding.
I agree! This hat and coat are Queen Mathilde at her elegant best.
I agree gavin, this was her best look yet.
This one.
http://imageupper.com/i/?S0100010020011C14218355172049413
Kidding.
I would love to see this fairly normal red hat to make a comeback. Nice colour, nice shape, hasn’t been worn for a long time.
http://imageupper.com/i/?S0100010020021C14218355172049413
And then there is this hat which would look spectacular combined with a dress in more subdued colours, off white or so.
http://imageupper.com/i/?S0100010020041C14218355172049413
And this one, but only in combination with the fur collar. 20ties style suits Mathilde very well imo.
http://imageupper.com/i/?S0100010020031C14218355172049413
And I know I’m in the minority but I like these open circle hats a lot, especially the one worn at Q Fabiolas funeral. Those hats frame her face so nicely and keep the hair in place.
The red hat is a good one kiki, I don’t recall seeing it before. I would like to see it worn again.
Queen Mathilde does the picture hats with downturned brims really well and also pillbox. The one you picked is fun. As long as there are no repeats of bandages, doughnuts and turbans I will be happy
I am sorry HatQueen, I have no love for this vivid pink headpiece that resembles a plastic model of the solar system, nor do I like the loud pink outfit it was paired with. I detest her bandage hats, donut hats and fascinators too, except I’ll make an exception for hat 22 in the attached link, the gossamer crystal beaded Fabienne Delvigne fascinator for the National Day Service of Thanksgiving, July 21, 2007. The other hats I liked best in the link above are: hat 16, the royal blue square cloche for Remembrance Mass in February 2005. It’s a great hat and the color is perfect on her. Hat 1, the black and white feathered picture hat in February 2001 for the Belgium Royal Family’s annual Remembrance Mass. Hat 29, the large natural straw picture hat brimmed in orange trim at the National Day Military Parade, July 21, 2010. Hat 10: the grey straw picture hat worn to welcome the Finnish President for a State visit, May 21, 2004. Hat 37: the Retro Fabienne Delvigne grey wool hat for King’s Day, November 15, 2011.
Those two grand grey hats are very beautiful.
I agree Ashelen. Many people do not look great wearing grey as people have commented on here many times. This Belgian Queen does successfully pull off grey. These hats are just right on her too.
I agree with what TiarasRUs says: January 21, 2015 at 3:19 am. Those are my favourites of hers also, plus the hat from the Spanish royal wedding posted above, by gavin says: January 21, 2015 at 9:54 am. The bubblegum pink quirky piece in the first photograph on the page and the matching outfit worn by Mathilde in July 2009 is not to my taste, it’s a little too quirky!
I love, love, love all the hats in this collage too!