In the course of following royal hats, there are occasions when a certain hat elicits the unmistakeable feeling that one has seen it before. A few of you have experienced this in recent weeks with hats worn by the Grand Duchess and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
When Prince Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie of Luxembourg unveiled a memorial at Auschwitz in late January, many thought her brown felt brimless hat was her best piece of millinery to date. To some, however, this hat looked familiar. Svenja, one of the writers of the Luxarazzi blog, was the first to recognize it as the same hat Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore to the December 1999 wedding of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. The left side of the hat (on the right side of the photo below) has been slightly crushed since its original outing but there’s no question- this is indeed the same hat.
Designer: unknown
Worn by When Grand Duchess Stéphanie: January 26, 2015
Worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa: December 4, 1999
When Princess Stéphanie attended Queen Fabiola’s funeral in December, her classic black pillbox raised similar questions as to where we had seen this hat before. This pillbox was also from Grand Duchess Maria Teresa’s millinery closet, last seen during the Dutch royal visit to Luxembourg in March 2012 (see below).
Designer: unknown
Worn by Princess Stéphanie: December 12, 2014
Worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa: March 22, 2014; January 15, 2005
The Luxembourg royals are a hat and fashion sharing bunch (see a a number of their other hat swaps at this Luxarazzi post). I’m all for hat sharing although I would love to see the Hereditary Grand Duchess develop a millinery style and approach that is uniquely her own.
Photos from Getty as indicated; Gamma Presse via The Royal Forums; Mark Renders/Stringer and Laurie Dieffembacq/Stringer via Getty; Patrick van Katwijk and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis
Royal Hats 
I like these hats but I wonder if they were loans or if Stephanie liked the hats so much she had copies made? After all, the brown hats are slightly different at the front.
The Luxembourg royal family has a long history of sharing clothes and hats. I’m certain this is the same hat and not a copy.
Sorry HatQueen, yes your link is to the hat I was referring to. I do not usually like the hats of Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie. So I was not surprised to learn that these were borrowed hats. I usually do like the hats worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, though I was surprised that she would be willing to share her millinery closet. She is very generous Mother-in-Law indeed!
https://royalhats.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/luxembourg-royal-wedding-immediate-families/
I knew it.
This is why I love the Luxs. Like everyone else says they same such a caring family, happy to share.
I like both hats on Stephanie. She she raid Maria Teresa’s hat boxes more often.
These are elegant hats and it makes sense that if Grand Duchess Maria Teresa has no more need of a certain hat, that she passes it on to another family member, rather than wasting it. They seem like a very close, affectionate family.
I think both hats look very good on Stéphanie and far better than some she has worn before. Perhaps this clean look is her millinery style?
I think it is great that Stephanie has such a lovely mother-in-law! How many women do you know that would lend such striking millinery to their daughter-in-law only to see her look far more elegant in them?
Marie Therese keeps it pretty simple, millinery wise (I should imagine that like me she finds wearing the right hat can give you height and elegance or it can make you look short and wide and she still doesn’t always get it right. But to see such beautiful hats perched with such style on Stephanie’s elegant updos is a treasure.
The black pillbox was absolutely perfect for the occasion and, needless to say, Stephanie wore it atop a perfect updo. And this latest hat, the very Russian Royal style of the hat set at precisely the right angle is stunning. It offset her coat with it’s fur collar, to perfection.
Now as to the ‘ding’,’dent’, or ‘crushed’ left front of this hat, I am going to disagree. I think MT’s crafty little milliner “‘tweaked” it a little for Stephanie because the front looks so balanced and on MT it looked a bit like a gothic castle tower!
I agree with everything HillyB says: February 10, 2015 at 9:18 pm. I love both hats on both ladies.
I also agree with everything that Hillary B says in her comment and how insightful of her to understand what a lovely mother-in-law Stephanie has to lend her some of her hats, me I guard my hats and would not do that, the pill box is one of my favorite styles of hats, always chic and elegant on a lady. The Russian hat, crushed or not, not one of my favorites at all, could go back in the box forgotten. I think MT is a very pretty lady, petite and and wears some very interesting hats. Hope Stephanie develops her own style and becomes more elegant like MT.
How wonderful that they like each other enough to share! And, really, with something basic like a pillbox, why not? I wonder if they are sitting around in one of their palaces and Stephanie says, Hey MotherinLaw, can I borrow a hat for tomorrow? MT says, Let’s go rummage around until we find something perfect!
I think all Royals need an arsenal of “basic hats” to wear to funerals and less frivolous events. If her mother in law already has these, Stephanie undoubtedly thought no one would notice if she borrowed one or two. These certainly are more successful than some of the hats she has chosen herself. I am thinking g of the one she wore to her brother in law’s wedding in France.
Glitter Girl, you read my mind. I think the hat you are referring to is the one Stephanie wears in this link, at the religious Wedding Of Prince Felix Of Luxembourg & Claire Lademacher. That hat was awful.
To quote HatQueen, ” Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore an abstract pale turquoise blue straw hat edged in taupe trim. This hat seems to be generating a lot of criticism but I like the interesting flower shape. I’m just not sure it was the best hat to wear with her lace coat dress.” Please see links those who don’t remember this one.
https://royalhats.wordpress.com/2013/09/page/3/
http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/prince-guillaume-of-luxembourg-and-princess-stephanie-of-news-photo/181446458
TiarasRUs- when you post a link, could you please link to the individual post instead of the page link? That enables all readers to go directly to the post and hat you are referring to.
I think this is the post you are referring to.
https://royalhats.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/luxembourg-royal-wedding-immediate-families/
The Luxembourg royals are great favorites of mine, and it is always a joy to see pictures of them. I love the way they share hats and clothes, and the affection they have for each other. I too thought the brown hat looked better pinched in on the side, as Stephanie wore it, and I love the black pillbox on both of them, although I like the more formal way Stephanie wore it.
I am of the same mind as you jamiemid.
I agree that Stephanie should find her own style, but what a wonderful way to try things out at minimal expense! I would love the chance to play on M-T’s closet.
…of course I meant pillbox not pillow box!
The brown hat is really nice on Stéphanie. I like how it is a little crushed like you wrote.
The black pillow box sits better on Maria Teresa’s hair I think. I find the way Stéphanie wore it a little aging on her.
But what I like best of all is the way Maria Teresa gently puts Henri’s hair back into place. It’s so touching! 🙂 I want to see more of these sweet gestures among our favourite royal couples.