Monthly Archives: February 2015

Service of Thanksgiving for the Late Duke of Marlborough

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A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of John Spencer-Churchill, the 11th Duke of Marlborough who passed away last October,  was held yesterday The Guards Chapel in London. The Duchess of Cornwall attended the service, wearing her black straw picture hat wrapped in large black ostrich feathers.

Duchess of Cornwall, February 4, 2015 in Philip Treacy | Royal Hats Duchess of Cornwall, February 4, 2015 in Philip Treacy | Royal Hats

The Duchess of Gloucester topped her elegant coffee coloured peplum coat with an unexpected hat in textured orange straw. While the colour juxtaposition in the outfit was striking, I’m not sure about the protocol around wearing an orange hat to this type of event. Can anyone shed light on the dress code for a memorial Service of Thanksgiving?

Duchess of Gloucester, February 3, 2015 | Royal Hats   Duchess of Gloucester, February 3, 2015 | Royal Hats

The Dowager Duchess of Marlborough, Lily Spencer-Churchill, repeated an elegant black straw lampshade hat with rolled crin underbrim and crin bow at the side. The lightness of the crin underbrim adds such a pretty dimension to this hat, making this one my favourite of the trio.

Dowager Duchess of Marlborough, February 4, 2015 | Royal Hats

Photos from Getty as indicated. Click on each photo to link with the original source. 

Swedish Royal Family Attend Friend’s Funeral

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The Swedish Royal Family gathered today at the Katarina kyrka in Stockholm to bid farewell to Swedish business leader and friend, Peter Wallenberg. For this funeral, Queen Silvia wore a beautiful black pillbox hat. The crown of the pillbox was made of felt while the sides were wrapped in silk. A flat silk bow at the back completed this simple but striking hat. 

Queen Silvia, February 3, 2015 | Royal Hats

Queen Silvia, February 3, 2015 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Victoria wore Saint Laurent designed black rabbit fur felt hat with curved brim, trimmed with a simple black Persham hatband and rough edged bow at the front. If it looks familiar, she wore a similar (but different) hat to Princess Lillian’s funeral. The simple, classic lines of the hat work very well with the clean lines of her black coat.

Crown Princess Victoria, February 3, 2015 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Victoria, February 3, 2015 | Royal Hats

Photos from TT, Stella Pictures and All Over Press via Svenskdam

Queen Máxima Supports Foundation For Forgotten Children

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Queen Máxima supported the work of The Forgotten Child Foundation in Goirle yesterday, attending the foundation’s presentation of an award for extraordinary commitment to forgotten children. For this event, she repeated her pleated red fabric calot hat. On this hat’s last outing, Máxima wore it off to the side, balanced by a low chignon; on this outing, she followed the traditional placement of a calot hat, centered on the crown of her head.  These photos allow us to see the graceful pleats that surround this hat, giving it a sense of movement and interest despite the very simple shape. Paired with her red coat, Máxima cast a rather vibrant picture. I’m curious- what do you think of the new way Queen Máxima wore this hat?

Queen Máxima, February 3, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats Queen Máxima, February 3, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats Queen Máxima, February 3, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats Queen Máxima, February 3, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, February 3, 2015 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: October 1, 2013

Photos from Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Albert Philip Van Der Werf, and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis; and Reuters via Het Koninklijk Huis

Queen Elizabeth Opens Fire Station

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Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh formally opened a new fire station in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, yesterday. For this engagement, the Queen repeated her camel felt stovepipe hat with short, downward facing brim and diagonally sloped crown. This hat, trimmed only with a knotted sash around the crown, lacks colour and dramatic embellishment yet does not lack personality- quite a feat for a simple brown hat. I think the success of this ensemble is the beautiful balance reached between the hat and the statement fur cuff’s on Her Majesty’s coat. It’s not my favourite colour on the Queen but it was the perfect ensemble to wear to an event where the background was a row of gleaming red fire engines!

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The Queen has another hat that matches this coat (discussed in this post). What do you think of her stovepipe hat today?

Designer: Philip Somerville
Previously Worn: December 25, 2005; March 7, 2006; April 12, 2006; February 25, 2009

Photos from Getty as indicated

Norwegian Royals Bid Farewell to Johan Ferner

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The funeral of Johan Martin Ferner, late husband of Princess Astrid of Norway, was held on Monday at the Holmenkollen Chapel in Oslo and all members of the Norwegian Royal Family were on hand to pay tribute to his life.

Princess Astrid wore a simple black textured bumper hat. Her daughters and granddaughter wore traditional Norwegian folk dress.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Sonja wore a black felt hat with pork pie crown and flat brim. The hat was trimmed with a band around the crown and a flat felt rosette on the side.

Embed from Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a Jennifer Behr designed black net veiled headpiece anchored on a slim black headband.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Märtha Louise wore a swirled black cocktail hat which was wrapped in a black net veil by Norwegian designer and milliner Wenche Lyche.

Embed from Getty Images

Our thoughts are with Princess Astrid, her family during this difficult time.

Photos from Getty as indicated