For the second day of the Dutch state visit to Denmark, Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary joined the King and Queen of the Netherlands for a visit to Samsoe Island. This visit unexpectedly saw Queen Máxima and Princess Mary in a pair of new brown fedora hats. Queen Máxima’s hat in chocolate brown felt features a slightly higher crown (with characteristic fedora pleats) and an unstructured brim; her hat is trimmed with a wide grosgrain ribbon around the base of the crown and an unstructured bow loop on the side. The slightly floppy hat contrasted with Máxima’s supremely structured camel coat and the varied shades of brown between hat, coat, purse and gloves kept the ensemble from being bland or boring.
Designer of Queen Máxima’s hat: Fabienne Delvigne. Her coat is designed by Claes Iversen
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Crown Princess Mary’s hat in beaver brown felt featured a more structured brim and a more defined ‘pinch’ at the top of the crown. Her hat was also trimmed in grosgrain ribbon with a flat, traditionally shaped bow on the side. While I like the more restrained and traditional fedora shape that this hat follows, I found the styling of Princess Mary’s outfit today rather perplexing. The brown hat paired with brown sweater, brown boots and black skirt make sense but the addition of her pale blue-grey coat, to me, does not. Unfortunately, the disharmonious outfit decreases the impact of the chic and stylish hat.
Designer of Crown Princess Mary’s hat: Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Fashion foibles aside, it appeared as though the two couples shared an enjoyable day together. Which of these two brown fedora hats struck your fancy?
Photos from Getty as indicated and Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis
Royal Hats 
I’ve ALWAYS loved ANY kind of fedora, so both hats are winners, for me.
Lovely ladies, both; I see no issues with either of their hats or clothes.
I shall only make comment regarding Mary’s choice of attire, otherwise I could be here all night….but this hat looks as though it is way too big and that she is therefore having trouble peeping out from underneath it and her head seems small and squashed. It just looks as though it is too big, especially on the 4th and second last photos. I think it’s a gorgeous hat, very stylish and beaver brown, what a wonderfully descriptive choice of words, but not good here I don’t think and definitely a rather thrown together mish mash of an outfit. Personally I don’t think the colours are compatible then there’s a full black skirt with tights and boots and the voluminous cape! Oh and the turtle neck sweater, my goodness. Rather strange if you ask me, but never mind, you can’t get it right every time. Perhaps Mary should take Fedora style tips from her sister-in-law…….now she rocks a fedora.
Again, if they’d been going to the races, they are both well-dressed – but no fedoras for state visits, please!
Both royal ladies looked stunning.
I am not a fan of fedoras in general but I like Mary´s, well structured hat better. Her outfit looks fine if you do not see the bottom half. Beaver brown and pale blue-gray look good together. Unfortunately the one-size-too-small coat ruins the look of Maxima´s hat.
I sense some Max bashing here.. and about her clothes, I wonder why?
I have reread all of the comments and feel they are all respectful. I don’t see any personal attacks. Not liking a hat or commenting about the ill-fit of a piece of clothing is fair game, according to the commenting policy here.
Would it be correct to say that Max is wearing a fedora and Mary is wearing a TRILBY?
The brim of a trilby is shorter than that of the fedoras we see here.
Thank you SO much for your reply/clarification! I fell in love with your blog when I accidentally stumbled up on it a couple or so years ago. I FINALLY got the nerve to post! I appreciate you! Do you know if you’ll be doing a post on the Trilby hat type?
I’m so glad you like the blog! It’s always fun to welcome a new commenter to the conversation. And yes- I plan to do a post on the Trilby, soon.
I love both hats and Max’s jewels and I would wear these. I am not so fond of their outfits and I think neither outfit truly compliments these hats.
I agree with what Mary New says: March 18, 2015 at 7:33 pm.
I’m not loving any of this im afraid. It’s a bit too casual – Zara would wear these things to the races, but not sure it’s a royal engagement outfit. Mary’s look I thinknis better, maxima has fit issues.
However – as you say – what’s fab is that they all look to be having such a good time together going about their stuff, which is great to see!
Of the two hats Princess Mary’s seems to go better with her outfit. A head shot of Queen Máxima makes her hat marginally interesting, but since the hat doesn’t go particularly welll with the outfit (and the fit of that coat is inexcusable!), her outfit itself is a miss.
I really like how Mary’s colors work together here. Maxima’s look is just way too brown for my taste (and too “Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego”). Oh, but her smile is beautiful! And I like the stiffness/floppiness of the respective brims on their owners.
I agree that both look happy in each other’s company and obviously both chose outfits they thought would be appropriate. I am not in love with either outfit, but do like the hats. In the hats are the best parts of the ensembles as far as I am concerned. Mary’s clothes look too random and Maxima’s coat seems too tight. Does anyone know what the little blue ribbon she is wearing represents?
Love love Mary’s look. Not over the top. Her cape appears to be a light baby blue not grey in the pictures I received. Sorry but Queen M’s whole outfit is too dramatic and the coat does not fit well. Just too much.
I’ll admit that while I think fedoras definitely can work, they’re not my favorite style of hat on women. But both Maxima and Mary are very much trying to change my mind here! I like that Max’s has a less structured brim and put at a slightly jaunty angle; I also just love how much she is smiling and laughing in virtually ever photo! As for Mary, her look is a bit more subdued, but I disagree and think her whole outfit does work; her hat, boots, and gloves are more of a fawn color rather than a true brown, so I think the grey mixtures in the coat and accessories help tie it to the black better.
I prefer Mary’s hat of the 2 here. I really don’t like Max’s coat at all – it’s yet another ill fitting, overworked design. I do really like Mary’s cape tho — even if the color workings on the total outfit seem a tad odd, it still works for me.
I love the hats and the infectious smiles on everyone’s faces. I love Queen Maxima’s jewelry and the way she uses it to accessorize her outfits. There is no downside to this Royal visit. We get great pictures and we get to see some great hats and clothes. And gold jewelry! I do love those fedoras though and I would wear either of them.