Monthly Archives: May 2015

Birthday of Zara Phillips Tindall

Posted on by

Royal HatsBorn on this day in 1981, Zara Phillips Tindall celebrates her 34th birthday today. As we do on royal birthdays, we are going to accompany our best wishes for Zara with suggestions of hats we would most like to see her repeat in the coming year.  My pick for Zara is this grey felt beret hat with large monochromatic flower trim designed by Amy Money Millinery. With her luxe coat, it makes for such a chic winter outfit and I would love to see her wear it again. Which one of Zara’s hats would you like to see her repeat in the coming year?

At the Cheltenham Festival, March 13, 2012

Photo from Getty as indicated

Imperial Royals Support Red Cross

Posted on by

The Japanese Red Cross Society’s annual convention took place in Tokyo yesterday. The event was attended by Empress Michiko (Honorary President),  Princess Kiko, Princess Hanako, Princess Nobuko and Princess Hisako (all Honorary Vice Presidents). Empress Michiko used the occasion to bring out a new white saucer hat trimmed with white flowers and grey leaves.

Empress Michiko, May 13, 2015 | Royal Hats2015-05-13 Red cross

Princess Kiko wore a white silk rounded pillbox (it looks to be this one) and Princess Hanako repeated her smart ecru  hat with square crown and linear, upturned brim. Princess Nobuko wore a white pillbox with navy crown and side flower trim while Princess Hisako topped her elegant blue suit with a small hat in the same shade that looks to be sporting a stylish, Trilby-esque brim. In 2015 we have seen the Imperial royal ladies step out in some in some more interesting hats than we have seen in years past and I’m so pleased to see this trend continue.

Photos from Yomiuri and Getty as indicated

British Royals Host Garden Party

Posted on by

The first royal garden party of the 2015 summer season was held yesterday at Buckingham Palace. And a royal garden party, dearest readers, means royal hats!

Queen Elizabeth looked very summery in her textured yellow, grey and white striped hat and coat. The hat, with a square, stove pipe  crown, was trimmed in a waterfall of overlapping yellow organza leaves. When we first saw this hat least year, I was not a fan of either its shape or the messy looking trim. While it still, sadly, looks like an overturned bucket to me, I thought the colour was perfect for this outdoor engagement. No matter the occasion, the Queen knows exactly how to dress so that she stands out.

Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: June 25, 2014

The royal princes all added dapper black silk top hats to their morning suits.  The Duchess of Cornwall surprised in a new hat in the most beautiful shade of cornflower blue. Made of straw, the focus of this large hat is a sweeping, rounded brim that grandly curves up over the crown. The dramatic shape and scale of the hat is further emphasized by a wide band of textured straw around the outside of the brim. Camilla has several hats in this shape but the beautiful colour of this one makes it a stand-out for me.

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: This is a new hat

The Countess of Wessex repeated one of her embellished cocktail hats. While very few photos of this event were released, this one of Sophie gives us a view of the delicate appliquéd lace on the beret-base of this ecru design and the wonderfully balanced pale peachy-pink feathers and handmade silk cabbage rose. It’s a hat with exquisite detail that works perfectly with Sophie’s fair colouring and was beautifully complimented by her cream coat and rose dress.

Designer: Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: June 17, 2014; May 17, 2013

I suspect you have some clear opinions about this trio of summery hats at Buckingham Palace yesterday, dear readers, and I can’t wait to hear you weigh in.
Photos from Getty as indicated

Swedish Monarchs Support Artists

Posted on by

On Monday King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia attended an annual celebration of Swedish art at Waldemarsudde, home of the late Prince Eugene. Prince Eugene,  an accomplished landscape painter in his own right, created a Swedish Artists’ Support Fund Foundation in 1937 and Monday’s festivities were in support of this fund. For this event, which also saw the royal couple place flowers at Prince Eugene’s grave, Queen Silvia repeated the turquoise straw pillbox she wore for the King’s Ruby Jubilee.  It’s a great hat for her and together with her printed turquoise silk suit and bouclé coat, makes for a multi textured and vibrant ensemble.

Queen Silvia, May 11, 2015 | Royal Hats

Queen Silvia, May 11, 2015 | Royal Hats

Queen Silvia, May 11, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: September 15, 2013

Photos from IBL via Svenskdam

Luxembourg Royals Join Octave Procession

Posted on by

Members of the Luxembourg Royal family took part yesterday in the closing procession of the Octave of Our Lady of Luxembourg, a national religious celebration that occurs every year several weeks after Easter. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa used the occasion to début a new pillbox hat in dove grey felt. Maria Teresa wears pillboxes well (her hairstyle is particularly well suited to them) and while she often favours ensembles in brighter colours, I liked this more streamlined combination of hat and silver brocade coat on her.

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Claire topped her raspberry red dress and jacket with a black percher cocktail hat trimmed with several feather pompoms. The black hat tied well with Claire’s other black accessories and added a touch of whimsy to her ensemble but its placement was off- instead of perching over an eyebrow on the side of the head as a percher should, Claire wore this hat just off the center of her forehead. Move it down a bit and I think we’d have a winner.

Princess Claire, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats

Prince Felix and Princess Claire brought their daughter, Princess Amalia, out for the royal family’s balcony appearance. The wee princess sported a tiny pink hair bow along with her quizzical expression. Adorable.

Princess Claire, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Tessy repeated the lovely grey and navy saucer hat she wore for this event last year. The grey hat, trimmed with navy piping and large looped straw bows, is a great shape and scale on Tessy and she wears it well. I’m just not sure its pairing with her blousy grey jacket was a good idea. Her sleek navy lace dress last year showed this hat so beautifully and the proportion of this ensemble seems painfully off in comparison.

Princess Tessy, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats Princess Tessy, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: I suspect it is House of Fraser
Previously Worn: May 26, 2014

While several members of the family were not in attendance for the Octave procession (the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess were away attending WWII commemoration events across Europe), it looks like an enjoyable time was had by those who took part. What did you think of this trio of royal hats in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg Royal Family, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats

Luxembourg Royal Family, May 10, 2015 | Royal Hats

Photos from Chris Karaba, Lucien Koneczny, Lucien Koneczny, René Scho, René Scho, René Scho, Chris Karaba and Chris Karaba via RTL and Wort