Monthly Archives: May 2015

Queen Margrethe Commemorates Danish Liberation

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Queen Margrethe was in Hellerup today to celebrate the Liberation of Denmark which occurred on May 4th, 1945. For this 70th anniversary, the Queen repeated her vibrant blue blue hat with pork pie crown, downward curved brim and striped velvet band around the crown. While she usually pairs this hat with a matching electric blue suit, today Margrethe wore it with a bright blue wool coat (we saw this coat last week in our look back at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding) and magenta blouse. It’s a smart hat and it was nice to see Queen Margrethe pair it with a different outfit. Maybe something with colour contrast next time, please?

Queen Margrethe, May 4, 2015 | Royal Hats   Queen Margrethe, May 4, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 6, 2014; May 5, 2013; April 27, 2014; October 6, 2013; September 3, 2013; July 4, 2013; June 2, 2013; May 6, 2013; June 14, 2012; September 2, 2012; September 20, 2011; September 6, 2011; and May 23, 2011

Photos from Ole Jensen and Ole Jensen via Corbis

Seeing Double: Crown Princess Mette-Marit

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Royal HatsThese days, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway seems to be on a hat-strike, favouring fascinators and small pillboxes for the occasions when a hat is required. This wasn’t always the case. Back in June 2006, Mette-Marit choose a pair of navy and white hats that looked very much alike

The twin cream straw hats both featured flat crowns (one slightly rounded and one square) and sweeping upturned brims that were raised on one side. While navy stripes were woven into the straw of one piece, the the brim on the other was covered in large navy fishnet. Both hats were trimmed with a large embellishment (bow on one, fishing net tangle on the other) on the side.

Both hats were worn for events celebrating the centenary of King Haakon VII and Queen Maud’s wedding- events that were just two days apart. While it is curious for a royal to own such similar navy and white hats, I find it most peculiar that both hats made their début in the same week. While the navy striped hat was worn for National Day 2011 and another state visit, the fishnet trimmed hat hat not been repeated since this initial outing. What do you think of this pair of navy and cream millinery twins?

Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Elizabeth Sports Pink This Weekend

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Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of York were at Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire yesterday for the amalgamation of the Queen’s Royal Lancers and the 9th and the 12th Royal into a new regiment called The Royal Lancers. For the military parade and Fly Past, the Queen repeated a vibrant pink hat. The straw design featured a flat crown and an open weave, upturned brim. The wide stripe of piping around the brim and band around the crown of the hat were made of the same wool as Her Majesty’s coordinating coat. More important than the design was the choice of this particular hat and coat today- widely understood as a statement of celebration for the arrival new Princess of Cambridge. This isn’t my favourite of the Queen’s hats but it was the perfect choice yesterday for this proud great-granny.

Designer: Angela Kelly. Coat by Karl Ludwig
Previously Worn: November 5, 2013

The Queen’s celebration of pink continued today as she and the Duke of Edinburgh attended Sunday morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church near their Sandringham estate. She repeated a cream straw hat with high crown and gently raised brim on one side, trimmed with a spiky pink dahlia made up of feathers. This hat is a lovely complement to Queen Elizabeth’s pink and white suit and it was wonderful to see her wear it again. You can see photos of the royal couple this morning here (the photo of the hat below is from its last outing).

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: November 11, 2011; June 23, 2007

Rumours are that Queen Elizabeth is set to meet the new baby tomorrow and I can only imagine it will be a meaningful and very happy visit.

Photos from Getty as indicated

Dutch Monarchs Join Sail Aruba

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima continued their visit to Dutch territory in the Caribbean with a stop on Friday in Oranjested, Aruba. There, the royal couple took park in Sail Aruba as part of celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the 350th anniversary of the Marine Corps. For these festivities, Queen Máxima chose a new hat to top her tropical white suit.

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

In pinky beige straw, her brimless calot hat featured none of the plumes or blooms we usually see on royal hats- instead, the design of the hat included gentle waves moulded into the straw that gave considerable visual interest and movement to the piece. Queen Máxima anchored the hat with simple pearl hat pins that coordinated with her pearl jewellery.

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats   Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

There are things I like about this hat-  I like that the design is creative and unusual and I thought it hit just the right note of formality on a day that saw the royal couple start a sailing race and enjoy fresh coconut water right from the fruit (and sport some funky sunglasses!). While the shape is interesting and creative, this calot has crossed the line into helmet territory and that’s not something I can get behind. It’s cool and very high fashion but I’m not sure it’s attractive.

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima, May 1, 2015 in Eudia | Royal Hats

What did you think of Queen Máxima’s new hat?

Desginer: Eudia
Previously Worn: This is a new hat

Photos from 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

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko of Mikasa in lilac gowns and cream hats for the Spring Grand Ritual at the Yasukuni Shrine last weekend (Imperial Family of Japan)

Princess Estelle joined her Grandfather to celebrate his birthday (Svenskdam)

Royal Hats

Saudi Arabian King radically broke away from tradition with a new succession plan (BBC) Here’s a profile on the new Crown Prince (Daily Mail)

Queen Mathilde fullfilled the dream of several Make-A-Wish Foundation participants and hosted them for tea  (Place Royale)

Wonderful wishes have been pouring in for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their daughter this morning. More literal tributes from The Royal Navy, the Tower Bridge, and the fountains at Trafalgar Square are particularly memorable. A royal salute will happen Monday afternoon.