June 2015 Poll: Favourite Royal Ascot Hat

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Royal Hats

After tallying your nominations, dearest readers, there were six clear contenders for your 2015 Readers’ Favourite Royal Ascot Hat. The finalists, in random order are:

(click on any of the photos to jump over to additional commentary and photos of each hat)

Countess of Wessex in a cream ‘slice’ vertical Jane Taylor design on Day 1
Princess Beatrice in an orange and turquoise wide brimmed hat by Laura Apsit Livens on Day 3
Countess of Wessex in a pale grey lattice picture hat by Jane Taylor on Day 3

Queen Elizabeth in a yellow textured straw hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan on Day 4
Countess of Wessex in a white crin hat by Jane Taylor on Day 2
Zara Phillips Tindall in a navy embellished cocktail hat designed by Rosie Olivia on Day 4

It is now time to choose our winner. You are able to vote once per day for as many hats as you wish. The poll will remain open until July 9 at midnight GMT and we will celebrate the winner shortly thereafter. Choosing a favourite in this group will be a difficult task- happy voting!

Photos from James Whatling/Splash News, James Whatling/Splash News, James Whatling/Splash News, James Whatling/Splash News, James Whatling/Splash News and WILL OLIVER/epa via Corbis

Seeing Double: Princess Beatrice

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Royal Hats

Royal Hats Several of you noticed that the navy blue percher cocktail hat Princess Beatrice wore last week on Day 3 of Ascot looked very familiar. Good catch! Beatrice as a very similar hat in rosy-almond beige that she first wore in late May. The shapes are slightly different (the navy hat has a more exaggerated tear-drop point and the feather trims behind the silk roses are different) but these two hats are clearly close relations. Designed by Juliette Botterill, this pair of the “Silk Feather Flower Teardrop” design are particularly intriguing as they made inaugural appearances just two weeks apart (indicating a double purchase as opposed to ordering a different version of a tried and tested favourite hat). Do you think this piece warrants two places within Princess Beatrice’s millinery closet?

View image | gettyimages.com

Photos from Getty as indicated

Imperial Family Attend Birthday Concert

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Royal Hats

Last Friday, members of the Imperial Royal family gathered at the Peace Flower Music Hall inside Imperial Palace to attend a concert in celebration of the Empress’ birthday. As might be expected, the Imperial Princesses wore a bevy of petite hats in light colours.

Imperial Royal Family, June 26, 2015 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Masako topped her pale beige suit with hat in the same hue (presumably, made of the same fabric!) The crown of the hat, with straight sides and a domed top, was surrounded in a tightly upfolded brim. The only embellishment on the piece was a wide stripe of silk ribbon which edged the brim and gave the piece subtle contrast.

Crown Princess Masako, June 26, 2016 | Royal Hats

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

Princess Kiko wore a white silk calot hat trimmed in a wide pleated cuff and flat bow at the back. Her youngest daughter, Princess Kako, wore a pale blue bowler style hat trimmed with a white band and back bow around the base of the crown. Both hats are overly sweet for my liking but are very much in keeping with these Princesses’ millinery styles.

Princess Kiko, June 26, 2016 | Royal Hats Princess Kako, June 26, 2016 | Royal Hats Princess Kako and Princess Kiko, June 26, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: I suspect both hats were new

Princess Hisako (below right, behind Princess Kako) wore a white bowler-style hat with upturned brim around the back. The jaunty brim, similar to that on a Trilby, downplays the dowdy shape of the bowler crown and gives the hat some personality. Hisako’s daughter, Princess Tsuguko, wore a simple apricot coloured hat with embroidered band around the base of the crown. The colour of the hat is quite pretty with her colouring.

Princess Tsuguko and Princess Hisako, June 26, 2016 | Royal Hats Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: Princess Hisako wore this hat July 3, 2014. I believe Princess Tsuguko’s hat is new

We can usually count on Princess Hanako and Princess Nobuko to bring some variety to the Imperial royal hats and they did not disappoint. Both wore hats with lace overlays – Princess Nobuko’s lilac-grey toque style hat was covered in the same grey lace as was used on her dress while Princess Hanako’s pale sage green hat featured a flared brim wrapped in monochrome lace. The use of lace on the brim of Hanako’s hat gave it some much needed textural contrast from the rest of her ensemble and the unusual shape of her hat was a welcome surprise.

Princess Nobuko, June 26, 2016 | Royal Hats Princess Hanako, June 26, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: Princess Hanako first wore this hat May 19, 2015. I believe Princess Nobuko’s hat is new.

What did you think of this group of Imperial royal hats?

Photos from FNN News and Asahi

Danish Queen Presents Military Honour

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Royal Hats

Last Friday, Queen Margrethe attended the Anniversary Parade of The Royal Guard at the Royal Life Guards barracks in Gothersgade, Copenhagen. Each year at this event, Margrethe presents the Queen’s Clock award – an award of merit to a member of the guards. This year, she attended the event in a new hat. In brightest fuchsia, the straw piece follows a very traditional shape with rounded, flat sided crown and downward facing brim. The hat appears to be trimmed in navy ribbon embroidered with pink and white flowers, which is wrapped twice around the crown and topped with a bunch of silk flowers on the side.

The hat is rather simple but receives a boost from its pairing with Queen Margrethe’s navy trimmed fuchsia suit. It is a lot of vibrant colour for one ensemble but the touches of navy in the floral fabric used on her blouse and trim on the hat provide grounding and contrast to make it work.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

What do you think of this bright new summer hat?

Photos from Jens Dresling, Polfoto via the Danish Monarchy; Splash News and Splash News via Corbis

Princess Beatrix Celebrates War Support Organization

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Royal Hats

On Saturday, Princess Beatrix was in Amersfoort to participate in the 70th anniversary of the Foundation 1940-1945. For this event, she repeated her navy straw hat with short brim and straight, flat crown. This hat is embellished with two things often seen on Princess Beatrix’s hats- a diagonal band around the top of the crown and a pair of straw loops on the side. It is a lovely colour on her although it reads a little flat worn with this monochrome ensemble. I much prefer this hat worn with some pattern, as it was the last time we saw it. What do you think?

Princess Beatrix, June 27, 2015 | Royal Hats