The Duchess of Cornwall is celebrating her 68th birthday today. As we send her our congratulations and best wishes, it’s also an opportunity to think about which one of her hats we would love to see her wear again in the coming year. My pick is this stunning teal blue Philip Treacy design. In the winter, Camilla often defaults to a certain slouchy fur-trimmed design and I would love to see her bring out her jewel-toned pieces with more structure. We see her often in pastels but it’s these deeper colours that I think, really make her shine. What hat would you like to see her repeat this year?
Photo from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
The three dimensional knot-work of the hat featured here is unexpected and beautiful. Why haven’t we seen more knot patterns in the past?
Good question! My first thought was that it is easier to add feathers or flowers to a hat rather than fabricate this kind of trim, but many of the royal hats we see have handmade flowers and trims that are hand dyed. So to answer your question… I don’t know!
I like HatQueen’s pick of this teal blue Philip Treacy design, and much prefer it as a winter hat over her slouchy fur-trimmed hats. Though I have seen her wear even better hats, as illustrated by others on this page.
For me, Camilla’s choice of hat for the recent christening of Princess Charlotte was just beautiful – soft, feminine, elegant, lovely shade of blue, a slightly smaller, compact size….and that beautiful flower on the side. Just gorgeous. I didn’t comment at the time but Camilla was the stand out hat choice for me that day- it was so lovely and had a wonderful softness to it. Maybe she will keep it for that very special occasion and not incorporate it into her working wardrobe, as it were. Time will tell. Thanks.
Since Camilla even repeated her wedding hat, I think there is a good chance she’ll repeat this one, too!
Embed from Getty Images
I agree with what Louise E says: July 18, 2015 at 1:54 am. The hat for the christening of Princess Charlotte was just beautiful and I think one of her best hats so far.
The Duchess wears hats so well it is hard to choose one that is outstanding; I’d start, however, with this gorgeous teal hat.
Camilla looks good in these ones.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
And these 2.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Thanks Scout; these are all excellent choices and ones I wanted to highlight (but I must restrain myself from choosing too many haha). I especially adore the one with Lady Amherst pheasant feathers. My only issue is most Camilla’s spring/summer hats are white/cream/natural with very little color otherwise, and I wish she would branch out to more colors in all seasons of the year.
Thanks Scout, I really like your first choice. The lattice look is very light and most flattering to the wearer. I also like the large white blooms with the contrasting darker pointed feathers. Very nice. When was this worn I wonder and is it a Treacy design?
You can click on any embedded Getty photo and it take you over to the Getty site where these is more information and usually, the date the photo was taken. This photo was taken at Ascot in 2007 and yes, it’s a Treacy design.
I agree with what Scout says: July 17, 2015 at 8:26 pm. The first of these two hats is especially stunning.
I don’t like most of her huge hats. They look too much like something the Mad Hatter would make. The best hat on the page, and the only one I would consider wearing, is the first teal blue Philip Treacy design. Even then, it doesn’t coordinate with the things she is wearing.
Agreed–to me the combination looks randomly assembled.
I like HatQueen’s pick and I would even wear that hat myself, and being blonde too, I know this teal could work for me too.
I have to admit she looks smashing in her wide-brimmed hats. I agree with all who said she should try deeper colors for the cooler seasons. I haven’t seen the teal hat before, but I would like to see it as it is really striking with her blonde hair.
Yes, this is an excellent choice for her to repeat!
I also want to see again that beautiful green hat she wore to Cheltenham on 17 March 2006. Finally, I have no idea when this was worn, but I would love to see it again: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/85/5d/d9/855dd945c8a6222981dcb3fa30794e66.jpg.
If she was to premiere anything new, I think she should experiment with, of course, more color, especially vibrant colors, like red, more green, and wine.
Ah- the shamrock hat! It’s such a great colour on her.
Embed from Getty Images
She wore this hat to church on Christmas Day in 2005, the first year she was ‘officially’ part of the family. It’s such a romantic hat.
Embed from Getty Images
I like these hat shapes but I think there is too much trim.
I agree the trim is too big, particularly on the purple hat which also looks a little too large for her as her right eye appears obscured!
Looking at the navy flower trimmed hat again, Jake, it’s an unusual piece for Camilla- the crown is made of felt while the brim is straw. Usually, Camilla’s pieces are one material or the other.
I really like the teal. I do not think I have seen it before. She wears hats so well that it is hard to pick one out.
The teal blue hat you feature is gorgeous. Also by Philip Treacy, I particularly like the large brimmed pink hat the Duchess has worn in the last year or two, was it at Ascot or Trooping the Color? And, another of my favorites is another Treacy design — the white hat she wore on the morning of her wedding day in 2005. Happy Birthday!!
Do you mean this pink hat? It’s rather lovely:
http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2015071726304/duchess-cornwall-birthday-facts/
I don’t like this one. It looks like she has sea anemones on her head!
In addition to her big brim hats, she has several fur brimmed hats that look nice on her. The one style that sets her apart, IMO, is the feather halo style such as the one she wore to the blessing on her marriage to Charles. Would I buy one? No way, but is does set her apart and looks well with her feathered hair