Swedish Monarchs Arrive in Lithuania for State Visit

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Royal Hats

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrived in Lithuania this morning to begin a two day state visit at the invitation of President Dalia Grybauskaite. For the official welcoming this morning and visits at the Presidential Palace and the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament), Queen Silvia wore a red felt calot hat trimmed with three small fabric flowers on the left side. Paired with a red coat, scarf and shoes, the ensemble seemed boringly one note until Queen Silvia removed the coat and it suddenly made sense. Her red and blue silk dress is the star and this small red hat set it off well.

View image | gettyimages.com

Queen Silvia, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unconfirmed
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new.

Photos from Getty as indicated and Bu Peng/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Danish Opening of Parliament

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Royal Hats

The Danish Royal Family gathered together yesterday in Copenhagen to witness the official opening of Parliament. Queen Margrethe led her family at this annual event with a repeat of her red felt hat trimmed in bands of the same tweed as her suit. While it’s a serviceable enough working ensemble and Margrethe wears such classic millinery shapes well, I was disappointed not to see a new hat for the Queen at this high profile event.

Queen Margrethe, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: November 18, 2014; May 4, 2014; March 13, 2013; November 14, 2013

Crown Princess Mary set off a beautiful silver lace pencil skit with a black tunic, accessories and her much worn black felt calot hat. In an unexpected move, she added new life to the piece with spray of large felt leaves and feathers added to the side. It’s a brilliant move to rejuvenate an old hat and I thought the piece was elevated by the addition.

Crown Princess Mary, October 6, 2015 in Susanne Juul | Royal Hats

Designer: Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: May 4, 2015; April 8, 2015; May 9, 2014; November 8, 2012; November 7, 2011

Princess Marie repeated the purple felt hat she unveiled back in March for the Dutch state visit. The piece, which has a similar feel to a fedora (but without the distinctive pinches at the the top of the crown that characterize a fedora), is a fantastic shape, scale and colour for Marie and she wears it very well.

Princess Marie, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: March 17, 2015

Princess Benedikte was the only member of the family to début a new hat. In sky blue felt, her hat included the pinched crown of a fedora, the indented top of a Pork Pie and the sharply upfolded diagonal brim of a ‘slice’. With so much going on with the shape of this piece, the designer did well to leave the hat unembellished and Princess Benedikte paired it beautifully with a streamlined beige coat, charcoal accessories and blue jewels. It’s an interesting hat that looks wonderful on her.

Princess Benedikte, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats Princess Mary and Princess Benedikte, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

As with years past, yesterday’s opening of Parliament brought a quartet of interesting Danish Royal hats. Which one(s) stood out most to you?

Opening of the Danish parliament, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

Danish Princess Celebrates Academic Anniversary

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Royal Hats

Princess Benedikte of Denmark was in Kiel, Germany yesterday to take part in a ceremony marking the 350th anniversary of the Christian-Abrechts-Universitaet. For this celebration, she repeated her red felt beret with stepped crown. I have long been a fan of the interesting shape of this hat and find the vibrant colour a great match for Princess Benedikte. While I’m still on the fence about the other elements in this ensemble (the blouse and earrings, to be exact), the princess’ ecru suit grounds the overall picture and allows the hat to be noticed on its own merit. In the end, it’s a very successful way to wear a royal hat. Princess Benedikte, October 5, 2015 in Susanne Juul | Royal Hats

Designer: Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: October 3, 2014; April 23, 2013; October 2, 2012; February 13, 2012

Photos from Carsten Rehder/dpa/Corbis, Carsten Rehder/dpa/Corbis and Carsten Rehder/dpa/Corbis

Mikasa Princess Attends Self Defence Awards

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Royal Hats

Princess Akiko of Mikasa attended the 13th annual People’s Self-Defense Officials Awards today in Tokyo to honor distinguished service in the Self-Defence Forces of Japan. For this event, she wore a new cloche style hat in grey felt with sharply upturned brim on one side. Cloche hats are not usually associated with dramatic shapes and the treatment of this brim sets this hat apart. While I would have preferred a more exciting colour, the shape of this piece works well on Akiko and her bobbed hairstyle.

Princess Akiko, October 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

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

Photo from Sankei

Belgian Monarchs Welcome Turkish State Visit

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Royal Hats

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan on state visit this morning in Brussels. For the occasion, Queen Mathilde wore her royal blue calot hat trimmed with a small spray of dark blue feathers. The hat, made from the same chevron woven silk as her coat and dress, might be an overly prim piece on its own but combines with the ensemble to create a streamlined and elegant overall look. I’m not always a fan of outfits in the same fabric from head to toe but in this case, it works very well.

Queen Mathilde, October 5, 2015 in Elvis Pompilio | Royal Hats