Crown Princess Masako celebrated her 52nd birthday last Wednesday. As per tradition, she visited the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Palace on this day, arriving in a new, pale blue silk brimless hat. While the shape is very simple (one cannot tell if it is a pillbox or a bumper), the colour is lovely.
As we send Princess Masako belated greetings, I thought it might be fun to pick up with our own birthday tradition here at Royal Hats and suggest what hats we would like to see her repeat in the year ahead. My pick for Masako is this a wonderful 1940s inspired, raspberry velvet and beaded beret cocktail hat that she wore back in December 1999. The shape is so interesting and the colour is just fantastic on her.
What hats would you like to see Princess Masako bring out of her millinery wardrobe for another outing?
Photo from Getty as indicated and Asahi Shimbun via Getty
Royal Hats 
Masako looks wonderful for being 52! I would love to bring back the navy hat with feathers she wore to the wedding of Philippe and Mathilde in 1999. Other options to see repeated include the navy pillbox and outfit from the Emperor’s birthday in 2008 and the cream pillbox and dress from the Dutch inauguration in 2013, which I adored because the details and print were so exquisite. As others have said, Masako has never worn a hat I disliked!
Realized I failed to comment on her latest hat. The ice blue is another beautiful color for her and that great smile always wins!
Happy Birthday Crown Princess Masako! I cannot believe she is 52 years old, because she looks about 30 tops! She has a beautiful complexion. It is always good to see her lovely style and smile. I do like the bright blue colour of her hat, and I wish for more details. I don’t think I have ever seen her wear one hat I disliked. This raspberry velvet and beaded beret cocktail hat is a perfect match for her dress, and this is one of my all-time favourite hats and outfits from her. I also really loved the brimmed hat and matching orange suit she wore for the Dutch State visit to Japan Posted on October 29, 2014 by HatQueen.
Anything she has in her hat wardrobe! I’d just like to see her more often. She’s gorgeous, elegant, never seems to put a foot wrong, at least in public -everything an Empress-to-be should be.
Pretty.
She looks lovely! (So glad to see her smiling!) I do like that raspberry velvet hat very much! Hope we see it again.
I’m admiring the hat she wore for her birthday visit last week to the Emperor and Empress. CP Masako looks lovely. Many happy returns!