Yearly Archives: 2015

Catching Up On Two Imperial Hats

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Late last week, Princess Nobuko of Mikasa was in Wakayama  to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the city’s Red Cross Society branch. The princess, who is Honorary Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross, wore a in a smart navy boater hat trimmed with a fan bow at the side for the event. It is a simple hat that was greatly elevated by the stylishly jaunty angle that Nobuko placed it on her head.

Princess Nobuko, November 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: March 28, 2015

On Sunday, Princess Mako of Akishino fulfilled her duty as Honorary President of Japan Tennis Association by attending  the National Tennis Championships in Tokyo. For this, she wore a chocolate brown bowler hat which looked to be trimmed with a slim bow at the back. This simple hat is less successful in my mind, perhaps because it’s a shape regularly favoured by Mako’s mother Princess Kiko. I’d love to see her in more youthfully styled millinery.

Princess Mako, November 8, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Mako, November 8, 2015 | Royal HatsDesigner: unknown
Previously Worn: November 29, 2013

Photos from WBC and Yomiuri

British And Dutch Royals Pay Tribute at Remembrance Sunday

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More than 10,000 veterans gathered in London today to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. Members of the British Royal Family were in attendance to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph, led as usual by the Queen.

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Her Majesty chose a new hat for this year’s ceremony with a tall, squared crown covered in the same silk wool crepe as her coat. The hat’s upturned straw brim was edged in a wide band of the same fabric and a slim silk band circled around the straight sides of the crown, anchored by two buttons.

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Designer: Angela Kelly, made by Stella McLaren
Previously Worn: This hat is new.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands after the end of World War II, the Dutch monarchs were invited to participate (the first to do so). King Willem-Alexander laid a memorial wreath at the Cenotaph while Queen Máxima watched the ceremony from the balcony of the Foreign Office with Vice Admiral Sir Laurence, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex.

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Queen Máxima wore a new black velvet fur felt picture hat with a soaring, curving brim. The hat’s only embelishments were a slim black feather spine and a silk ribbon around the base of the crown. While this hat is very grand, Máxima carried it with an elegance that downplayed its drama and made it fit appropriately for this sombre event.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a new percher hat in black fur felt. The half bumper half cocktail hat features a moulded brim that folds high above the top of her head, a net tulle veil, and cut work flowers trimmed centred with black pearl beads. While we have seen Kate in many percher hats, the use of a veil and the unique shape of this piece sets it slightly apart from the many others in her closet.

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Designer: Sylvia Fletcher for Lock and Co. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Countess of Wessex also wore a new hat today. Described by the designer as an “intricate cocktail hat with rose patterned lace (and) veiling,” the the lavish trim on this piece was anchored by a moulded black felt beret base. We don’t see very many royal hats trimmed in lace and the rose patterned lace cut-outs on this piece are particularly striking.

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Designer: Jane Taylor. I believe it is a bespoke version of the Omo design
Previously Worn:

Princess Michael of Kent wore a simple black hat with raised halo brim and the Duchess of Gloucester wore a bumper hat in black velvet with silk ribbon trim on the side.

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Designer: Princess Michael’s hat is John Boyd. The Duchess of Gloucester’s hat is an unknown design.
Previously Worn: I believe Princess Michael`s hat is new. The Duchess wore this hat November 10, 2014

The only repeated hat among the female royal spectators was that worn by Princess Alexandra of Kent. The simply shaped black wool piece is trimmed with a crushed velvet sash around the crown and piping round the edge of the brim which repeats on the collar on her coat for a unified ensemble.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: November 10, 2014; March 2, 2005; 1996

The British royal princess and Princess Royal appeared in military uniform as they do each year, lending both a sense of formality and personal connection between the British Royal Family and the many service men and women who are remembered on this day.

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Photos from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Prince Harry joined his grandfather to pay tribute at Westminster Abbey’s Field of Remembrance (Daily Mail)

The Imperial royal family hosted a traditional tea party to honour recipients of the Order of Culture and the Persons of Cultural Merit. Crown Princess Masako repeated her pumpkin bumper hat (Imperial Family of Japan)

Crown Princess Mary in a snug knit hat for the annual Hubertus Hunt (Svenskdam)

Royal Hats

Christie’s opened an exhibition of photographs taken by Prince Nikolaos of Greece (Soundwall)

Great overview of the Earl of Wessex’s visit to Canada this week (Crown Chronicles)

Lovely new photos of the young Belgian princesses and princes (HLN)

Luxarazzi linked to this interesting interview by Archduke Imre about his great grandparents (Aleteia)

And finally, Queen Máxima and Crown Princess Mary both spoke at the 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters held at The Hague. Their speeches are below.

Swedish Royals Host State Visit

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Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and his wife Saida were welcomed by the Swedish Royal Family this week for the first state visit paid by the country since 1963. For their arrival on Tuesday, Queen Silvia repeated the moulded white calot hat she first wore for the opening of Swedish parliament this year. The photo below shows a better view of the back trim on the hat which consists of a pearl studded white silk flower and several leaves made of brown feathers.

Queen Silvia, November 4, 2015 | Royal Hats

 Queen Silvia, November 4, 2015 | Royal Hats Queen Silvia, November 4, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. My guess is Kerstin Carlefalk. 
Previously Worn: September 15, 2015;  June 8, 2015

Crown Princess Victoria repeated her navy ruffled flower and leaf fascinator trimmed with navy feathers. While the height and sense of movement in this piece did balance her sleek coat, I don’t think it was the right choice for this ensemble and I found myself wishing, yet again, for Victoria to invest in a cream hat or two to pull out for these kinds of events.

Crown Princess Victoria, November 4, 2014 | Royal Hats Crown Princess Victoria, November 4, 2014 | Royal Hats Crown Princess Victoria, November 4, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown:
Previously Worn: August 30, 2014

Yesterday, Princess Victoria showed her continued love for black and white hair bows with the début of a new piece (her third by my count). While this headpiece does a great job of tying together her white coat and black accessories, it’s still a little twee for my liking.

Princess Victoria, November 5, 2015 in Evelina Persson | Royal Hats   Princess Victoria, November 5, 2015 in Evelina Persson | Royal Hats

Princess Victoria, November 5, 2015 in Evelina Persson | Royal Hats

Designer: Evelina Persson
Previously Worn: This piece is new

What did you think of the hats and headpieces worn this week in Sweden?

Photos from ANDERS WIKLUND / TT/epa/Corbis; Dana Press; Stella Pictures via Svenskdam; Henrik Montgomery/TT and Anders Wiklund/TT via Expressen; Kunahuset Instagram; Charles Hammarsten/IBL via Svenskdam; and IBL via Svenskdam

Queen Elizabeth Visits Military Care Centre

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Queen Elizabeth was in Gloucestershire today to visit Imjin Barracks’ joint casualty and compassionate centre. For this event, she repeated her orchid purple hat with tall, domed crown and fuchsia arrow feather trim.

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This profile view shows that this hat’s crown is not centred on its brim – there is an almost visor-like wider brim around the front of the hat and a very short brim at the back. This interesting design customizes a perfect fit for Her Majesty, placing the hat at the best possible spot on her head (tilted back a little to give a clear view of her face) without the back of the brim covering her neck.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: March 20, 2015; December 25, 2014

Have any of you noticed a similar brim shape on any of the Queen’s other hats?
Photos from Getty as indicated