Yearly Archives: 2015

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Princess Anne, Zara and Mia Philips in casual hats at the Gatcombe Park Horse Trials (Getty)

Sweet photos of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire with their twin princes making Limburg pies in a Hasselt bakery (Svenskdam)

The Duchess of Cornwall in one of her ‘old faithfuls’ at The Prince’s Countryside Fund Raceday at Ascot Racecourse last weekend (Getty)

Great interview with Canadian milliner David Dunkley (who trained under Rose Cory, longtime milliner of the Queen Mother) who shares a secret about the Queen Mum’s hats (The Globe and Mail)

Royal Hats

The Duke of Edinburgh spotted driving a carriage around the town of Windsor this week (Daily Mail)

Review of Crown Princess Mary’s fashion on her recent trip to Japan (Royal Order of Sartorial Splendour)

Interesting photo gallery of Queen Elizabeth II and the 12 Prime Ministers of her reign (so far) (Getty)

Queen Elizabeth’s Easter Hats

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Reader Alexandra posed the following questions: “Does Queen Elizabeth always wear a new hat for Easter Sunday? Are these hats always in pastel colors like they were the past two years?”  For an answer, here is a look back at the hats the Queen has worn so far this century:

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A previously worn tweed Breton hat with green velvet brim for Easter Sunday, 2000;
New designs for 2001 and 2003 in red and green with feathers 

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Three repeats: A pale lime hat with sharply upturned brim for Easter 2004; a pale blue hat with quills in 2005; a Philip Somerville design in turquoise straw with diagonal crown in 2006

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A new burgundy textured straw hat with silk rose trim by Rachel Trevor Morgan in 2007 and pale pink felt hat with a gold embroidered crown in 2008; a repeated Rachel Trevor Morgan cloche in blue silk in 2009

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3 Repeats: Rachel Trevor Morgan hats in purple and blue in 2010 & 2011; mauve Philip Somerville with leaf in 2012

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New hats from Rachel Trevor Morgan: pink felt with feather pompom in 2013 and ice blue straw with silk flowers in 2014

UPDATE- Since this post was first published, the following hats have been worn by Her Majesty on Easter Sunday

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A repeated blue felt Angela Kelly design on April 5, 2015; a new yellow straw Rachel Trevor Morgan in 2016

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New aqua hat with pink flowers by in 2017; a repeated mulbery straw design in 2018, both by Rachel Trevor Morgan

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Repeated blue straw and silk cloque hat with pink trim by Angela Kelly in 2019

It’s a nearly even mix of new and repeated designs in a variety of colours (some pastel Easter shades and others not!) and shapes.  So to answer your question, Alexandra, I suspect the Queen dresses as many of us do on any given day- based on the weather of the day and her current mood! Thanks for your question.

Photos from Tim Graham and Wire Image via Getty; Picture Press/Camera Press/Mark Stewart;  

Queen And Duke Celebrate Maundy Thursday in Sheffield

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Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh attended Royal Maundy Service at Sheffield Cathedral this morning. For this event, the Queen, who distributed traditional Royal Maundy money, wore her turquoise wool hat with tall, hourglass shaped crown trimmed with a simple black velvet rosette.  While I am still not a fan of the sharply curved and bulbous looking crown, I love the colour on the Queen and appreciate the touch of whimsy this hat lends to this ensemble.

Designer: Angela Kelly.  Coat by Stewart Parvin.
Previously Worn: October 16, 2014

Photos from Getty as indicated

Seeing Double: Princess Eugenie

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Royal HatsThis weekend will undoubtedly bring us a parade of royal hats as numerous royal families celebrate Easter. While I’m not sure if Princess Eugenie will return to England from New York and join her family for Easter Sunday Service at St. George’s Chapel, she has two very fitting Easter hats in her closet to call up on if she does. Two years ago, Eugenie stepped out on two versions of Robyn Coles’ Lily Beret – one in dark green with a classic white lily and the other, in deep purple. It’s not every day we see a giant lily with soaring spadix on the side of of a hat and this unique trim sets this hat apart from all other embellished cocktail berets. The distinctive nature of this hat’s design makes me curious not just about why Princess Eugenie chose two versions of this hat, but why she wore both versions within the space of a week.

At a May 30, 2013 Palace Garden Party and at the June 2, 2013 60th anniversary celebration of the Queen’s coronation

Curiosity aside, don’t you agree that the white and green version would be a cheekily perfect Easter bonnet?

Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Elizabeth Accepts Tea Invitation

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Queen Elizabeth accepted an invitation to tea in Warwickshire at the home of a longtime admirer who proudly served Her Majesty on Royal Doulton china with hand-painted periwinkles. In a serendipitous turn of events, the Queen and her host, Mrs. Richard Bucket (pronounced boo-KAY) attended the much anticipated event in two versions of the same Frederick Fox designed hat. The hat, with a distinctive upfolded brim and trimmed with oversize pompom and curled quills, was worn in a black, white and green version by the Queen and a hyacinth pink and purple version by Mrs. Bucket. Despite the millinery mixup, it appears an enjoyable visit was had by all and Mrs. Bucket was heard boisterously extending an invitation to “an executive candlelight supper” as the pair bid farewell at the end of the visit.

Royal Hats APRIL FOOLS!!!

After Her Majesty’s departure, Mrs. Bucket discussed the visit at length with journalists outside her home. She confirmed she had served the Queen biscuits from a tin bearing the royal warrant and went on to make multiple, curious comparisons between the monarch and her Mercedes-driving relative with a sauna and room for a pony.

 

 

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Thanks to reader Baxter for passing on this photo and instigating this silliness.