Yearly Archives: 2015

Imperial Couple Remember Hanshin Tragedy

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Last Friday and Saturday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko traveled to the Hyōgo Prefecture to take part in commemoration events for the 20th anniversary of the Great Hanshin earthquake (in 1995, Southern Hyōgo Prefecture was severely devastated by a magnitude 7.2  earthquake which destroyed major parts of the cities of Kobe,  Awaji, Takarazuka and Osaka and claimed the lives of 6,500 people). On Friday, the Imperial couple visited Hyōgo Emergency Medical Center in Kobe City. Empress Michiko’s petite saucer hat was made of the same finely patterned black and white check as her suit. This hat was trimmed with a half-black-half-checked bow and small white blossoms- trims I thought fell rather flat

Empress Michiko, January 16, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

On Saturday, the Imperial couple attended a formal remembrance service. Empress Michiko repeated her dove grey rimmed saucer hat with dark grey puffed bow for this event. I really like the dimension and contrast this bow lends to this hat.

Empress Michiko, January 17, 2015 | Royal Hats Empress Michiko, January 17, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: April 11, 2014; December 6, 2013; December 2, 2013

Photos from Sankei, Sankei and Asahi

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa took part in an anti-terrorist march in Luxembourg (Luxarazzi)

Queen Elizabeth in her vibrant royal blue and turquoise fringed hat for church at Sandringham last weekend (Rex Features)

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway enjoyed a fishing excursion (Royal House of Norway) and, joined by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, opened the “Year for Outdoor Life” campaign in Oslo (Getty)

Charlotte Casiraghi sporting a lovely plum fedora on a trip to Rome (Plejada)

It was a first year of numerous hats for little Mia Tindall. Wishing her a Happy Birthday! (The Daily Mail)

John Boyd Hats has launched a ready-to-wear line (John Boyd)

Royal Hats

Continuing Prince Michael of Kent’s birthday celebration with a look at her jewels Part 1 & Part 2 (The Court Jeweller)

Series of Queen Fabiola memorial stamps released in Belgium (Noblesse et Royautes)

Interesting account of a job interview at Buckingham Palace (Royal Central)

Overview of the Battle of Waterloo in preparation to celebrate its 200th anniversary (Royal Central)

The Winners: Favourite Royal Hats of 2014

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Royal HatsWhile the vote for least favourite royal hat of 2014 was incredibly close (and yielded two ties!), the race to choose your favourite piece of royal millinery worn last year was a breakaway sprint for five unquestionably beautiful hats. These five clear winners are:

5

Countess of Wessex, June 19, 2014 in Jane Taylor | Royal Hats  Countess of Wessex, June 19, 2014 in Jane Taylor | Royal Hats

The Countess of Wessex in a black wave hat worn June 19, designed by Jane Taylor

4

Princess Mary, October 7, 2014 | Royal Hats  Princess Mary, October 7, 2014 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Mary in a purple felt pillbox hat by Jane Taylor worn on October 7

3

Queen Máxima, May 26, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats Queen Máxima, May 26, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima’s black and white picture hat by Fabienne Delvigne worn on May 26

2

Princess Haya, June 19, 2014 in Philip Treacy | Royal Hats

 Princess Haya in a fantastic black and white Philip Treacy design worn to Ascot on June 19 

And your1 royal hat of 2014 was…

Queen Máxima, October 15, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats  Queen Máxima, October 15, 2014 in Fabienne Delvigne | Royal Hats

Queen Máxima’s boysenberry wool picture hat with upturned brim worn October 15, designed by Fabienne Delvigne

It appears, dear readers, that Philip Treacy’s 2013 predicted death of the fascinator was indeed, correct. These five winning hats create an elegant lineup of classic shapes with a little fantasy thrown in for good measure. I think that makes a foolproof formula for marvelous royal millinery. To see the runners up in this category, click over to this post.

Congratulations to Belgian milliner Fabienne Delvigne who, for the second consecutive year, designed your favourite royal hat of the year. To all the top royal milliners who created these beautiful hats- Fabienne Delvigne, Philip Treacy and Jane Taylor – we salute you!

Photos from Max Mumby/Indigo, Max Mumby/Indigo, Julian Parker, Alexander Koerner, Alexander Koerner and Mark Cuthbert via Getty; and Patrick van Katwijk via Corbis

Princess Kako Pays Respect to Royal Ancestors

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Princess Kako visited the royal mausoleums in Hachioji City yesterday. On this visit, she conducted a traditional royal rite of passage and reported her recent coming of age to the spirits of her ancestors Emperor Taisho, Empress Teimei, Emperor Showa, and Empress Kojun, all who were laid to rest at this place. For this somber event, Princess Kako wore a black bowler style hat with slightly upturned brim and a band around the crown.

Princess Kako, January 15, 2015 | Royal Hats      Princess Kako, January 15, 2015 | Royal Hats

Photos from Asahi

Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading 2015

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On January 14, members of the Imperial Royal Family attended the annual New Years Poetry reading held at the Imperial Palace. You can read English translations of some of the poetry at the Imperial Household Agency website.

The Imperial Princesses all attended this event in traditional court dress. Princess Kiko led in a bumper hat made of the same pale blue silk as her gown. Worn back on her head, almost like a calot, her hat was trimmed in a bow at the back. I’m afraid the effect, combined with her 1980s style of gown, was rather twee.

Princess Kiko, January 14, 2015 | Royal Hats Princess Kiko, January 14, 2015 | Royal Hats

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

Princess Kako topped her buttercup yellow jacquard gown with a coordinating headpiece. The puffed Alice band, trimmed with silk blooms behind her ears, worked well on the young princess and contrasted nicely with her dark hair. Having just come out into her royal life, Princess Kako is new to the world of royal millinery and this embellished headband made for a good “starter piece”.

Princess Kako, January 14, 2015 | Royal Hats Princess Kako, January 14, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Hanako of Hitachi repeated her dark green velvet hat with clamshell-shaped bumper brim and ostrich feather trim. I adore this theatrical hat because it stands out amid the rather sedate millinery choices we usually see on Imperial royal heads. It is also a beautiful compliment to Hanako’s forest green velvet gown.

  

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: January 10, 2014; Jan 4, 2011

Princess Nobuko looked elegant in a pale grey structured gown topped with a coordinating pillbox hat. The pleated sides of the pillbox provided great contrast to the sleek lines of her gown (a phrase I never thought I would write about a member of the Imperial family!). Her daughter, Princess Akiko, repeated her lime green rounded pillbox hat.

Princess Nobuko: Designer unknown. I believe this hat is new
Princess Akiko: Designer unknown. Previously Worn January 10, 2014

Princess Hisako of Takamado repeated her deep purple bumper hat with feather trim at the back while her daughter, Princess Tsuguko, looked to be wearing a stunning headpiece of overlapping leaves in various shades of purple, trimmed in gold.

Princess Hisako: Designer unknown.  
Princess Tsuguko: Designer unknown.

Did any of these Imperial royal hats stand out to you?

Photos from Asahi and Sankei