After looking at the first wave of Queen Elizabeth’s many blue hats worn over the past six years, we’re continuing our inventory with a look at what I’m calling the “Medium Blue” hats. Here are they are, in the order they were introduced into the Queen’s wardrobe:

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Designer: unknown; unknown (likely Philip Somerville); Angela Kelly
Introduced: May 16, 2004; November 3, 2004; November 28, 2008  

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan; Rachel Trevor Morgan; Angela Kelly
Introduced: June 3, 2010; July 4, 2010; July 4, 2010   

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Designer: Angela Kelly; Angela Kelly; Rachel Trevor Morgan
Introduced: May 20, 2011; October 22, 2011; June 2, 2012

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Introduced: June 6, 2012; August 5, 2018

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan; Angela Kelly; Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren)
Introduced: December 25, 2012; June 21, 2013; October 23, 2013

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Designer:  Rachel Trevor Morgan; Angela Kelly 
Introduced: June 19, 2014; July 4, 2014

UPDATE: Since this inventory was first published, Queen Elizabeth has added four new medium blue designs:

16a. 16b.
Designer:  Angela Kelly
Introduced:June 21, 2017 and updated with different trim July 13, 2018

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Designer:  Rachel Trevor Morgan; Angela Kelly; unconfirmed
Introduced: November 16, 2017; August 6, 2018; September 9, 2018

20.
Designer:  Rachel Trevor Morgan
Introduced: June 28, 2021

While I suspect #2 has been retired, it appears that the remaining fourteen are still in service (#1’s last outing was in September 2013). I’m struck by the varied brim shapes (they really are going off in all directions!) and diverse trims- everything from navy lace to feathered flowers to metallic straw twists. I’m also fascinated by the consistent imprint of these hats- they are all a very similar size. After 70 years of full-time hat wearing, it’s no surprise that the Queen has a good sense of what works for her and sticks to it. She clearly loves blue and looks beautiful in it.

Which pieces in this group stand out most to you? Which ones would you like to steal for your own millinery wardrobe? Stay tuned first thing tomorrow, we’ll look at the turquoise hats before concluding this mini-series with the Queen’s light blue hats.

Photos from Chris Jackson, Carl Court/Stringer, Andrew Milligan, Jeff Mitchell and Chris Jackson/WPA Pool via Getty

It’s the post a number of you have been waiting for- an inventory of Queen Elizabeth’s blue hats! Because of the immense volume within this category (60+), we’re going to limit our look to hats in worn within the past six years and spread things over four posts. Let’s begin with the dark blue hats in the order they were introduced into the Queen’s wardrobe:

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Designer: Angela Kelly; Rachel Trevor Morgan
Introduced: June 29, 2010 (reworked and reintroduced June 5, 2014); June 2008

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan;#4 and #5 are both Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren
Introduced: April 27, 2011;  October 28, 2011; August 7, 2012

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Designer: all Angela Kelly
Introduced: March 28, 2013; July 4, 2013; 

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Designer: all Angela Kelly
Introduced:November 14, 2013; October 21, 2014 (reworked and reintroduced May 10, 2015); 

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Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren; Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren; unknown;
Introduced:June 17, 2015; June 25, 2015; May 3, 2011

UPDATE: My apologies, everyone, but another sweep through the archives uncovered another dark blue hat (see #12 above). I know little about this modified Homburg except that it was last worn in 2011. And, since this inventory was published, the Queen has added several dark blue hats:

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Designer:  Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren; Rachel Trevor Morgan 
Introduced:  March 29, 2018; Jun 29, 2019

15.  16.

Designer: both are Rachel Trevor Morgan; 
Introduced: Jun 30, 2021; Oct 12, 2021

I find the diversity within this narrow category surprising- within these dark blue hats we find numerous shapes and a wide variety of trims (pleats, feathers, flowers, metallic braid, curls, lace, fringe, and several bows). I suspect that as we move through the other shades of blue within Queen Elizabeth’s closet, we will be less awed by different shapes than by an incredible spectrum of trimmings. I love the appliqué work on hats #4 and #5 while the incredible festive nature of #3 always makes me smile. Which hats here stand out most to you?

Photos from Boris Roessler/dpa via Corbis; Duncan McGlynn/Scottish Parliament – Pool; Andrew Milligan-WPA Pool; and Frank Augstein – WPA Pool via Getty