As promised, here is the first of two weekly open posts (Mondays and Thursdays) for you to chat and share current royal hat happenings. Please post news, links and your thoughts about royal comings and goings (especially all those which involve hats!) in the comments below. Here is a wonderful yellow hat from the past to kick things off, worn on this day in 1985 by Queen Elizabeth to the School of Equestrian Art.
Photo from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
The first picture must have been reversed: this one is correct, I think.
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/queen-elizabeth-ii-wearing-a-yellow-outfit-and-matching-hat-to-watch-picture-id113179922
Easter 1988: beautiful green.
The picture is reversed, it appears!
http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/52105474-queen-elizabeth-ll-queen-mother-sir-martin-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=hAFA%2bFu2IrjZvm7F2junXTYl88Slk5xHGncwQMxpuXstZnZ%2f%2fhfiSuGcT2VLtLgIZiG8zr6Mulm8uPE5oTVLwA%3d%3d
Easter 1988
A green hat for Queen Elizabeth from the 1970s, most likely. Not sure what to say about it (except that it reminds me, not in a good way, of the head covering that had lots of outings at Chelsea): http://astimesgobye.com/?attachment_id=5076
The event is a year old now, but I don’t recall at the time seeing Charlene wearing her tiara: http://www.newmyroyals.com/2015/01/happy-birthday-princess-charlene-of.html
It looks quite magic so I hope she brings it out for an actual event rather than just a photo shoot.
Members of the Japanese Imperial family attended a music concert on March 30th. Mostly pastel hats.
https://imperialfamilyjapan.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/concert-of-the-music-university-graduates/
Avery thanks for this link. The Japanese Imperial family are wearing some lovely, elegant hats in a good variety of colors. I am surprised that the Empress isn’t wearing any hat.
The Empress isn’t wearing a hat because the concert was held at the Imperial Palace, a.k.a. her home. Per traditional hat etiquette, hostesses never wear a hat in their own home, but female guests never remove their hats (these “rules” are easily seen in Downton Abbey).
Thank you for sharing with us. I really like the teal outfits and matching hats. All of the ladies look beautiful.
I especially liked the young princess with the bright yellow hat. It looked beautiful against her black hair.
Since we weren’t able to get a post in about Queen Elizabeth II’s green hats for March, what about sharing some of our favorite green hats for HM? While there are many I thoroughly love, this one (http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Queen+Elizabeth+II+Queen+Elizabeth+II+Prince+BX8RmqUBgm-l.jpg) she debuted at her meeting with Martin McGuinness will always be one of my all-time favorite hats for HM for many reasons, especially since I’m a huge fan of HM and have a special place in my heart for Northern Ireland.
Two of my favorite (to my knowledge) never-repeated green hats are from her 2009 trip to the Caribbean:
http://www.rexfeatures.com/search/?kw=queen+elizabeth+ii+2009+november&order=newest&iso=GBR&lkw=queen+elizabeth+ii+green+trinidad&viah=Y&stk=N&sft=&iprs=f&search_action_desktop=
http://www.rexfeatures.com/search/?kw=queen+elizabeth+ii+green+trinidad&order=newest&iso=GBR&lkw=queen+elizabeth+ii+green&viah=Y&stk=N&sft=&iprs=f&search_action_desktop=
The straw looks like RTM, the fabric probably AK.
The Queen seems to have given up on dark green, forest green colors that she used to wear in the 1960s and 1970s.
this is just lovely, beautiful details
New topic: the TV documentary, “Our Queen at 90,” is on YouTube in its entirety.
Just finished watching it. A great insight into HM’s 90 years. Especially hearing the voices of various members of the royal family.
I like HM’s yellow hat, sans the netting. (The picture is not in reverse, since her coat is closed the proper way.)
BTW, I thought she looked beautiful on Easter – lovely color for the sunny day.
She clearly was the best dressed of the lot! The weather here was spot on, also.
I’m very glad to see the 1979 fashions in my rear view mirror! Anyone game for 1980 millinery?
Why not?? I’ll post up some just now !!
Embed from Getty Images
Green Tam o shanter
Fantastic photo – lots of memories for me. I met the Queen in Toronto and she was wearing this hat. 1984, I think.
Love your blog! Just found it!
The hat is typical of that era, as is the mohair coat; both are attractive on Her Majesty. I like the rarely-seen color of the outfit.
There are some beautiful hats posted here. I wish the Queen would bring out some of these again or get some more styles of hats made. I am not a fan of most of Angela Kelly’s hats.
Just watched Our Queen at 90 and their was lovely archival footage showing many striking hats. I particularly like the golden sweep-brimmed hat in the Malta footage.
I thought this year’s Easter hat with a small slice brim was very pretty on Her Majesty. FYI, Hat Queen, I think the picture of HM from 1985 is flipped. The Frosted Sunflower Brooch is on her right and she wears brooches on her left, almost exclusively.
I thought that very thing! And it looks as though the programme she’s holding corroborates it, that’s a very fancy back cover otherwise…
With no front cover! Good detective work …
The picture IS flipped!
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/queen-elizabeth-ii-wearing-a-yellow-outfit-and-matching-hat-to-watch-picture-id113179922
Ascot 1979 also saw her sport some lovely hats including,
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
The second hat in particular is a lovely picture hat which suits the Queen well and it’s interesting to see her in so many different styles.
This trip to 1979 is not complete without the beautiful hat worn on a foreign tour, does anyone else agree?
Embed from Getty Images
In the absence of our regular posts why don’t we all post and discuss our thoughts on some of Elizabeth II hats throughout the years, past and present?? She has worn many designs and this is in anticipation of her upcoming birthday.
I will start with this one, quite appropriately from Easter, in 1991. Who else noticed her channelling her mothers style in this period with Halo hats?
Embed from Getty Images
Is that a scarf under the hat? I like it!
I actually think it is part of the ribbon and bow seen under the crown of he hat from behind although HatQueen may have a better idea on her return. This video http://youtu.be/BGW2no722nI gives a better idea of the hat from behind. Check out the Queen and her mothers hats, both so similar styles.
I love this hat and the whole outfit. It did not remind me of her mother immediately because of the non-pastel color! I wish she gave us more variety these days.
I love this hat and the whole outfit. It did not remind me of her mother imm’Mediately because of the non-pastel color! I wish she gave us more variety these days.
Regarding the Queen Mum’s hats, there is a millinery video on youtube with the Queen mother’s hat block. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGaPDCEK6as, somewhere around the 5:30 mark. It’s really evocative of her sweet look.
I thought I was the only person in here who thought that. The Queen’s hats presently are not kind to her.
I wonder how much say she actually has in the whole matter. I also do not like the tiny hats with heavy winter type coats. In my opinion they are totally unbalanced.
I agree with the hats often not being balanced with the clothes. I don’t like the small hats with winter coats and I especially dislike straw or sinamey with winter clothes or felt with summery things. The hat should complement not only the rest of the clothes; but the physical surroundings. I don’t want to see spring/summer hats against bare tree branches and wintery skies.
I also agree. Some of her current hats veer a bit too much into the “Dr. Seuss” realm. I’m not sure Angela Kelly is the best hat designer……
I love the shape of this hat. It is much “kinder” than the many hats she wears currently, with thir sharp brims and hard-edged crowns. I do wish she would wear softer, rounder hats….
I agree. The style above is very flattering.