Queen Mathilde was at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo today to present awards to laureates of this year’s prestigious Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition. She used this event to début a new calot headpiece made of what looks to be black textured silk. The design features numerous cut-outs across the back that give it a light and summery feel that works beautifully with Mathilde’s leaf printed silk dress.
Designer: likely Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Some other reports suggest today’s hat is the same as the one Mathilde wore during her and the King’s inaugural visit to England on March 13, 2014 (below left) or on her visit to Ypres last summer (below right). You’ll note that both of these designs are in fact, different.
The design worn by the Belgian Queen today has a much lighter feel than her other black headpieces, making it a great one for summer. While we didn’t have the best view of it today, what are your initial impressions?
Royal Hats 
Here is a much better view of this headpiece- a view, I’m afraid, that greatly decreases my like for it. It looks like a sinister hand on Queen Mathilde’s head- pretty creepy.
I love it and agree it is a perfect match for her dress! She looks lovely.
The texture and shapes really make this hat. It’s less formal than the other two and a good match to her dress and the occasion. Would love to get a closer view.
I like these small calot style hats on the back of the head. They add that touch of formality which is Queen Mathilde’s style without hiding her hair or face. These hats fit well with her hairstyles and blend in with her outfits. In other words they don’t take the attention away from her face. But they do have a prettiness or interesting construction of their own, which I think the people attending these events would be able to appreciate when they see her in person.
Nice for summer and nice paired with this dress.
This is the problem with calots: because they’re worn on the back of the head, we can’t really see them and appreciate any of the work that went into creating them. Honestly, I find this disappointing. Mathilde looks lovely, but for me, she might as well not even wear a hat at this rate if she’s gonna still with calots we can hardly ever see.
Definitely not the same hat. She looks chic as always. Beautiful dress.
I dunno. Did she really need another black hat to wear on the back of her head? I guess it’s different than the others so why not.