Monthly Archives: May 2016

Jordanian State Visit To Belgium

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King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan arrived yesterday in Belgium for a three day state visit. While the first day saw no hats on either the host or visiting queens, today’s more formal programme (which included the official welcome) was a different story.

Queen Mathilde used this occasion to début a large hat in cream straw with a rounded crown and mushroom shaped brim

The stand out feature of this design is the very wide weave on the straw- a much wider weave than we’re used to seeing on straw hats. This rough weave is balanced by the hat’s crisp cream silk bands around the crown and brim that magically transforms it from something one might see at the beach to something that fits for a state visit. Paired with Mathilde’s streamlined yellow and cream hounds-tooth dress and cream accessories, the hat tops an ensemble that feels summery and effortless yet so very refined.

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: this hat is new
This hat is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory- what do you think of it?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Dedicates Memorial

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Queen Elizabeth visited the National Memorial Arboretum this morning to officially dedicate the Duke of Lancaster’s Regimental Memorial. She was a vision in blue for this event in a straw hat with a high, stepped crown and an upturned brim on one side. It’s a hat we’ve seen before but a hat I’m so pleased to see again. The sharp shape of this design is lovely in its own right but the hat is made spectacular with Rachel Trevor Morgan’s exquisite handmade feather flower trim and the navy edged side bow and triple sash around the crown. That sliver of navy adds such dimension to this hat (especially against the Queen’s collarless coat) and beautifully references the print of her dress.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: July 16, 2015; June 19, 2014
I’m admittedly a great fan of this hat’s proportion and embellishment- what do you think of this design?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Norwegian National Day

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The Norwegian Royal Family celebrated their National Day today with attendance at a children’s parade and a balcony appearance at the royal palace. This year, the women remained in traditional folk dress for all events which meant that the hats were left to the men. King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon both donned silk top hats as part of their morning dress and looked quite handsome, indeed.

British Royals Celebrate Queen’s Birthday

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Members of the British Royal Family gathered this weekend at Windsor for a jam-packed weekend of events that combined two favourites- the Queen and the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Over the weekend, Her Majesty was spotted enjoying the show as a kerchiefed spectator.

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To present the day’s awards, she popped back to the palace to change. On Saturday, she repeated her magenta hat with silk crepe crown and edging around the straw brim, trimmed with flowers and striped feathers.

Queen Elizabeth, May 14, 2016 in Angela Kelly | Royal Hats Queen Elizabeth, May 14, 2016 in Angela Kelly | Royal Hats

Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: July 5, 2015; June 20, 2015

For yesterday’s awards, Queen Elizabeth repeated her pale blue straw hat with domed crown, asymmetrical upturned brim, and silk flower and ribbon trim. While the photo here does neither the hat nor the wearer justice (jump over here to see much better views during its last outing), it remains a beautiful piece and it was nice to see the Queen in it again.

Queen Elizabeth, May 15, 2016 in Rachel Trevor Morgan | Royal Hats

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: June 4, 2015; June 17, 2014; April 20, 2014

The Duke of Edinburgh, who is an accomplished carriage driver, took part in the show throughout the weekend. He looked dapper and relaxed in a white straw fedora with curved brim along with two wool plaid flat caps.

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Prince Michael of Kent also joined in some carriage driving, looking most distinguished in a cream straw fedora. The high crown and exaggerated pinches on this piece give it an interesting shape and the pleated navy band adds a refined touch.

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Lord Frederick and Lady Gabriella Windsor joined their father. Ella’s take on a fedora in dark green featured a tall crown, wide brim and simple bow at the side in coordinating grosgrain ribbon. Freddie’s straw fedora featured a cowboy-hat shaped brim that I’m not fond of. Thankfully, the smart grey and red trim added some polish to the piece.

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The weekend’s climax was a variety show set up in an arena in Windsor Great Park that featured more than 1200 performers, 900 horses and numerous other animals (cows, dogs and a goat). While the Queen did not wear a hat for this evening event, the Princess Royal, Earl of Wessex, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and Zara Tindall, who all took part in the pageant riding horses belonging to the Queen, did.

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So many of the hats we see here lean toward the formal side and it’s a fun change to see more informal pieces. There will be more celebrating (with lots of hats) on the Queen’s official birthday celebration on June 11.
Photos from Getty as indicated; Press Association and NS News Agency Ltd.

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Casual hats for Princess Anne and her granddaughters last weekend at the Badminton Horse trials where Zara Phillips Tindall successfully qualified for the Rio Olympics (Daily Mail)

Infanta Elena donned a chocolate straw fedora to take in a bullfight with her father, King Juan Carlos  (Belga Images)

You’ve just got until Monday to cast your vote in polls for the best new and best repeated royal hats worn in April

Royal Hats

The Swedish Monarchy released beautiful new photos of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia with wee Prince Alexander

The Imperial Household Agency announced plans to scale back official duties of the Emperor and Empress (Japan Times)

During the official launch of her foundation in California, Princess Charlene jumped in the pool with some kids to teach water safety- something that put her SO in her element (Daily Mail)

The Invictus Games were inspiring and Prince Harry was unapologetically their number one fan.

He sat down with Michelle Obama earlier in the week to talk about the games. The interview gives a peek behind the scenes to their recent mic drops and Harry’s approach to unclehood. It’s charming.