Catching Up With Danish Royals

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Royal Hats

The past two days have been busy ones for the Danish royal family. Yesterday, Princess Benedikte, Princess Elisabeth and the Count and Countess of Rosenborg attended the opening of an exhibition on legendary Russian court jeweller Fabergé and his connection to the Danish Royals at the museum at Koldinghus Castle. For this event, Princess Benedikte repeated her raspberry straw wide-brimmed picture hat with a narrow band around the crown. We have seen this hat with a variety of different ensembles and I thought its pairing with her grey dress and pearls hit just the right note. I love it when an ensemble shows a hat off to greatest effect and such was the case here. It’s such a beautiful piece on Benedikte.

Princess Benedikte, May 12, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: I suspect Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: June 5, 2015; September 8, 2013; August 3, 2013; April 24, 2013

Princess Elisabeth wore a hat of cerulean blue straw with a gently upturned brim and what looks to be a straw bow on the side. The combination of blue and green in her ensemble was unexpectedly fresh and I only wish there were better photos so we could have a closer peek. You’ll notice that in the lower photo, Countess Susie did not wear a hat.

Princess Benedikte and Princess Elisabeth, May 12, 2016 | Royal Hats

Today, Princess Benedikte was on hand to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Danish National Association for eating disorders and self-harm. For this event, she looked to be wearing a bronze hat although I believe the lighting is playing tricks on it and it is the same coffee coloured straw designer that she wore for the Swedish King’s birthday festivities two weeks ago (the crown and brim shapes on both hats are identical, making me surmise it is the same piece). Interestingly, it looks like the large flower that appeared on this hat last time was removed, leaving a more simple bow embellishment. Hopefully, the flower trim will return at a future wearing and give us a chance to catch a better view.

Princess Benedikte, May 13, 2016 | Royal Hats

Any thoughts on this trio of Danish royal hats?

Photos from Jydske Vestkysten and Keld Navntoft

British Royals Celebrate Children’s Charity

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Royal Hats

Several members of the British Royal Family attended a garden party today at Buckingham Palace in honour of the 150th anniversary of the children’s charity, Barnardo’s. The Duchess of Cornwall led the group in her massive pink straw picture hat with gently raised brim. The brim shape is the only gentle thing about this piece, which is lavishly trimmed in silk cabbage roses, feather ‘leaf’ sprays, spiralled feather spines and sweeping loops and waves of silk ribbon. While the hat is all about grand excess, Camilla manages (thanks, in part, to a spectacular necklace) to own the piece instead of being dwarfed by it. That’s no small millinery feat.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: June 15, 2014; June 19, 2012; June 7, 2011 ; August 15, 2010; June 12, 2010; June 17, 2009

Princess Alexandra repeated her ice blue straw hat with tall crown wrapped in coordinating net tulle while the Duchess of Gloucester wore her raspberry straw hat with tulle trim sash and back bow. While both hats look a little plain compared to Camilla’s millinery extravaganza, they each worked with their wearers’ blue ensembles and were perfectly reasonable choices for a garden party.

Princess Alexandra, May 12, 2016 in Rachel Trevor Morgan | Royal Hats

The Duchess of Gloucester, May 12, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer of Princess Alexandra’s hat: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: June 13, 2015; May 20, 2015; October 18, 2011; May 8, 2010
Designer of the Duchess of Gloucester’s hat: unknown
Previously Worn: June 17, 2015; June 13, 2015; June 17, 2014

Princess Alexandra, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Gloucester, May 12, 2016 | Royal Hats

I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Camilla’s hat is a lot.. but is it too much?

Photos from Getty as indicated; The British Monarchy and The British Monarchy

Romanian Royals Celebrate Crown

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Royal Hats

On Tuesday, members of the Romanian royal family celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Romanian crown with events held in Bucharest and Sinaia. The day’s events included a military ceremony, garden party and outdoor concert, and the first raising of the royal standard at Peleș Royal Castle since 1947. While King Michael’s health prevented his attendance, the Romanian princesses all joined in the celebration.

Romanian Royal Family, May 10, 2016 | Royal Hats

Crown Princess Margareta wore a turquoise straw hat with wide brim designed by Romanian designer Kristina Dragomir. Its placement, far back on her head, allowed the appliqué lace flowers flowers and leaves on the underside of the brim to frame her face. A wide twist of pleated purple straw placed on the other side of the brim further trimmed the hat and tied into Margareta’s other purple accessories. The hat is a fantastic colour on her and the appliqué detail is a lovely touch we don’t often see. I’m just not sure about the jarring purple twist.

Crown Princess Margareta, May 10, 2016 in Kristina Dragomir | Royal Hats

Princess Elena topped her red dress and coat in a small straw percher hat trimmed with flowers and curling straw ribbons. I thought the design was a wonderful compliment to her hairstyle and the natural straw a good counterpoint to her vibrant ensemble.

Princess Elena, May 10, 2016 | Royal Hats

Princess Sophia paired her apricot dress and jacket with a small cream straw hat trimmed with white and brown feathers and a cream bow. The scale of the piece feels a little small for Sophia although the jaunty angle she wore the piece is great fun.

Princess Sophia, May 10, 2016 | Royal Hats

Princess Maria wore a large, white straw picture hat. The short crown of this piece is wrapped in a royal blue ribbon thied in a huge side bow and the hat is further embellished with multiple loops and bows of white organdie. It’s a nice enough piece that I think could have been elevated greatly if she had tilted it forward on her head.

Princess Maria, May 10, 2016 | Royal Hats

Archduchess Maria-Magdalena of Austria (King Michael’s niece) joined in the festivities in a large black straw hat. Trimmed in a sash of diagonal black and white stripes around the crown, the focus of the piece is a wreath of large black straw leaves placed on top of the mushroom brim. Such sculpture with straw is not something we see often and the design was certainly unique.

Archduchess Maria-Magdalena of Austria, May 10, 2016 | Royal Hats

We seldom see the Romanian royals and it was lovely to see the Princesses and their cousin together to celebrate this event.

Romanian Royal Family, May 10, 2016 | Royal Hats

What did you think of this parade of Romanian royal hats?

Photos from Cristian Coposesc and Daniel Angelescu. via The Royal Family of Romania

Day 2 of Chilean State Visit

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Royal Hats

The second day of the Chilean state visit to Sweden saw a business forum followed by lunch at the Stockholm City Hall. Joining President Michelle Bachelet were the King, Queen, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel.

Queen Silvia, May 11, 2016 | Royal Hats

Queen Silvia repeated her peacock blue pillbox hat. It’s a piece we’ve seen several times before but the colour is so fantastic on her that I understand why it’s becoming a favourite.

Queen Silvia, May 11, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: September 8, 2015; May 11, 2015; September 15, 2013

Crown Princess Victoria indulged her fascinator-loving side with one made up of ecru straw bow loops and spiky white feathers. It’s a substantial piece that worked well with her hairstyle and the level of formality of today’s event. If you’re going to do an all white working royal ensemble, this is a good way to do it.

Crown Princess Victoria, May 11, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: April 17, 2012; April 16, 2010

That’s another solid millinery showing from the Swedish royals, wouldn’t you agree?

Photos by Getty as indicated; Stella Pictures; and The Presidency of Chile

Duchess of Cornwall Supports Military Charities

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Royal Hats

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a service and tea party in London today in support of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, an organization that supports recipients of these military honours. For this event, Camilla finally ended her six-month streak of black hats with one in navy and cream. The repeated piece features a wide cream straw brim and high, moulded crown around which is wrapped a folded sash in navy straw. The hat is trimmed in a slim stripe of cream around the brim, a multi looped knot and a soaring, curved feather. It’s a beautifully balanced hat that Camilla carries so well, especially in combination with her dress and coat.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: June 2, 2015; May 22, 2013; July 11, 2009; May 8, 2009; June 8, 2007; July 14, 2006; July 20, 2005; and June 28, 2005

While my archives show this hat to be more than ten years old, the classic navy and cream scheme prevent its ageing and the great proportion on Camilla makes us focus on the whole instead of small details that, on their own, might begin to date it. I continue to love this hat and while we’ve seen it a lot, am not ready to see it retired. What do you think of this piece?

Photos from Getty as indicated

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