As we wrap up Day 2 of Royal Ascot, we can’t end without a look at the hats worn by royal men, with a special mention to Crown Prince Frederick. I think this is the first top hat we’ve seen on him!
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I know a number of you have mentioned non-royal hats at Ascot that you have enjoyed as much as the royal ones- please feel free to share them in the comments of this post. I have a few I plan to add to your discussion!
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
Lady Laura Cathcart also attended the races on Day 2, in a hat I’m guessing is also her design
Sky News presenter Rhiannon Mills wore this Vivien Sheriff design on Day 2. I adore the colour and like the simple (but far from boring!) design.
Philip looks great again, but he almost never disappoints. Not quite as taken with Charles’ ensemble today, but he still looks sharp as ever. Sheikh Mohammed really needs a tailor, and a slightly smaller top hat; he just always looks to be swimming in his clothes (I know his traditional Arab garb certainly fits looser, but it just doesn’t work the same way with a jacket and trousers unfortunately). William looked very nice, but again something about the proportions (not the fit) of his top hat seem a bit off. I agree with what others said that Frederik’s hat looks much more western and too large for him; and it looks like a much cheaper wool felt than a fur felt, and I especially find the lack of proper binding around the brim edge cheapens the look of this hat. Would’ve really liked Frederik to have brought back out that beautiful red and gold patterned waistcoat from Albert and Charlene’s wedding (same as Mary did with her hat today).
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Also, really disappointed this post from Philip Treacy’s Instagram of Lady Gabriella Windsor was apparently not actually taken on Day 2:
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What a stunner!
Jake, that photo was in a spread in Hello Magazine, taken a few weeks back. She wore three Philip Treacy hats with Catherine Walker outfits- all stunning combinations
Thanks @HatQueen! I never saw that photoshoot, and Gabriella is gorgeous in all 3 photos! Would be wonderful to see all these hats and outfits make public appearances.
Do the people in the royal enclosure have to wear name tags? It looks like nametags are on most of the royals, although not on some of the people others have shared pictures of. At the risk of sounding silly, what do they say? Do they have titles? I mean, presumably our favorites say things like The Duchess of Cambridge etc., but is that correct? And what about non-British royals? Do their nametags have nationalities with titles? Why do they have to wear nametags at all?
And weirdly (although appropriately I guess) at least HM and Prince Philip seem exempt, but only them. Is there a rule about this?
Aren’t they official patrons of Ascot? That might be why!
We’ll have to wait and get the full details from Charles but as I understand, the name badges act as one’s ticket in to Ascot and are colour coded based on what area that person has access to visit. Kate’s badge yesterday showed her name (title), the date and that she was in the Royal Box (as opposed to just the Royal Enclosure).
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Here is the name badge used a few years ago for an owner, who has access to other areas.
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If you look closely at Princess Anne’s name badge on Day 1 and Day 2, you’ll notice each has a red stripe across the bottom. My guess is that this stripe signifies a week-long pass as opposed to a day pass. Does anyone know for certain?
Thanks so much for all the helpful information!!
Your Ascot posts have been brilliant! I loved the Queen’s hat yesterday best with Princess Haya and Princess Mary right behind. The photos you find are so much better than other royal blogs I read and I can really see the detail that the milliners are talking about. I’m learning so much about hats!
I thought these two ensembles were also wonderfully elegant. The blue hat is Dior
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I also really liked these hats/ensembles:
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The coral hat above is worn by Zoe Warren, a close friend of the Cambridges. Her husband Jake is the son of John Warren, the Queen’s bloodstock racing advisor.
And finally- I loved this navy Philip Treacy on this elegant owner! She looks fantastic in the winner’s circle
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The top one is especially gracious looking. Lovely!
My favorite for today was Crown Princess Mary.
Another fun and very youthful design from John Boyd
And not to be outdone- this Showstopper design, also from John Boyd!
Ooo, I love this!!! It reminds me of Georgia O’Keefe.
And these
Some other even bigger showstoppers from yesterday
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John Boyd just shared this photo of a gorgeous hat he made that was at the races yesterday. It’s a sequin covered base with crin brim and silk bow. I love the mix of different materials.
Here is the same hat wearer, on Day 1 of the races in a wonderful peach picture hat also made by John Boyd. It’s a tough colour for many to wear but it’s fantastic on her! I particularly love the finish on the brim edge.
Somehow, Fred’s hat makes me think of a cowboy hat rather than a top hat. That pic of him with Mary looks like he could almost be in the old west (if a very fancy old west).
My first thought was a cowboy hat too.
I think it’s the brim curve that adds the cowboy vibe. It’s also a big hat (and looks clunky next to the Earl of Wessex’s refined silk hat)
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Could Prince Fredrick’s top hat be a more modern style (shorter and rounder) than the ones the others are wearing, that are taller and seem to go in and then out again? It seems more pleasing to my eye as a person with modern day tastes, although it does lack that antique allure.
The hat on Ms. Blading looks like something Sophie would choose. Mrs. Pelly’s hat looks like it came from “My Fair Lady” movie. All the gentlemen seem so happy. They must enjoy the special dress occasion as much as we do.
For me it is all about the perceived fit of the gentleman’s hat. Fred’s hat (and Gok’s, for that matter) just don’t fit as well as the others. Of course one would expect the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales to have impeccably fitting top hats. After all, they are always at Ascot as well as other events where such hats are de rigeur.
Fred’s hat appears to me to be made of another fabric other than the traditional silk. If his hat is compared to Edward’s hat the two are very different in their shape. I feel that Fred’s hat is not as sleek and stylish as Edward’s.
All the men look gorgeous in their top hats – wish their ties were a bit brighter, though!
I also thought Elizabeth Pelly’s (wife of Prince William and Harry’s good friend Guy Pelly) hat by Vivienne Sheriff was wonderful
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Wow! Gorgeous hat + gorgeous dress + gorgeous photo!
This is for Ruth- here is Clare Blading on Day 2 in a grey hat by Jane Taylor.
Lovely again on Clare Balding – and yes I agree a Sophie Wessex hat!