We have discussed many of Queen Elizabeth’s hat styles here on Royal Hats and peeked at her fashion during almost every decade of her life. We have not, however, looked at the hats she wore as a child.
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The exhibition on the Queen’s wardrobe, ‘Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen’s Wardrobe’, includes pieces she wore as a child. The Royal Collection Trust recently released this short video and photo of a pale pink bonnet trimmed with handmade velvet flowers, made by Smith & Co. in London, now on display at Holyrood House. Queen Elizabeth wore it in the mid 1930s and there was likely a matching mate worn by her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
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These vintage photos are fascinating. Why do you suppose the future queen is crouching ion that last one?
Thats the Service of Thanksgiving for George V Silver Jubilee and she is pulling up her socks. https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/generic_image/A_painting_of_the_arrival_of_King_George_V.JPG
Thank you, Marion.
It is fun to see a hat HM wore as a young girl. I am especially glad to see the video which gives the color as well as shows the up close detail of the flowers. I would not have guessed they are made of velvet.
These are sweet. I especially like the bonnet style on the young girls. It frames their faces so well.
Princess Marina – (the Duchess if Kent) was always the most elegant of women – the angle at which she is wearing her hat is wonderful. Her daughter – Princess Alexandra, is just as elegant I think.
I love that hat of Marina, Duchess of Kent as well. I agree she was truly one of the most elegant Princesses ever. These photos are a trip! I love to see the sweet hats The Queen and Princess Margaret wore as young Princesses. That you Hat Queen for a fun post!
I agree with what Shannon says: July 11, 2016 at 8:23 pm. Marina, Duchess of Kent, always looked amazing. RIP great lady.
Delightful pictures of the young Princess Elizabeth. She is so self-contained. Her grandmother must have had an enormous influence on her.
It is so interesting to think that while most of the rest of us have become much more casual in our dress these days, HM has always kept up the tradition of wearing hats when out “on duty”.
I love these photographs – thank you. I especially have always loved the first one with ‘Lillibet’ tucked under the blanket between her Grandpa and Grandma… so young and yet .. so collected. she had no future royal role then.. but somehow she looks made to be Queen.
Not the topic of this post but still: I love the hat of the lady in waiting (?) in the last picture.
I think you’re looking at the late Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. Always a glamorous figure.
Thank you!
Forgot to mention: Queen Elizabeth’s, Queen Mary’s, and the Duchess of Kent’s hats were quite interesting as well! I should like to see an exhibit of those some day!
Thank you for posting this; I always enjoy looking at past hats. This one is remarkably pretty–the flowers are beautiful. I was surprised about the irregular band.