Queen Máxima’s ensemble at the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge two weeks ago struck a positive chord with many readers here at Royal Hats. While the shape of this design is a very familiar one on the Dutch Queen, this particular iteration has been in circulation for less than a year; on each outing, so far, it has been paired with a different dress. Since the hat is turning out to be a popular one both for Queen Máxima and for us fans, let’s take a closer look at each ensemble it has been paired with:
Look #1: With an elaborate pink lace coat dress by Claes Iversen worn during a state visit to France, March 10, 2016
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Look #2: Worn with a vibrant coral coat dress to the Four Freedom Awards on April 21, 2016
Look #3: Matched with a warm brown accessories and an acid green lace tunic and skirt, worn for a university opening on June 2, 2016
Look #4: Worn with a structured, white Gucci dress and warm brown accessories on September 14, 2016 to the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge
UPDATES: Look #5: With a NATAN aqua silk linen dress embroidered in metallic sequins, worn on state visit to Australia November 1, 2016
Look #6: With a pale grey ruffled Claes Iversen dress trimmed with coordinating coffee trim around the neckline and belt, worn during the Belgian state visit November 28, 2016
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Look #7: With a bright pink NATAN dress with beaded collar necklace and earrings worn February 21, 2017 on a visit to villages near Rotterdam
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Look #8: With a pale beige-pink lace Valentino suit for the final day of a state visit to Luxembourg, June 25, 2018
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Look #9: With a sleeveless mustard linen dress with beaded hip detail by Oscar de la Renta and chocolate accessories worn July 2, 2019 to open a technical college in Amsterdam
Look #10: With an aqua floral draped NATAN dress worn July 7, 2021 during a state visit to Germany
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Look #11: With a brown and ice blue embroidered dress by Zeus + Dione worn September 15, 2021 on a visit to Hoogezand.
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Queen Máxima has long favourite this upswept ‘slice’ brim shape and it is a style we have come to associate closely with her. I think this piece works so well for a few reasons- the neutral, natural colour lends itself to infinite colour pairings but the slightly darker brown tone brings beautiful warmth to an outfit yet still offers a contrast against Máxima’s light skin and hair. Looking at these different ensembles, what pairing do like best with this hat?
Photos from Getty as indicated; Philip van de Werf and Philip van de Werf via PPE; and Albert Nieboer/EPP via PPE; Pool, Pool and Pool via Getty
Royal Hats 
I really love the white dress outfit (#4)! Probably because that dress is just so hard to top. Looks fantastic on Max. I hate the coat dress in #1, but feel that a different outfit in that color would look wonderful with the hat. Surprisingly for me I like the green in #3. Not a color I would normally gravitate to, but Max (or her stylist) did a great job of toning down the green just enough; makes for an interesting color combo and somehow it all works. #2 is just kind of meh for me–it’s okay is about all.
The hat itself is stunning. While I actually like best the #1 coat dress worn on Paris (worn on its own), with the hat outfit #4 is the best.
The hat is no enormous and dress #1 so intricate that it’s a bit overpowering. The hat is so versatile, though, that it seems to go any almost anything. Preference: #4, #3, #1, #2.
#4, the white dress!! followed by #1, the pink coat in Paris. 🙂
I agree this is a versatile hat and the style it great on her. I like all of these looks but I have to give the win to look number four. A classic look and white really sets off the casual and summery look of the hat.
She is absolutely stunning and looks wonderful with every outfit.
Number 4 is my favorite. This plain, simple style hat goes best with a simple summery outfit, a tailored dress or slacks outfit. And the white and brown combination makes each color better, the brown warmer and the white cooler. The other outfits are fine and work for fall. But I really like this hat for a summer look.
Queen Maxima looks superb in all outfits shown! The hat is so versatile – it really goes beautifully with each of these. I might like #4 the best, it’s such a cohesive look.
BUT! I really like the angle that she wore the hat in example #1. The angle decreases in every outing!
Still, QM is one of my favorite hat wearing royals, and I think she looks spectacular in every one of these outfits. Brava!
This is one versatile hat! The earthy brown with saturated orange in #2 doesn’t work quite as well as the other combinations, but really, I like them all. #4 is my favorite.
Number 4 is the epitome of elegance and style. Maxima looked the best in this beautifully structured white dress and the minimally decorated hat. Superb look!
I love 4, and 3. 1 is a lovely dress, but I feel like a different hat would have done better with it. 2 is the only look I don’t particularly care for and even it isn’t bad.
I love #4 and #3–I think they are in a tie with me!
I absolutely loved number 1 on first sight, it’s such a glamorous outfit; but number 4 is also just cool elegance. So I’ll call a dead heat.
Well said! I agree! #1 is striking and #4 is classic.
Agreed, dead heat #1 and #4.
This hat is such a good match for her when her hair is well styled as in each of these outings. My quibble is with the dress lengths especially the coral one which has too much fabric in a too short skirt. Each waist length photo looks superb. I think I will go for the white one
without doubt #4 — this hat requires simple, elegant tailoring rather than lace and clutter.
Agreed!
My greatest hits list is 4 and 1. 3 is okay, but not a fan of 2. I do like this hat and the wonderful hairdo she always does with it. Superb.
In order of preference: #4, #1, #2, #3.