to this day, forty-three years ago, that saw Princess Anne attend the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Her hat is a wonder- part yellow draped turban and part plaid soccer ball. 1970s fashion was unkind even to the royals.
Royal Hats
The Bold, Beautiful and Bizarre World of Royal Millinery
Royal Hats 
At the risk of being contrary, I rather enjoy this hat for the time it is in. A delightful blast-from-the-past of the 1970s with some hold-over from the 1960s. All those up-dos, high turbans and beehive hair styles. The hat and makeup are even a bit Barbra Streisand-esque.
You raise a good point- we have to remember to view these hats from the past through the lens of fashion at the time. From all I have read, Princess Anne’s fashion in the 1970s was widely admired.
Gosh! I especially like the little satellite dish with ball effect on top of the hat. And what about those lapels on the coat? They pulled out the stops on this one.
The coat is cute. But I’m with those who hope the hat has been sat on. That might improve it.
The black/white photo reminds me of a cheese plate cover.
If the side view takes you aback, wait til you see the back view – this hat looks like a giant Harris Tweed tea cosy:
http://www.gettyimages.fr/detail/photo-d'actualit%C3%A9/liverpool-captain-emlyn-hughes-chats-to-hrh-princess-photo-dactualit%C3%A9/637459748#liverpool-captain-emlyn-hughes-chats-to-hrh-princess-anne-before-the-picture-id637459748
and here’s the video.We can see that yellow button more clearly at the end:
http://www.gettyimages.se/detail/video/princess-anne-presents-fa-cup-trophy-to-liverpool-captain-nyhetsvideor/1B25863_0016
If I’d seen this hat just from the front, without the side view, I might have given it a pass, as I like turbans — despite the colour scheme, which is particularly unflattering for the princess. (Yellow was THE trendy colour of the late sixties/early seventies, and it showed up in some very unusual colour combinations). So it’s just as well we have that crucial side view!
Thanks mcncln – here is the photo you shared. This view around the back confirms for me that it’s a real corker!
Embed from Getty Images
Delightful video coverage, & with a good view of the always elegant Duchess of Kent. Thank-you!
Even by 1970s standards, this is pretty bad!
Let us all hope this hat has been sat on and CANNOT be worn again.
I dont think she’ll be wearing this again soon, though the coat probably does still fit!