to this day, 50 years ago, which saw Princess Alexandra enjoy a bird’s eye view of Toronto and open a fashion exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum. While the back bow on this helmet/turban is a stretch, I can’t even begin to imagine the purpose of those peepholes.
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Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
Very nice. Love that quirky, mod, swinging sixties detail of the button flap with the peepholes. Some more views here:
That’s not a bow on the back of the hat, but the ear of the man standing behind HRH 😉
HA! Now that you’ve provided excellent explanation for the bow, can you enlighten us on those peepholes?!
I’m afraid I can’t help you there, haha! I suppose some things will always be a mystery.
I think this hat sits too high on her head but she is always a favourite, whatever she wears.
I wonder if you can raise a photo of the hat she wore for her “going away” outfit after her wedding? I remember it as a pillbox placed more to the back of her head with a large bow sitting above her collar. In a day when we had lots of hat-wearing occasions, it was copied widely.
Sorry- I’ve not been able to find one. It sounds like a wonderful hat! If anyone has a link to a photo, please share it!
One of my favourite museums and one of my favourite Princesses.