King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have embarked on a state visit to India that will continue through this weekend. For today’s visit to the Ghandi memorial and ceremonial welcome reception at the Indian Presidential palace in New Delhi, the Belgian queen wore a new hat in blush pink straw.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
From a distance, the smooth lines of the hat, a sort of saucer variation with raised back, seem a good counterpoint for Mathilde’s lace dress; the colour, while a little pale, is pretty and elegant. At closer view, however, the hat doesn’t stand up so well. The silk crescent on the saucer is unevenly stitched and the straw bubble overlay, while random from the front, looks unpolished from the back. The hat ends up looking clunky and thrown together, especially against the exquisitely delicate lace dress.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: this hat is new
Previously Worn: this hat is new
I think this hat missed the mark- what do you think of it?
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
I think it’s a nice hat, and has an Indian feel.
The hat is a big no for me! To heavy and messy! Especially in a country where almost everyone is shorter than you are……I think it is not so thoughtful. And I am bored seeing an other girly dress of lace.
Wow! After reading HQ’s and everyone else’s comments I was surprised. I thought Mathilde looked beautiful! Maybe the color is summery for those of us who woke up with snow this morning (I live in Colorado), but in India it is always summer! Well, I guess there is rainy season (hot and steamy) vs. non-rainy season but always it is hot. I agree the hat did not look as good on close inspection, but my first reaction was that it was a nice hat with a beautiful dress.
I do like the idea of the hat but there is something just not right about the execution. And it’s not just the fact it looks unpolished, it’s also the size and the position. It covers her eye and your attention is immediately drawn to the hat, which in this case, isn’t a good thing.
The fabric of the dress is ok. It’s a lovely lace pattern. But the shape doesn’t flatter her.
It’s a shame because we know she can do much better.
The dress isn’t my favorite, but I don’t dislike it as much as some others seem to. The color scheme, albeit pale, is really nice, and it translates well for this hat. But the hat’s design overall is quite terrible; the size of the saucer is good, but otherwise the mismatched layers and thickness of the sinamay and straw on the front, along with the messiness of the back, really brought it down. This sort of randomness is often seen on Delvigne’s hats and headpieces and makes them easily identifiable, but I think not in a good way.
I don’t care what she wears. Seeing Mathilde always makes me happy.
This hat is an absolute mess.
I am going to agree that the hat looks far too random for this lovely lace dress. And the dress probably isn’t the best choice for the event or place. When I look at the photo of the welcoming party, all I see is that HAT. The scale is all wrong and, as Hat Queen says, the workmanship is lacking in finesse.
the hat looks like a oversized saucer, blocking her right eye, the construction of the hat is all over the place. it is a no for me.
sorry an oversized
I can’t help thinking she’s dressed up as Kate C. I know lace is toute le rage, but I’m not loving it. And you’re right, the hat is a bit odd, a bit too big, and the decoration is all a bit random.
My heart sank when I saw that dress again :(…..but the hat did cheer me up quite a bit… until I saw what you pointed out HQ, the rough-and-ready construction of the crescent on top. And to my eye the arrangement of the trim, seen close, is lacking something.
However, I don’t mind the chaotic look of the back, in fact I rather like it; and the scale of the hat is great; it’s just too bad the hat isn’t quite as appealing as I had hoped for.
The whole outfit is a miss for me. I think it’s far too fussy looking for a visit to India. It’s better suite to a summer garden party in Europe. I would have liked to have seen her with something looser and flowing on, sans hat that would fit in better for the country of India and a travel trip.
Beachgal, did you say “sans hat”? HORRORS! I think the color is too summery and pale for the queen, and the hat looks like she is still drying her hair after her shower.