55 years ago to this day in 1963 when Spanish Queen Victoria Eugenie arrived in London (for Princess Alexandra’s wedding) in a veiled, ruffled turban.
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Photo from Getty as indicated
Monthly Archives: April 2018
This Week’s Extras
Sheikha Mozah looking characteristically glamorous at a gala at Qatar’s national library
King Carl Gustaf in a construction hat Thursday to take delivery of 600 solar panels that are being installed at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Classic picture hat with large handmade rose in navy and denim blue by UK milliner Laura Cathcart
Vibrant pink colour blocked felt fedora with striped hatband from Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
Adore the sweeping brim and delicate flower trim on this picture hat by UK milliner Sarah Cant
Cream turban with beautiful pale pink leather flowers from Melbourne based Murley & Co.
Striking and modern black & white saucer percher by Aussie milliner Louise MacDonald
Royal blue straw fedora with interesting, customizable hatband from American milliner Karen Morris
Wide brimmed hat covered in pink and yellow ombre feathers from UK milliner Edwina Ibbotson
Prettiest pink straw dotted button percher with flying bows from UK milliner Ellie Vallerini’s first collection
Laser cut mirror (yes, it’s glass!) hat with straw crown from London milliner Stephen Jones
Incredible feathered bandeau from French “artiste plumassière” Nelly Saunier. The combination of colour and texture is very unexpected but incredibly beautiful.
Lovely look at Queen Margrethe waving to well wishers from the balcony of Amalienborg Palace with her family – minus Crown Prince Frederik – on Monday, her 78th birthday. (Princess Josephine looked to be in a navy version of her Princessefin woven ribbon headband).
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Sweet snaps released by the Swedish monarchy to mark Prince Alexander’s second birthday on THursday
New pictures taken by Crown Princess Mary to celebrate Princess Isabella’s 11th birthday
And finally, Buckingham Palace lit up in honour of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project. The legacy she continues to build is astounding.
Queen Elizabeth’s Widest Brims
Earlier this week, a reader asked the following question:
I love reader questions, Pekka! You’re right- most of the brims on Queen Elizabeth’s hats are fairly small, something I suspect works well with both aesthetics (smaller brims balance well with her petite frame) and practicality (she’s easily able to see and be seen). If we look at the hats worn over the past fifteen years, however, there are some large brims that might surprise you:
From Rachel Trevor Morgan:
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From Angela Kelly:
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From Philip Sommerville, Frederick Fox and Marie O’Reagan:
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This list is far from comprehensive and doesn’t include any worn over her 50+ hat wearing years last century. So, I turn the question over to you dearest readers – as we celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday this weekend, which other wide brimmed designs she has worn that stick out in your memory?
Update- based on the lively discussion below, it appears that the biggest brim we’ve seen on Her Majesty is the one on this white straw hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan!
Photos from Getty as indicated
Crown Princess Victoria: Green Hats
While green is not a colour I associate strongly with Crown Princess Victoria, there are two headpieces in this hue to be found in her millinery closet:
1.
2.
Designers: both are unknown
Introduced: July 2, 2011; Oct 3, 2017
The texture on the seafoam calot is both unique and interesting (I suspect the colour changes with movement) but my favourite here is the dark green ribbon flower piece Victoria added last fall. The darker shade is really lovely on Victoria and the scale and placement of the piece works beautifully with her go-to chignon- it reminds how successfully a small headpiece can bring that little extra bit of presence and pinache to a daytime working royal ensemble. Both of these pieces have only been worn once and I hope we see them repeated.
Photos from Mark Piasecki via Getty and Stella Pictures
Princess Hanako Returns To Public Life
After several months out of the public eye to treat lumbar spondylosis, it was wonderful to see Princess Hanako out and about today at the 42nd Asia-Pacific Festival and Charity Bazaar in Tokyo. For this visit, she wore a spring green suit with matching hat, covered in the same fabric. A modified bowler, the hat features a rounded crown and flat brim, whimsically trimmed with a wide swath of dotted white veil. The veil trim does wonders to lift the hat, which is a rather staid shape on its own, as does the colour.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
It’s so lovely to see Princess Hanako again- I’m sure you join me in wishing her the very best in her continued recovery. What do you think of her fresh green hat today?
Royal Hats 