Today marks just 19 days to the start of Royal Ascot. While there are a few major hatted events for us to enjoy in the intervening time (Trooping the Colour, Garter Service), nothing quite holds a candle to Ascot, the premiere event for the British season of racing and for royal hat watching! In the weeks leading up to Ascot last year, we looked at all the hats and headpieces Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and the Countess of Wessex have worn to the Ascot over the years – we’re going to continue these retrospectives again this year, starting today with the Duchess of Cambridge.
2016 and 2017: Ascot debut on June 15, 2016 in a Jane Taylor designed saucer in natural straw mesh trimmed with gold paint flecked feathers, cream silk roses and twists. White lace trimmed design of unknown origin on June 20, 2017 with a lattice crin brim, silk flower sprays and lace bows.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
*UPDATE- Since this post was originally published, the Duchess has worn the following hats to Royal Ascot:
2019: On June 18, 2019 in a pale blue sinamay sidesweeping saucer with silk flowers by Philip Treacy
What do you think of the Duchess’ hats at Royal Ascot?
I definitely prefer the color variation from 2016 with the straw color as compared to all the white.
Love the 2016 look, not so much the 2017 look. It looks a little too frilly and not as streamlined and clean as the 2016 look. Even the slight variation in color of the hat makes the whole look seem thoughtful and classic, while the 2017 look seems like too much white on white lace for me.
It’s like blah and blah-er.
Like others I was also quite disappointed by last year’s similarity to the previous year. She looks good for sure but she’s dipping into Queen Mother territory here with a uniform look! (My friend and I used to think the QM just got the dressmaker in, saved a hand and said, ‘same again please, but in lemon’!
JamesB, re the Queen Mother, I used to think the same thing also!
Neither was a bad look, but it is a whole lot of white florals, white lace, and white floral lace. I hope we get a bit more variety in the future; she should try more blues in brighter shades, similar to the blue from her trip to Canada a couple of years ago.
Do we know for sure the Duchess of Cambridge will attend Ascot this year? She is officially on maternity leave. I know she will be at Trooping the Color, but wouldn’t count on any other appearances.
I’d be very surprised if we see her this year. She hasn’t attended any of the years her two older children were born and I suspect this year will be the same.
😦
I too was surprised by the similarity between the two years, both hat and dress, considering the wide variety of colors and styles that Kate generally wears, but these both suited her so well, and I also look forward to seeing what she debuts next month.
I also love the white and lace and love these hats – these are just her size and so feminine and pretty – she suits them so well – I’d love for her to keep up the look … but because I said that – she’ll probably change !!
I love both these looks… the dresses and the hats. I thought she looked like a modern Eliza Doolittle… was kind of hoping she made the white outfit, her “thing” for Ascot.
Ditto – I enjoyed both looks and their Edwardian vibe. I shan’t mind a third Eliza Doolittle outing this or (more likely) next year. I’m normally not a fan of percher hats both these two are very pretty.