Favourite Royal Hats of 2018: The Repeats

After slowly narrowing down our favourite repeated royal hats over the past year, it’s now down to ten. Ten unique designs, made by six different milliners and worn on six different royal heads. There are perchers, gently sideswept brims, a saucer, picture hats and two dramatic upsweeps trimmed with an array of silk flowers, quills, ruffles, twists and feathers.

Without further ado, here are your ten finalists for favourite repeated royal hat worn in 2018:

1.    2.
3.    4. 
5.    6.
7.   8.
9.   10.
You can access original feature posts on each hat, with additional photos, description and discussion, by clicking on each photo or link beneath it. This poll will remain open for two weeks until Sunday, January 27 at midnight GMT.  Each computer or mobile device may vote once every twelve hours for as many hats as you wish. Happy voting!

This Week’s Extras

I need to step away from Royal Hats from Monday until the end of the month for some ‘real’ work focus and travel. I’ve planned a series on past Ascot hats and ask again that in my absence, you all share whatever new hats are worn each day in the comments of these flashback posts. I promise to be back soon!  

On Monday, the Imperial family marked the 30th anniversary of Emperor Showa’s death at Musashino Imperial Mausoleum in Hachiōji, Tokyo. Empress Michiko, Princess Kiko, Princess Akiko, Princess Hisako and Princess Tsuguko all wore black hats. The Imperial Crown prince and princess marked this anniversary at the Imperial Palace, Princess Masako in an ecru silk covered hat with high, upturned Breton brim.

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Zara Tindall posed with her husband, Mike on Monday, holding a pink straw sun hat.

On Wednesday, Crown Princess Victoria visited Livgardet (The Life Guards) in Kungsängen in a military green beret.

Also on Wednesday, Princess Sofia was photographed in a pink sun hat at a polo match in Florida where she, Prince Carl Gustaf, and the King and Queen are on holiday, visiting Princess Madeleine and her family.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Winter white beautifully embellished bandeau by Ukrainian milliner Elena Martynenko
Adore this pink straw percher with exuberant ostrich pompom by Australian milliner Meg Rafter
Forrest green velvet felt trilby with slim pale blue hatband by British milliner Bundle MacLaren
Honey orange straw percher with silk roses, veil & burnt feathers by London-based Turkish milliner Merve Bayindir
Blush straw dramatic sidesweep with pale grey looped rings from Irish milliner Aiofe Harrison
Prim Mary Poppins inspired embellished straw boater by British brand Frase Annand Millinery
I’m not usually partial to a bowler hat but adore this vibrant and fresh take on the bowler  by Italian brand Borsalino
Lovely blue straw kokoshnik bandeau with veil and white leather flowers by British milliner Justine Bradley-Hill
Amazing citrus branch headpiece by Australian milliner Rebecca Share that won top prize at Magic Millions Raceday

And from Australian milliner Danica Erard, this vibrant pink straw saucer with flying red bow around the front brim.

The Danish Royal Court shared this charming portraits of Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent to celebrate their eighth birthday.
How sweet is this snap, shared by their mum, of Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco returning to school after Christmas break?
Great view of London from the cockpit of a helicopter, flown from Kensington Palace to The Royal London Hospital by the Duke of Cambridge to celebrate the London Air Ambulance’s 30th anniversary.

Photos from Getty and social media as indicated 

Tindalls Attend Aussie Races

Mike and Zara Tindall attended the Magic Millions Raceday today at the Gold Coast Turf Club. For this Australian race event, which Zara has supported for several years, she wore a headpiece of fuchsia pink silk bead-centered flowers studded with pink feathers.

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The combination of floral headpiece with printed frock is fantastic on Zara and the two pieces, which each make strong statements, are well balanced. The look is stylish youthful and fun- exactly the right note to hit for a racing event.

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Designer: Meg Rafter. Dress by Kate Spade. Styled by Kimberly Gardner.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new
I adore this look but suspect you won’t all agree- what do you think of Zara’s headpiece today on the Gold Coast?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Top Royal Hats: November & December 2018

Despite stiff competition (and one victory by the skin of its felt pelt), results for favourite new design and favourite repeated hat worn in November and December are in:


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Queen Máxima’s deep purple felt upsweep with side brim pleat by Fabienne Delvigne worn Nov 21


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Autumn Phillips’ emerald felt crescent-formed percher with bow by Sally Anne Provan worn Dec 25

Jump over to the poll for favourite new hat here and the repeated hat poll here to see the results in greater detail. And stay tuned tomorrow for the finale polls of 2018 to choose your top hats of the year. 
Photos from Getty as indicated

Imperial New Year’s Lectures 2019

Members of the Imperial family attended the annual Imperial New Year’s Lectures today at the Imperial Royal Palace in Tokyo.

While the Empress did not wear a hat (as hostess of the event in her home), the Imperial princesses all followed the traditional daytime court dress code (gowns and hats) which continues to be used for this event.  
This event brings us a rainbow of Imperial royal millinery and this year was no different:
Princess Kiko: navy straight-sided pillbox she wore to this same event in 2014
Princess Mako: turquoise silk bumper/pillbox with back bow she wore for the 2018 New Year’s poetry readings
Princess Nobuko: oxblood rounded pillbox with side feather I suspect is new
Princess Akiko: pink silk calot previously worn for the 2016 poetry readings and 2015 New Year’s lectures
Princess Yoko: ice blue silk straight-sided silk pillbox she wore to this event in 2015 and in 2014 
Princess Hisako: purple velvet bumper hat with ostrich feather pompomworn for the 2013 & 2015 poetry readings
Princess Tsuguko: repeated cream or pale yellow hat with very short, kettle brim and feather trim 
It’s difficult to tell based on this view (jump back to previous wearings) but what hats stand out to you most?
Photos from social media as indicated