Monthly Archives: April 2019

Queen Máxima’s Koningsdag Hats

Posted on by

Koningsdag is a Dutch national holiday that officially celebrates the monarch’s birthday. During Queen Juliana and Queen Beatrix’s reigns, the holiday was celebrated on April 30 (Juliana’s birthday and the day Beatrix’s ascended the throne) and Queen Beatrix began the tradition of moving this lighthearted, public celebration to different cities around the country each year.

Embed from Getty Images

Under King Willem-Alexander’s reign, the holiday is celebrated on his actual birthday, April 27 and characterized by its vrijmarkt (free market) nation-wide garage sale where Dutch people sell used items; outdoor concerts and street parties; and the oranjegekte (orange madness) frenzy of wearing the national colour in exuberant ways!

Embed from Getty Images

As the city of Amersfoort prepares to host this year’s Koningsdag festivities tomorrow, here is a look back at all the hats and headpieces Queen Máxima has worn to this event in years past:


Oatmeal straw upsweep with wide brim binding in 2002; Pink herringbone textured cloche with wide hatband and cream quills in 2003; Red fabric voluminous suede beret in 2004, all by Fabienne Delvigne

Embed from Getty Images  Embed from Getty Images
Tan straw stovepipe with layered tan silk and pink tweed hatbands by Fabienne Delvigne in 2005;
Chocolate straw fascinator with loops and feathers by Stefanie Wesle in 2006

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images 
Textured bright pink Fabienne Delvigne pillbox in 2008; Black feathered headpiece in 2009;
Black silk covered open-crown headpiece by Fabienne Delvigne in 2010


Smoky pink and purple silk rose hair decoration in 2011; Black bow headpiece by Fabienne Delvigne in 2012

Koningsdag Hats After Becoming Queen: 

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images  
Ruched caramel straw ring headpiece in 2014; Bright pink straw sideswept ‘slice’ hat in 2015, both by Fabienne Delvigne


Lilac straw Fabirennne Delvigne picture hat with mushroom brim in 2016;  Navy smocked and beaded calot (likely by Jan Taminau) in 2017; A repeat of the 2002 red suede Fabienne Delvigne beret in 2018

UPDATE- Since this post was first published, Queen Máxima has worn the following hats on Koningsdag:


Two more Fabienne Delvigne designs; Oatmeal saucer in 2019 and a green and yellow silk Ikat toque in 2021

The more casual nature of this celebration brings a decidedly eclectic mix of millinery here, with a slight increase in formality since Máxima became queen. While I wasn’t keen on the mix of slouchy beret with last year’s beautiful dress, it was wonderfully unexpected to see the hat from 2002 brought back. Here’s hoping Queen Máxima has another hat surprise up her sleeve for tomorrow!

Embed from Getty Images

Photos from Michel Porro, Michel Porro and Julian Parker via Getty; Patrick van Katwijk via Monarchy Press; Mark Renders via Getty; Patrick van Katwijk via Monarchy Press; Andreas Rentz, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk, Patrick van Katwijk and Koen Van Weel/ANP/AFP via Getty

Emperor and Empress Close Reign With Events in Tokyo

Posted on by

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have been busy this week, the final week before the emperor’s abdication next Tuesday, with a series of events in Tokyo. On Tuesday, two days ago, the couple visited the Mausoleum of Emperor Showa (Emperor Akihito’s late father) to report the upcoming abdication. For this rite, Empress Michiko repeated a charcoal grey disc hat with knotted bow and black dotted veil.

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I think this is new.Interestingly, she has a similar one in black that we’ve seen a few times (here and here and here) over the past two decades.
Later that same day, the emperor and empress visited Takao Mikoromo Seido, a temple for victims of work accidents. For this visit, Empress Michiko repeated her silver shantung silk rimmed saucer hat with flecked charcoal grey double bow in the same fabric as her jacket. The sheen on the base of the hat, thanks to that shantung silk, is so pretty.
Yesterday, the couple visited the Luxembourg Embassy to offer condolences on the death of Grand Duke Jean. Empress Michiko repeated a mini pillbox variation with raised height around the front, trimmed with a simple, fanning black silk and dotted net veil.

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: Jan 7, 2019; June 25, 2014; and likely others

Today, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the Midori Academic awards ceremony. For this final official engagement of the Heisei period (the emperor’s reign), the empress repeated a hat we have much admired in recent weeks. Covered in oyster silk, this saucer features an ivory crin lattice underbrim and layered bow two-toned bow, trimmed in darker grey silk piping. The detailed view of the hat, below, shows the silk covering it (and on the empress’ suit) is woven with a metallic thread woven, giving it the most beautifully gentle sparkle.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: April 17, 2019; March 26, 2019

Like many of you, my awareness of the Imperial royal family has grown during the later years of the emperor’s reign and my knowledge of the Chrysanthemum throne is limited at best. I have come to know Empress Michiko through her hats and have come to appreciate them and their wearer for their quiet elegance. I’m sure you join me in wishing this couple a smooth transition into their new role and the ability to truly enjoy a restful retirement which they have earned.

Photos from Getty as indicated; Kyodo News, The Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News via Getty

British Royals Commemorate Anzac Day

Posted on by

The Duchess of Cambridge, Duke of Sussex, Duke of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence attended the Anzac Day service at Westminister Abbey today. For this service, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a new almond shaped percher hat in the loveliest, saturated blue felt, trimmed with curled pheasant feathers.

Embed from Getty Images

It’s a great design for Kate (blue is SO GOOD on her!) and paired beautifully with her streamlined coat. The hat base has a lovely shape with gentle curves and the feather trim provides a wonderful sense of movement and life to the design, elevating the hat to something memorable. I adore the styling of this ensemble with forrest green shoes and purse to draw out some of the green in those wonderfully dimensional feathers. It’s subtle but so effective.

Embed from Getty Images  Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rosie Olivia. It is the “Varick” design from AW 2017. Coat by Catherine Walker
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Embed from Getty Images

This hat brings the count of blue hats in the Duchess’ millinery closet to 16 (see them all here). I think it’s a great addition- what do you think?

Photos from Getty as indicated

Princess Anne Takes Royal Salute

Posted on by

On Sunday, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery staged a 41 Gun Royal Salute to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 93rd birthday. Princess Anne attended on behalf of Her Majesty in a hat we had some questions about at its last outing. Photos here give much better views of this toast brown straw design and confirm it is a new design to Princess Anne’s millinery closet.

Embed from Getty Images

The hat is built around an asymmetrical, hourglass shaped crown and oval brim that is sharply upturned on its wider side. The outside of this sidesweep is covered in oatmeal feathers; the base of the hat’s crown is wrapped in a wide, warm brown silk hatband and the design is completed with a flat spray of pheasant and other assorted feathers on the side.

Embed from Getty Images

Overall, I’m afraid it’s a miss. The scale and proportion are skewed and the very awkward shape looks like a leftover from the late 1990s. The feather cover on the outer brim sets the hat off balance and looks messy in most photographs. It’s not flattering to its wearer and while I appreciate there is some lovely potential in the warm brown colour and the feathers on the hatband (love the mix of teal and orange feathers with the pheasant ones) and there is workmanship in the design, the hat simply looks dated and unattractive with the crown and brim shapes as they are.

Designer: uknown
Previously Worn: March 18, 2019

I hate to be so harsh about a hat, particularly when its wearer is as hardworking as the Princess Royal is. Please tell me, dearest readers- am I wrong about this one?

Photos from Getty as indicated

Easter at Windsor: Part 2

Posted on by

We continue our look at the royal hats on Sunday at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle with the Countess of Wessex. Sophie topped her floral dress with a navy straw percher saucer hat trimmed with silver metallic leather flowers and leaves, burnt feathers and rough-edged crin. I understand the design is about making a statement of the edgy trim but it came off a bit messy for me.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Jane Taylor. Dress by Oscar de la Renta
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Lady Louise Windsor repeated her navy satin covered button percher with multi looped satin and beaded bows. It’s a great scale for this young royal hat wearer and the bit of sparkle makes it a wonderfully youthful choice. With her navy floral dress, the hat tops a great Easter look.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Emily London. Dress by Reiss
Previously Worn: Oct 12, 2018

Princess Anne repeated her oyster straw hat with sideswept brim trimmed with layered cream curling quills. The hat used to also include feather trim in apricot/burnt orange hues that have now been removed- an interesting development that extends this hat’s ability to be paired with different ensembles such as the silver silk frock Anne paired with it here. For good views of this hat in its previously trimmed form, jump over here to its last outing, last June at Ascot.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Amy Morris-Adams
Previously Worn: June 19, 2018; June 4, 2018;  June 20, 2017, May 20, 2017 

Autumn Phillips wore a new navy straw hugger percher design trimmed with cream silk flowers and a swath of ruffled widely woven tulle veil. The cream trim links well with the statement buttons on Autumn’s dress and the hat’s blocking creates a beautiful line to the design. It’s a lovely design by a designer we’ve not seen on a royal head before- a designer I can’t wait to see more of.


Embed from Getty Images

Designer: bespoke Julian Garner.  Dress by Claire Mischevani.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Zara Tindall topped her elegantly streamlined cream coat with a pink felt formed button percher trimmed with curving leaf trim in silver and pink and white gingham patterned leather. The hat’s interesting trim makes a wonderful statement that is tempered ever so slightly by its pale colour scheme- a scheme which Zara wears really well. It’s an interesting but pretty hat well suited to an event such as this.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Sarah Cant. Coat by Goat Fashion.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

This wraps up the eight royal hats we saw at Windsor on Easter Sunday. This group included a few surprises and renovations which makes me curious, dearest readers- which designs stood out most to you?

Photos from Getty as indicated