Some of you have written asking for coverage of this weekend’s Kentucky Derby. I don’t believe a royal hat will appear at this year’s races so I’ll leave the coverage to you- feel free to post any Derby hats and engage in related discussion in the comments of this post. I’ll hold coverage of Grand Duke Jean’s funeral and Dutch Remembrance Day until later on Monday.
For the 70th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth this week, the British monarchy released these throw-back photos that include some wonderful past hats on Her Majesty
On his birthday on Tuesday, King Carl Gustaf was joined by Queen Silvia and their dog, Brandie, to open a ‘rain and rest’ pavilion for visitors of both the 2 and 4-legged varieties at Ormholmen in Drottningholm Castle Off-Leash Park. For this event, the King repeated his trusty brown fedora.
Queen Margrethe officially commenced the 2019 sailing season with a small trip yesterday on board the royal yacht Dannebrog from Copenhagen to Elsinore. For this, she repeated her nautical navy hat with white brim binding and layered navy and white stacked ribbon hatbands.
Embed from Getty Images
Interesting ceremonial hat on King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailant this morning as he was is carried on a golden palanquin out of the Grand Palace for the coronation procession
Queen Elizabeth was spotted en route to church at Windsor this morning in the pink straw hat with ostrich feather trim by Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren) she debuted last year
The British Hat Guild officially launched this week. A collective of 30 top British milliners (many whose work we regularly admire here), this new association is a collaborative initiative “dedicated to sharing ideas and promoting our unique heritage”.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Beautiful dusky pink straw saucer trimmed with silk flowers and crin ruffle by British milliner Dillon Wallwork
Amazing shape on this black wired crin headpiece by Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Adore the purple and deep blue colour palate on this iris and hydrangea headpiece by British milliner Vivien Sheriff
Wonderful free folded hat green felt (that can be worn in 2 positions) by New Zealand milliner Anel Heyman
Punchy graphic silver and gold motif on the brim of this black hat by British brand House of Flora
Cobalt blue leather bandeau trimmed with fantastic leather flowers by British brand Mind Your Bonce
Statement extra-wide brimmed orange, cream and black picture hat by Australian brand Murley and Co.
Fabulous feather work on this ivory disc hat with flowers and black & cream feathers by British milliner Sara Gadd
Graphic blue and black straw picture hat with amazing crown wrap by Dutch millinery Eugenie van Oirschot
Pink straw wide mushroom brim with gold veil hand-dyed ombre silk ruffles from Aussie milliner Rachel Henry
Charmingly rustic woven straw percher with flowers & leaf feathers by British milliner Beverley Edmondson
Amazing shape on this black wired crin headpiece by Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Adore the purple and deep blue colour palate on this iris and hydrangea headpiece by British milliner Vivien Sheriff
Wonderful free folded hat green felt (that can be worn in 2 positions) by New Zealand milliner Anel Heyman
Punchy graphic silver and gold motif on the brim of this black hat by British brand House of Flora
Cobalt blue leather bandeau trimmed with fantastic leather flowers by British brand Mind Your Bonce
Statement extra-wide brimmed orange, cream and black picture hat by Australian brand Murley and Co.
Fabulous feather work on this ivory disc hat with flowers and black & cream feathers by British milliner Sara Gadd
Graphic blue and black straw picture hat with amazing crown wrap by Dutch millinery Eugenie van Oirschot
Pink straw wide mushroom brim with gold veil hand-dyed ombre silk ruffles from Aussie milliner Rachel Henry
Charmingly rustic woven straw percher with flowers & leaf feathers by British milliner Beverley Edmondson
Interesting article on Empress Masako– her personality, work as crown princess and the causes she’s likely to support (The Asahi Shimbun)
Days before his coronation, the never-boring new Thai king announced his fourth marriage this week and has declared his new wife as queen. His bride, Suthida Tidjai, previously worked as a flight attendant for Thai Airways before being appointed as one of the king’s bodyguards. Most recently, she was promoted to his head of security and a general in the army. (CNN)
Three sweet portraits of Princess Charlotte, taken by her mum, released on Wednesday for her 4th birthday.
We end this week with a sweet photo shared by Princess Eugnie in celebration of her husband, Jack’s birthday.
Photos from social media and Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
Princess Nobuko at the All Japan Judo Championships on April 21
This hat, by Suzanne Couture Millinery in New York, was at the Central Park Conservancy Luncheon. So good, right? You can see a gallery of other hats at this year’s event here
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxGKi22h4Sv/
The Dillon Wallwork pink saucer is so pretty. It would look perfect on the Countess of Wessex or the Duchess of Sussex or Duchess of Cambridge.
The black wired crin headpiece by Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery would look terrific on Princess Haya.
The iris and hydrangea headpiece by Vivien Sheriff would look nice on Princess Beatrice.
The free folded green felt hat by New Zealand milliner Anel Heyman is amazing! I really like the originality. Princess Charlene?
The statement extra-wide brimmed orange, cream and black picture hat by Australian brand Murley and Co is an Ascot showstopper! The Countess of Wessex would look lovely in this, but I don’t know if I’ve seen her in orange? The one and only Queen Maxima would look amazing in this.
I like the photo of the former Emperor and Empress. They look so relaxed and happy!
Jack and Eugenie are totally too cute in that selfie!
And Happy Birthday Princess Charlotte! What a lovely young lady she is becoming.
And finally, congratulations to the Sussex family on their new baby boy! The video of Prince Harry is so charming. He exudes so much excitement!
Good to know you will cover Grand Duke Jean’s funeral, HQ. I skimmed over the photos — it looked to be a lovely balance between the deeply personal and the stately. We haven’t seen that many hatted royals together in some time.
The British Hat Guild! It seems like something that might have been around for centuries. Nifty logo.
The Dillon Wallwork pink saucer is my favorite new design for the week. It would be splendid for the Countess of Wessex. Rachel Henry’s use of gold with pink makes another splendid Ascot-ready hat.
Princess Charlotte looks ready to take on the world!
The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita made their first appearance, post abdication, today at the Tokyo Lawn Tennis Club.
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/former-japanese-emperor-akihito-and-his-wife-former-empress-news-photo/1141351668
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a photo of Michiko in slacks before — I bet the Emeritus couple will enjoy being able to attend ordinary events less formally dressed.
Such a romantic venue – I believe their majesties met each other on the tennis court. Matthew, for a visual treat, just scroll through the folder below of Getty images;mixed in with the formal images you will see plenty of wonderful pics of Michiko in slacks, as she and her husband go for outdoor walks. As usual, both look breathtakingly classic, elegant and stylish. .
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/photos/empress-michiko-emperor-akihito-walk?family=editorial&phrase=Empress%20Michiko%20Emperor%20Akihito%20walk&recency=anydate&sort=mostpopular&page=1&suppressfamilycorrection=true#license
Michiko and Masako both regularly wear trousers, especially for more causal or private events such as this one.
The Emperor Emeritus in that grey blazer with the tennis racket lapel pin and a pocket square! So fantastic.
Better photo of Queen Margrethe’s hat