With Christmas less than two weeks away, we’re going to take another look at Christmas Day hats of the past. Today’s look is at those worn by the Duchess of Cambridge:
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Burgundy felt stylised trilby by Jane Corbett in 2011; Emerald felt Gina Foster beret with flying bow in 2013; Chocolate felt pillbox with bowby Lock & Co. in 2014
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Forest green raised saucer with leaf flowers by Lock & Co. in 2015; Black alpaca hat with wide, cuffed brim from Peruvian Connection in 2017; Claret felt bandeau with chocolate bow back detail by Jane Taylor in 2018
Update: Since this post was published, the Duchess has worn the following hats on Christmas Day:
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Repeat of the Lock & Co.green saucer in 2019
The standout here for me is the 2011 trilby- a creatively fantastic shape so beautifully highlighted by the lighter colour on the brim binding. While other designs here certainly have merit, they just don’t match that first trilby (a hat, I might add, I’ve been waiting 8 years for a second outing!). What about you, dear readers- what stands out to you in this group of hats?
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
I agree with many others that the 2011 wine-colored trilby was one of her best Christmas hats (and one of her best hats in general), and I remain disappointed we’ve never seen it again. I wonder if it went into some archives? We also haven’t seen Meghan repeat her fabulous hat from her first royal Christmas (which I also want to see again), so I hope this isn’t some sort of curse haha.
While the trilby is an all-time favorite Kate hat for me, my first choice has to be the beautiful emerald Gina Foster cocktail hat, partially because it’s in my favorite color! If there was one hat I could have from Kate’s closet, this would be it.
All I want to see Christmas morning is Catherine wearing that burgundy trilby again.
I love all of her hat choices, but I have to give my vote to her Chocolate felt pillbox with bow in 2014.
The burgundy trilby is #1; the black alpaca is #2 and the green beret is #3! Lovely hats and outfits. I assume the missing years are when the Cambridge’s were with the Middleton’s?
chocolate pillbox
I like them all 😁
I really like all of these but I agree – the 2011 hat is wonderful and due for a repeat! I particularly like that there is a “Chrsitmas-y” feel to all of these hats and ensembles.
indeed 2011
Oh yes, I do wish she’d wear that fantastic 2011 hat again! I think it’s often the hat that comes to mind when people express a wish for what Kate might re-wear. And I’ve never heard a word in dispraise of it, which is quite a feat! (And if anyone doesn’t like it, please don’t be shy, I’d love to know why!)
Adding my voice to the chorus for Jane Corbett’s trilby in 2011: witty, elegant, chic #nailedit
I’m another fan of the trilby, which would look great with navy or grey. The 2013 beret is my second choice.
The burgundy hat from her first royal Christmas is my all time favorite of Catherine’s hats. I can’t believe it hasn’t been repeated in the past 8 years. I really don’t understand it, while we have seen some other, far less flattering hats, worn several times.
I also really like the green 2015 hat. And at least for the green ones we can be sure to see them again on St. Patrick’s day.
I also appreciate that there are 5 different milliners. While I usually love Camilla’s hats, I do wish she would use different, less known milliners occasionally.
2011 is one of my all time favourite hats and I too am waiting for a re-wear. The whole look that Christmas is probably one of the iconic looks I associate with her.
Lovely to see the 2011 burgundy felt trilby again. Unequivocally my favorite Christmas hat and outfit. I also hope she wears it again soon!
Agree completely, the 2011 is my fave as well.
My preference was the Burgundy felt trilby 2011, the Duchess looked superb. I loved the outfit she wore with it, my favourite Xmas look by far.