We wrap up our look through all of Queen Elizabeth’s Epsom hats today with a look at those worn this millenium. It’s a colourful, brimmed bunch that contrasts against the hats we’ve seen so far in terms of shape and scale, showing an extension of the impressive arc of evolving millinery style we’ve seen during past decades. My immense thanks to Jimbo for researching photos for this entire series.
Here are the hats Queen Elizabeth wore to the Epsom races from 2000 until last year:
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2000; June 8 and 9, 2001
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2002 and 2003
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2005 and 2006
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2007 and 2008
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2009 and 2010 in Rachel Trevor Morgan
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Rachel Trevor Morgan designs in 2011 and 2012
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Angela Kelly designs (made by Stella McLaren) in 2013 and 2014
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Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren) again for 2015 and 2016
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Rachel Trevor Morgan designs in 2017 and 2018
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Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren) in 2019
So…. what do you notice about the hats during these two decades?
I hope you have enjoyed this look at the Queen’s Epsom hats, a retrospective replacement for the hats we will not see at the races tomorrow. Here are links to the other three posts in this series:
Royal Hats 
I’ve been following, but not commenting, this week. Thanks to HatQueen and Jimbo for the fun look back!
I agree with JamesB this era showcased some of HM’s best looks. 2002, 2006, and 2017 are my top favorites of this group.
For the last three eras, it felt like HM’s hats fit in with general millinery trends of the time, but now as fancier hats are rarer to see on a regular basis, HM’s hats feel more individual and experimental with a lot of the trims and colors. While HM isn’t as much of a trendsetter as younger royals, she continues to set the precedent and standard when it comes to hats, and this era proves she’s still got it at 94.
Great work Jimbo and HatQueen! This has been a lovely and needed break for self-care during this week.
The green/chartreuse from 2002 is just phenomenal. One of my favorite hats for HM that I can remember.
I like the wide brims but not the over-large crowns. I love that big bowl of pale floof in 2000 – wish she’d indulge in that shape more often. And she sure looks like her mum in the 2003 light blue!
I think this might be her best era yet. She’s now got a consistent, iconic style and if suits her, looking a tad less frumpy than in her mid years.
In the early noughties she flirted with larger brims, as in 2002, which is possibly my favourite here. That beautiful lilac from
2018 is a rare later example.
Certainly some of these are more successful than others, but there is a definite evolution that happened, and nowadays she generally looks absolutely fantastic.
Well said JamesB. The 2002 chartreuse hat caught my eye as well and is also my favorite. The 2009 and 2010 hats are runners up for me. I love the shape of the brims how they both turn up, but at different positions. She really has settled into a wonderful look that suits her these past 2 decades.
I think so, too, JamesB. I’d pick the 1950s calots as the runner-up, but I find her current looks the best. The RTM hats suit her so well.
Ooh, I’ve been looking forward to these! We lived near Epsom and from 2000 to2010 we used to go to Epsom on Derby Day (only on the general concourse, via the public footpath, which gained free entry for locals!) so I saw these hats in person! It’s always exciting to see the Queen, but as I wasn’t so aware of her millinery then, I mostly recall the general impression of the outfits!
That’s a wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing. It’s great to hear there’s a public footpath to welcome in local residents!
Here’s a closer look at detail on the blue hat with bias silk stripe brim binding worn in 2001 (this photo is from June 4, 1999 when she presented Bishop Desmond Tutu with the Wilberforce Medal)
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