81 years ago to this day in 1939. The Queen Mother departed the liner ‘Empress of Britain’ at Southampton in a uniquely shaped, folded hat trimmed with a pair of jeweled brooches.
Photo from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats
The Bold, Beautiful and Bizarre World of Royal Millinery
Royal Hats 
That is a flattering and interesting shape for the brim. I would love to see the crown.
I love seeing all the different waving styles. At one point the Queen sees a familiar face and starts waving with her palm forward. Princess Elizabeth doesn’t wave at all until the very end. She looks kind of mesmerized. And the King salutes, waves and makes the most marvelous overhead flourish at the end! Lovely video, thank you for posting.
There exists a brief color still photo at 1:00 in a video from 1937(!) Southampton indicating a wonderful baby blue ensemble, however the quality is very poor.
Here, though, is a very good quality video of today’s post entry, the Queen waving to an admiring crowd, who clearly approve of her hat!
Brilliant- thanks, Jimbo!
The Queen Mum had wonderful style! I really like the hat with the addition of the brooches.
Yes, the abdication was 1936. Perhaps the date in the post is a typo?
No, you’re right. She was queen by the time this photo was taken. Forgive me- I’m in a post-Ascot pile of foggy exhaustion. Correction made!
HQ, you can totally be forgiven for any lapses in dates today after providing us with such delights during Ascot Week!
Regarding today’s post, I also like the idea of decorating this hat with brooches instead of flowers or bows. I wonder if she ever varied the look by changing to different brooches.
Lovely picture. I think by ’39 she was Queen.