Monthly Archives: July 2020

Monday Multiples: Queen Elizabeth

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Thanks to Jimbo for providing the introduction and background research for the posts on Queen Elizabeth featured in this “Monday Multiples” series.

Jimbo’s Introduction: As a part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a river pageant was held in Queen Elizabeth’s honor.  Only once before in British history was a Royal able to achieve such a noteworthy feat, that being Her Majesty’s great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted 63½ years. The white coat and hat stood out against the barge’s red upholstered furniture, and the various red and black uniforms.  Even her shawl’s edges matched the ensemble. Three years later, Her Majesty traveled to Berlin, where SIX hats were debuted!  Among them was a bright white straw hat with a large central bow made of the same material as the dress, replacing the Diamond Jubilee hat. By happy coincidence, this ensemble was also worn for a boat ride, this time on the Spree River.

Look #1: White fabric covered hat with pleated silk oblique brim trimmed with bejeweled gold, silver and bronze feathers worn June 3, 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant.

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Look #2: White straw hat with pork pie shaped flared crown and flat, kettle edged brim with prim bow worn June 24, 2015 in Germany

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Which hat do you prefer most with this coat?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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The Prince of Wales attended the Graduation Ceremony of the Queen’s Squadron as the Reviewing Officer at RAFC Cranwell on Thursday in his role of Marshal of The Royal Air Force.
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Two housekeeping items- The Index of Royal Milliners has been reorganized by country (the country each milliner currently works from). The Retrospectives page has been updated with all of our recent Ascot posts- I suspect Queen Mathilde will debut a new hat on Tuesday for Belgian National Day and some of you might want to look back at all of her past National Day looks in anticipation of this. 
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Fun pink straw hat with grey-bound split brim and explosion of curled biot feathers by British milliner Katie Vale

For our dear gents, a beaver felt trilby in the most handsome deep teal by Danish brand Hornskov København
Statement wide brimmed hat in vibrant woven buntal and crin with fringes by US milliner Amy Fowler
Romantic straw picture hat covered in layered rings of pastel crin by British brand Lomax & Skinner
Wonderful 1940s inspired natural straw bandeau with crimson feather flowers by Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
Black fabric-covered mushroom brimmed statement hat trimmed with handmade wire sculptures adorned with lace by Australian milliner Souri Sengdara

Stephen Jones’ characteristically out-of-the-box take on a classic ecru boater hat
Oversize scarlet straw disc with looped bows, feathers and magenta roses by French brand A Hat at Auteuil
Charming grey straw cloche with black ribbon binding and lace applique by German brand Maliné
A very whimsical and sunny green and yellow daffodil headpiece by UK milliner Marie-anne Talbott
Pyramid-peaked pillbox in black parasisal straw by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Ivory straw brimmed hat with the most fantastic woven ribbon trim by British milliner Bundle MacLaren

Such a fun headpiece of magenta, turquoise and yellow silk ranunculus flowers by British milliner Anne Tomlin
Shallow-crowned bridal hat with ethereal overlay of white crin and silver veil by London-based milliner Elena Shvab
Chic black and white woven straw hat with slim hatband by French milliner Béatrice de Beauvoir
Parasisal button percher with soaring jinsin trim in the loveliest shade of lilac by UK brand Rebecca Couture Millinery
Oversize vibrant yellow straw saucer with flying silk abaca bow and jeweled trim by Irish milliner Caithriona King
Textured mini top hat percher in woven grosgrain and rubber by British milliner Stephen Jones

Two new photos of wee Prince Charles and his doting parents released by the Cour grand-ducale Luxembourg
Arthur Chatto is part of a 4-man rookie rowing team attempting to row non-stop unsupported around the UK (breaking 4 world records in the process) to raise money and awareness for JustOneOcean and the Red Cross. Off to a rough start, they seem to be back on track- read more info and track their progress here or at Arthur’s instagram page.
Queen Elizabeth enjoyed a lively Zoom conversation with those serving in the armed forces, including Able Rate Sophie Levy on RFA Argus and Lance Corporal Shanwayne Stephens.
Lovely, relaxed photos of the Princess Royal, taken for her 70th birthday
The Dutch royal family welcomed photographers to Palace Huis ten Bosch yesterday for their annual summer photocall; Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit did the same with their family while at their summer vacation home on the island of Dvergsoya near Kristiansand.

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Photos from social media as indicated

York Wedding

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Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were married yesterday morning in a small private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor.

Princess Beatrice wore an gown of  ivory peau de soie taffeta with silver and diamanté motif beaded on the bodice and upper ballgown skirt made by legendary designer Norman Hartnell in the earlier 1960s. Silk puffed sleeves were added by the Queen’s dressmaker Angela Kelly and fashion designer Stewart Parvin, who also replaced the gown’s balloon hem with a wide stripe of duchesse satin for a sleeker silhouette (and, I suspect, to make the gown long enough for Princess Beatrice, who is taller than her grandmother). It was reported that these adjustments were all reversible.


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Beatrice topped the dress with an ivory silk veil, anchored with Queen Mary’s diamond fringe tiara. Also borrowed from her grandmother, the fringed tiara was also worn for Queen Elizabeth’s wedding in 1947 and Princess Anne’s in 1973. The tiara choice was a surprise but its linear lines echoed the beading on the vintage gown and the pieces paired beautifully together. The warm tone of ivory is exquisite with Beatrice’s colouring and auburn hair and the personal connection to her grandmother through the dress- no doubt, a choice the Queen was actively involved in- is charming and sentimental and all kinds of perfect.

Guests were limited to immediate family only- the only hat we’ve seen was the pale aqua wool crêpe covered design with pink straw flowers worn by the Queen. 

Like many couples, Beatrice and Edoardo’s wedding plans were impacted by the pandemic. I’m sure you join me in wishing them the very best for the future.

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Photos from Getty as indicated 

Queen Knights Centenarian Captain

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Queen Elizabeth was all smiles today, welcoming 100-year-old veteran (and NHS fundraising hero) Captain Tom Moore to Windsor castle for an outdoor investiture to confer the Honour of Knighthood upon him. For this, and a family wedding earlier in the day, she wore a summery new hat.

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The straw hat, covered in the same pale aqua wool crêpe as her coat, follows the shape of Angela Kelly’s split crown hats with a slightly upturned bound brim. The hat is trimmed with a wide ruched hatband, pale grey arrow cut feathers and hand rolled pink straw flowers and curling green leaves on the side. 

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It’s a good hat- the colour is lovely on Her Majesty and the floral trim, which links well with her dress adds lift and brightness to the piece. Seeing the darker green straw leaves from side view helps them make sense- not only do they link with the dress pattern, they give great movement to the hat. My only quibble is the brim pinch on the side, which makes the brim shape a little awkward and wasn’t necessary in a design that has enough other things going on.

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Designer: Angela Kelly, made by Stella McLaren
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Queen was overheard telling Captain Moore that she had attended her granddaughter’s wedding earlier this morning; Princess Beatrice and Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi were married in a small, private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints which is opposite Royal Lodge, close to Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace will release photos tomorrow but the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were photographed traveling to the wedding, Queen Elizabeth wearing this hat.

I think this hat is a great choice for both a granddaughter’s wedding and a garden investiture- what do you think of it?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats to July 21, 1928 and a Belgian National Day look decidedly more glamorous than we see these days. Princess Astrid, as was her title at this point, celebrated her country in a shallow crowned hat with wonderful curved brim that, I sense, would look as fashionable now as it did then.

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Photos from Getty as indicated