four years ago to a Te Deum service held on November 15, 2016 and an interesting hat on Prince Laurent of Belgium. I think he’d be better suited to a shorter crown (something pinched maybe?) and slightly wider brim- what do you think?
Thanks, Jake, for suggesting this hat!
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Photos from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
Oddly, since I have my new photochromatic lenses I find myself bearing some resemblance to Prince Laurent! Perhaps not in this hat though. Stetson make a bowler. What do you think, is that what he’s wearing? https://stetson.eu/en/bowler-fur-felt-hat-dark-grey
It’s rather comical. My first impression was Oliver Hardy.
Great call on the Oliver Hardy look — I concur!
My thought was that he still had this hat in the closet dating back to his much younger years when possibly he was smaller and grabbed it by accident on the unexpectedly cold day. (Kept it out of sentimental value, not intending to actually wear it again in public — I do that with some things.) The look on his face in the first photo suggests to me that maybe he did not appreciate being photographed at that moment.
Hilarious!
Judging by the oddly dimpled crown, this hat was not supposed to look like this. An unexpectedly cold day; old hat pulled from the bottom of wardrobe crushed under a pair of boots; crown hastily pushed out and hat plonked on head without glancing in the mirror – voila!
This hat just looks dorky on him. Possibly on anyone.
Is it possible this is a style found in a cultural costume? It rather has that feel to me…..but it is highly possible I’m totally wrong on that!
Yes; it struck me like that too; it needed folk dress to complete the look. As it is, not flattering.
If Laurent had worn a more traditional bowler (like this one from Lock & Co.: https://www.lockhatters.com/collections/men-top-hats-cokes-bowlers/products/extra-firm-coke), it would look quite nice on him (the squarer styling of the Lock & Co. bowler better complimenting his face shape) compared to this sadder alternative. Otherwise, HatQueen’s suggestion is a good choice.
Good call on a more traditional bowler shape!