Monthly Archives: January 2023

Dutch Royals Visit Caribbean

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima embarked on a Caribbean visit over the weekend, accompanied for the first time by Princess Amalia. For the first stop of the tour in Bonaire on Saturday, Queen Máxima epeated her circular open-crowned headpiece in draped caramel brown abaca.

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I’ve come around to these open-crowned designs, particularly as a great less formal events held on tour in a tropical climate. This particular design pairs well with the dress, adding a neutral grounding that slightly softens the impact of the coral print.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Zimmerman. 
Previously Worn: May 10, 2022; Mar 12, 2020; July 7, 2015; April 26, 2014

Yesterday in Aruba was a double hat day for Queen Máxima! The first was her fuchsia straw picture hat with sharply sidesweeping ‘slice’ brim. This design is trimmed with a darker pink Petersham ribbon hatband looped into a bow on the side.

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It’s bright and vibrant, well suited to a Caribbean tour.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: Aug 31, 2019; July 3, 2016;  April 13, 2016; April 27, 2015

The second hat of the day was her textured brown straw bandeau headpiece trimmed with coffee hued silk roses.

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It’s another great neutral piece that with the flower providing just enough statement.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: Sep 9, 2022; Jun 29, 2022; Mar 10, 2020

For events today in Aruba, Queen Máxima repeated a sculptural calot headpiece in pale pinky-beige ruched silk abaca studded with tiny beads.

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While I always love a picture hat with this dress, I do understand the ease and appeal of a smaller headpiece on a tropical tour, and this fits the bill.

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: Sep 15, 2017; Nov 3, 2016;  Oct 25, 2015;  Apr 2, 2014 

What do your think of Queen Máxima’s tropical tour hats so far?

Images from Getty as indicated  

January’s Extras

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On  Friday, January 13, the funeral of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden saw numerous royal guests, mainly from German royal houses.

Row 1: Valerie Margravine of Baden, StephanieMargravine of Baden, Princess Caroline
Row 2: Princess Sibilla, Princess Ekaterina of Hanover, Princess Sarvath of Jordan, Princess Mahkameh zu Schaumburg-Lippe
Row 3: Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, Princess of Prussia, Countess Bettina Bernadotte & Philipp Haug
Row 4: Princess Katharina of Hohenzollern; Princess Ursula of Bavaria, Floria of Hesse, Sumaya bint al-Hassan

Zara and Mike Tindal attended the Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday, January 14. Zara wore a lovely mint straw beret percher with Swarovski crystal trimmed sinamay bow and quills by Australian milliner Meg Rafter. Her look was styled by Kimberly Gardner.



On Thursday January 19, Princess Hisako wore a new hat covered in ivory silk floral jacquard with jaunty upturned brim and an aqua hatband.

On Friday, Empress Masako repeated a pale greige hat with cafe au lait hatband for an annual Imperial Guard inspection

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Princess Anne in warm fur hats Wednesday on a visit to Estonia and yesterday for a walk to church at Sandringham.
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Princess Akiko attended a flower exhibition Friday in a grey hat with upfolded brim on one side. On Friday, Princess Hisako wore a jaunty purple felt hat with feather trim for a tableware festival.

On Saturday, Zara Tindall wore a bead embroidered peacock blue velvet headpiece by Jess Collett to Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.

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The following new millinery designs caught my eye recently (see the comments for more):


There was a glittering royal wedding recently in Brunei.

There are been other noteworthy royal events and beautiful hats to admire- please share your highlights in the comments.

 

Images from social media as indicated 

 

Funeral of King Constantine

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The funeral of King Constantine II, former King of the Hellenes, took place on January 16.

Crown Princess Marie-Chantal

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Princess Nina

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Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte of Denmark

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Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands

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Queen Silvia and Queen Mathilde

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Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Lady Gabriella Kingston

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Queen Noor and Princess Raiyah of Jordan

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Former Empress Farah Pahlavi

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Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna

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Margravine of Baden

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Princess Ekaterina of Hanover also attended in a layered black velvet bow bandeau headpiece by Jennifer Behr (bottom row below).

Images from Getty as indicated 

Imperial New Years Lectures and Poetry Reading

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The 2023 New Year’s Lectures and Poetry Readings took place last week at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

January 13: Ceremony of the Kousho Hajime (New Year’s Lectures)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated an ink blue velvet covered wide bandeau trimmed with embroidered lace applique flowers on one side.  Princess Kako repeated a bandeau of the same shape draped in turquoise silk.

Princess Kiko’s bandeau was previously worn: Feb 23, 2022; Feb 23, 2020
Princes Kako’s bandeau was previously worn: Jan 18, 2022

Princess Akiko repeated a palest yellow silk covered saucer with raised brim around the back, trimmed with a draped hatband and bow. Princess Yoko wore a sleek new pillbox covered in vibrant cerise silk.

Princess Akiko’s hat was previously worn: Dec 5, 2021

Princess Hisako and Princess Tsuguko repeated silk covered hats. Princess Hisako’s bumper, in muted pink printed jacquard, features an indented crown and twist on one side. Princess Tsuguko’s pistachio green pillbox with triple layered sash across the top of the hat embroidered with the same vine pattern as on the collar of her gown. The lily-of-the-valley blooms that originally embellished this hat but were removed for its last outing have magically appeared again!

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Feb 23, 2020; Feb 24, 2019;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 23, 2021; Feb 23, 2020; Oct 25, 2019; May 4, 2019

January 18: Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated a blush silk jacquard printed bandeau with folded cuff across the front. The design is trimmed with organza flowers on one side.

Previously Worn: Nov 16, 2019

Princess Kako wore a new royal blue silk covered percher trimmed with a swirl of crin studded with silk roses. The updated neckline on her gown and new hat transform this ensemble into one much more sophisticated than its original form, a great evolution for a maturing princess. Kako suits the scale and placement of a percher so well.

Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Nobuko topped a plum velvet gown with a matching boater hat with brim raised on one side, anchored by a large silk flower.

Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Akiko repeated a cream silk covered hat with short brim and triple layered hatband.

Princess Hisako repeated a striking teal silk pillbox hat trimmed with intricate embroidery around the side of the design along with feathers and a silk ribbon cockade. It’s worth noting that the matching gown bodice and sleeves have been remade. Princess Tsuguko’s blue silk covered hat with trilby-style raised brim around the back has also been changed since it’s last outing. Gone is the previous hatband of silk leaves, replaced with a more streamlined and angular hatband and a swath of net veil.

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Jan 14, 2016;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 26, 2021; 

There are some striking looks here- which ones stand out to you most?

Images from social media as indicated 

Remembering King Constantine II

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King Constantine II, former King of the Hellenes, died today at a private hospital in Athens at the age of 82.

He was born on June 2,1940 in Athens to Princess Frederica of Hanover and Crown Prince Paul of Greece. After winning a gold medal in sailing at the 1960 Rome Olympics and serving in all three branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces, the hugely popular prince acceded to the throne in 1964 at just 23 years of age. One of the youngest monarchs in recent memory, his nine-year reign coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in Greece’s political history. Forced into exile in 1967 following a military coup, the resulting dictatorship abolished the monarchy in 1973, thereby ending a dynasty begun by Constantine’s Danish-born great-grandfather George I in 1863.

King Constantine lived with his family in a north London suburb for most of his years in exile, returning to Greece for the first time in 1981 for his mother’s funeral. Visits continued and in 2013, he and Queen Anne-Marie returned there permanently. He has close ties to numerous royal houses- his elder sister is Queen Sofia of Spain; his sister-in-law is Queen Margrethe of Denmark; his uncle was Greek-born Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh; and his cousins included the late King Michael I of Romania, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and King Charles III, with whom he shared an especially close relationship. These strong familial ties saw King Constantine and his family often attend British and European royal family events.

King Constantine is survived by his wife, Queen Anne-Marie; five children, Alexia, Pavlos, Nikolaos, Theodora and Philippos; and nine grandchildren.

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Images from Getty as indicated