Catching up royal hats during the second half of May:
Norwegian National Day, May 17, 2024: Queen Sonja repeated an ivory crin hat with rounded crown and upturned brim while King Harald wore his black silk top hat.
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Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: July 22, 2021; May 23, 2018
Crown Princess Mette- Marit repeated a circular bandeau headpiece covered in red double crepe with a bow across the back. Crown Prince Haakon repeated his black silk top hat and Princess Ingrid appeared on the balcony in military uniform with felt beret.
Milliner: “Small Bow Band” by Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: Dec 10, 2022
The Sovereign’s Garden Party, May 21, 2024: The Prince of Wales repeated his black silk top hat.
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Princess Beatrice wore a wide ivory silk covered bandeau trimmed in a lattice pattern of crystal embroidery.
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Milliner: Idun headband by Emily London. Dress by Beulah London
Previously Worn: this headpiece was new.
Princess Eugenie wore a circular bandeau headpiece covered in pink silk, beautifully embroidered with flowers. A large pink silk bow across the back completes the design.
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Milliner: Bloem design by Emily-London in collaboration with Alice Archer. Dress by Ulla Johnson.
Previously Worn: this headpiece was new.
Zara Tindall wore a wonderful hat described by its milliner as, “A mid-sized boater in tonal pink, with a 2-tone straw crown and a basket weave straw brim, trimmed with an ombré tulle ruff.”
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Milliner: Rosa by Sarah Cant. Dress by Laura Green London. Styled by Annie Miall.
Previously Worn: this hat was new.
Mike Tindall and Peter Phillips repeated their black silk top hats.
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The Duchess of Gloucester repeated a taupe straw formed beret hat with stem while the Duke repeated a black top hat.
Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: Sep 8, 2021; Aug 5, 2021; July 9, 2018; July 11, 2018; March 9, 2017; June 18, 2015; June 15, 2015; November 6, 2013; June 19, 2013; June 5, 2012
Sovereign’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution Garden Party, May 23, 2024: Princess Anne repeated a grey sinamay stovepipe hat with feathers, blue ribbon trimmed bow and stacked blue ribbon hatband.
5th Anniversary of Codam Coding College in Amsterdam, May 29, 2024: Queen Máxima repeated her waved headpiece in blush striped silk abaca, trimmed with a large coordinating silk flower.
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Milliner: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: Jun 27, 2023; Sep 18, 2019; Oct 12, 2017; May 27, 2014; March 24, 2014
Memorial Service for Sir Chips Keswick in London, May 30, 2024: Queen Camilla repeated a black straw hat with tall crown and brim raised on one side.
Milliner: Philip Treacy. Dress by Fiona Clare Couture.
Previously Worn: Sep 16, 2022; Sep 12, 2022;
Opening of DSM-Firmenich Headquarters in Maastricht, May 30, 2024: Queen Máxima repeated a grass-green straw picture hat with raised brim on one side.
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Milliner: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: Nov 3, 2021; Mar 11, 2020;
‘Ladies Day’ at Epsom Downs Racecourse, May 31, 2024: Queen Camilla repeated an ivory straw trilby with pale blue textured hatband, side bow, quill and dyed feathers. Those feathers are wonderful!
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Milliner: Philip Treacy. Suit by Bruce Oldfield.
Previously Worn: Sep 16, 2023
FBN NxG International Summit in The Hague, May 31, 2024: Queen Máxima repeated
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Milliner: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: May 16, 2023; Sep 15, 2021; Jul 7, 2021; Jul 2, 2019; May 25, 2018; Feb 18, 2017; Nov 28, 2016; Nov 1, 2016; Sep 14, 2016; Jun 2, 2016; Apr 21, 2016; Mar 10, 2016
We’ll leave the Imperial royal hats for their own post. Thoughts about any of these designs?
Images from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 
Zara looked splendid at the garden party.. Her hat looked divine. Loved her dress
Again, the overall idea of Sonja’s crin hat is nice on her, but the details continue to perplex me. Harald has visibly thinned down (no doubt due to the multiple health issues he’s faced in the past couple of years), and interestingly it means his top hat doesn’t look to sit as high on his head (even though it is an illusion; his head size hasn’t changed); it’s good to see him out again! An easy and elegant look for Mette-Marit, and she definitely suits scarlet.
Sartorially Zara and Mike won at the garden party, no surprise. The Sarah Cant boater is wonderful on her, but too bad we didn’t get to see Mike try it on haha. The rest are sadly quite low key and unforgettable unfortunately.
Oh my, Máxima why did you decide to wear this headpiece straight on top of your head? (which I didn’t realize she had done so in 2023 either) This one has had a rough time being styled over the years, and honestly I think it’s time to retire it. Moving on to the green portrait hat: I really like how she wore it this time; something about the placement on her head seems rather perfect, but of course, the poorer quality with the finishing details continues to let this hat down unfortunately. Finally, I found something a bit off with how she wore the sand colored upturned brim portrait hat, but overall though it remains a classic Máxima look.
It’s interesting how in recent years Epsom barely registers on the radar in terms of hats, whereas 10-15 years ago it was a good preview for Ascot. I like Camilla’s fedora and didn’t remember the feather from before, although it looks to sit a bit high on her head at certain angles. As for the black hat: I wasn’t a huge fan of it previously (it was fine, but nothing extraordinary), but pairing it with this outfit just makes for a fantastic look. Brava!
Sonja: I still like this hat, with the light shining through the brim, adding a different dimension.
The 3 Bandeau/headband/headpieces: Not much to say.
Zara: Absolutely fantastic! Great color, shape, texture; a nice change from her usual styling.
Birgitte: Getting great use out of this beret; her thriftiness reminds me of Anne.
Maxima: I’m not a fan of her headpiece’s shape or hue; the deeper colors of the two picture hats are more flattering, IMO. That said, I can’t imagine those large green and brown hats being comfortable.
Camila: I like both the black hat and the white trilby. Her blue/white ensemble is very becoming on her.
Zara’s hat at the garden party is a winner, a lovely take on a classic design.
Queen Camilla’s trilby is about the only one I’ve ever seen worn successfully as part of a formal outift (in my opinion, I know there are other views!), and that is down not so much to the hat itself, although it’s a very handsome example, as to the fact that the whole ensemble has been so well thought through.
I really enjoy seeing Maxima in hats that “ordinary” people will probably never wear, such as the waved blush headpiece – it is so nice seeing something different and showing that the possibilities of headgear don’t have to be liimited by traditional shapes. Maxima is such a constant hat-wearer that she obviously gets her money’s worth from most hats, and she owns enough of them that one doesn’t get a sense of constant repeats. On the other hand, one sees the Duchess of Gloucester in her hats like the one here so often that when she has a new hat, it imparts a real sense of occasion!