Plaid?

This week’s discussion question is one recently suggested in a comment thread: which royal hats are/have tartan or plaid? I’ve started us off with a young Prince of Wales in his namesake tartan.

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Image from Getty as indicated

Koningsdag 2021

King Willem-Alexander celebrated his 54th birthday today in Eindhoven, a southern Dutchcity that brands itself as a hub for high-tech innovation, with a largely digital version of the annual royal walkabout.  Queen Máxima used the occasion to debut a draped toque hat in a lively green and yellow silk ikat print.

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Even with the same use of pattern on the skirt and hat (contrasting on the blouse), it’s a lot of pattern for one ensemble. I think it works better with the yellow coat, which unexpectedly quiets down the overall look. It also works better, photographically, in still, posed shots rather than in-motion (see the lovely bottom two images).

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Designer: Jolanda (Máxima’s dresser). Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

We’ve not seen Máxima in a new toque hat for a long time. What do you think of this new addition?

Images from Getty as indicated

Princess Royal Marks Anzac Day

On Sunday, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, took part in memorial services to commemorate Anzac Day. For the dawn service at at Wellington Arch and morning service at Westminster Abbey, the Princess Royal repeated her purple felt fedora hat trimmed with twisted bow and curling feathers on the side.

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The hat’s deeply creased crown and extended brim gives it a slightly retro vibe that suits Anne well and links with the large 70s-esque lapels on her coat. I particularly like this deep purple for memorial events such as these.

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Designer: Amy Morris-Adams
Previously Worn: Dec 25, 2019; Dec 30, 2018Aug 26, 2018March 16, 2018  

Any thoughts about Princess Anne’s fedora on this, its fifth outing?

Images from Getty as indicated

Danish Royals Open Kolding Exhibitions

Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte were in Kolding on Friday to open two exhibitions at the Royal Collection at Koldinghus. The first exhibition ‘Christian V – King, warrior and the anointed of God” is about the 17th century king but the second, “The Queen’s Embroideries” is contemporary, showcasing Queen Margrethe’s own embroidery work.

The collection includes pillows, furniture, table linen, advent calendars, clothing and accessories, including a pair of clutch bags the Danish queen made for each of her daughter-in-laws.

For this visit, Queen Margrethe repeated the aubergine and red boater hat covered in the same fabrics as her dress and jacket.

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This is this hat’s second outing and it remains a winner, thanks to its unexpected unexpected colour scheme, excellent scale and flawless execution. And the jaunty angle the Danish queen wears it- well, that’s perfection.

Designer: Mathilde Førster
Previously Worn: Nov 27, 2020

Princess Benedikte joined her sister for this visit in a new periwinkle brimmed hat with a pink hatband. It’s a great addition to her wardrobe- Benedikte wears the classic shape well and the colour suits her well.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte were also joined by their first cousin Count Ingolf of Rosenborg and his wife Sussie, who topped her suit with a small fascinator (see gallery below).

Back on Wednesday, Queen Margrethe opened an Auguste Rodin exhibition at the Glyptoteket museum in Copenhagen. She repeated her denim blue cloche hat with upturned brim around one side trimmed with a checked tweed hatband and side bow. It’s another fine design- Mathilde Førster’s work certainly suits the Danish queen, doesn’t it? This relatively new pairing of milliner and wearer continues to excite. 

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Designer: Mathilde Førster
Previously Worn: Oct 6, 2020; Feb 8, 2020Jan 14, 2020

These days, any royal hat we see is a welcome one- what do you think about these designs?

Images from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

Empress Masako dressed for spring in a white bowler with pistachio green pleated hatband for the Midori Prize yesterday

The following new millinery designs caught my eye last week:
Stunningly sleek bridal ensemble with hat by Dutch milliner Mirjam van der Welle
Spectacular blush and grey tipped silk oversize rose headpiece with veil by Russian milliner Marina Koneva
Cream wide brimmed design with fuchsia underbrim and abaca drape by British milliner Bundle MacLaren
Black straw cartwheel brimmed design with fabulous feathers by American milliner Conney Borda
Adore the quietly contrasting binding on this pale blue felt fedora by US-based brand By Vlada Hats
Tan and blush straw stacked percher with silk flowers by Dutch milliner Berry Rutjes
Lilac straw saucer with the loveliest silk orchids and lilies by British brand Rebecca Couture Millinery
Vintage black and white checkerboard straw beret with stem by Australian milliner Jill Humphries
Blush straw oversize top hat with whimsical striped hatband and flying bow by US milliner Amy Jo Traylor
Electric blue draped straw hat with feathers by British milliner Louise Pocock
Fabulously futuristic shape on these streamlined natural straw turban by German milliner Nicki Marquardt
Magenta felt stylised bowler with bow-trimmed black veil by British milliner Rachel Henry
Ice blue large saucer with amazing feather flowers shared by Millinery Australia
Charming yellow ikat cap and matching bow tie by German milliner Ulrike Strelow
Wonderfully unexpected mix of colour on this button percher with layered pinwheels by UK milliner Sarah Blackmore

Birthday portraits shared by the Danish and British monarchies to celebrate Princess Isabella and Prince Louis’ fourteenth and third birthdays. Photos all taken by their proud mums.

Images from social media as indicated