Closer Look: The Teal Feathered Fox Turban

Royal HatsAnother one of the hats included in the Holyrood House section of this year’s three-part exhibition on Queen Elizabeth’s fashion is a green silk chiffon turban with ostrich feather trim, designed by Frederick Fox.

 While I have not been able to find photos of this hat in action, it follows a similar formula of millinery design that Fox and the Queen’s other milliners followed in the late 1960s and 1970s using a turban shape and  trailing embellishment down the back. It’s a time-rooted style that doesn’t translate well to present day but became a signature millinery look for Her Majesty during this era. If forced to choose a favourite here, my vote is with the Fox design displayed above. I think the combination of gossamer light feathers and smooth silk chiffon makes a more elegant and much less clunky design than the fussier ones below.

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What do you think of this hat design, now that we’ve had a closer look?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Dutch and Belgian Monarchs Open Frankfurt Book Fair

King Willem-Aleander, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde met in Frankfurt today to officially open the Netherlands-Flemish pavilion at the 2016 Frankfurt Book Fair.

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Queen Mathilde repeated a pale grey straw pyramid shaped saucer hat, trimmed only with piping around the edge of the piece. I like the rakish angle she wore the piece and the elegant way it provided a counterpoint to her wildly printed frock. It’s not the most exciting of hats but for this occasion, a more simple design was an excellent choice.
Queen Mathilde, Oct 18, 2016 | Royal Hats  Queen Mathilde, Oct 18, 2016 | Royal Hats

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: August 4, 2014
What do you think of this grey hat in Germany today?
Photos from Getty as indicated; Photonews and Photonews via Getty

Seeing Double: Duchess of Cambridge

Royal HatsSeveral of you have requested a closer, side by side comparison of the hat the Duchess of Cambridge wore for her arrival in Canada three weeks ago and its red twin, worn for the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla Parade on the Thames on June 3, 2012. Here you are:

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There are some ever so slight differences between these pieces besides the obvious colour and embellishment- different thicknesses of felt give a narrower rim (with visible stitching) and inside moulded pleat on the red design. This, along with the more angular daffodil trim, makes the red hat look little more crisp than the blue version.

Having seen these two hats side by side I’m now curious, dearest readers- which version do you prefer?

Photos from Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

Royal Hats

The Duke of Parma and Princess Annemarie presented their son, Prince Carlos Enrique of Bourbon-Parma at a Te Deum at the Monastery of Santa Ana in Barcelona last weekend. Princess Annemarie wore cream tam o’shanter style hat (Getty)

Lalla Salma of Morocco in a chic royal blue fedora on a recent trip to Paris (Noblesse & Royautés Blog)

Princess Beatrice donned a fun feline costume complete with jewelled headpiece for the annual UNICEF ball

On the last day of their state visit to Germany, King Carl Gustaf donned a dapper navy fedora hat (Swedish Royal Court)

Queen Sonja was joined by members of the Norwegian royal family for the private funeral of her brother (Svenskdam)

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel attended an event at the Grand Hôtel Stockholm. The large costume jewelled brooch in her hair makes for a fun and informal tiara alternative.

Royal Hats

Candid interview with Princess Beatrice and how she sees her dyslexia as a gift (Express)

Troubling news from Sweden that Princess Christina has withdrawn from duties to undergo treatment for chronic leukemia (Swedish Royal Court)

Lovely portrait of Prince Christian released for the occasion of his 11th birthday. It was a great counterpoint to news also from the Danish Court that Crown Prince Frederick fractured his neck in an incident involving a trampoline (something his mother had a quick response for). It appears he will make a full recovery.

Queen Elizabeth Enjoys Day At Races

Judging by the expressions captured by photographers, Queen Elizabeth spent a delightful day at the QIPCO British Champions Day racing meet at Ascot Racecourse.

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She repeated a grey felt hat with red velvet hat band and binding around the upturned brim, trimmed with a mass of slim grey, white and red feathers anchored with a red velvet button. The red trim makes this hat so very cheery and while the feathers are rather haphazard, there’s something charming and whimsical about them that makes me smile.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: February 8, 2015; January 9, 2011; October 28, 2010; December 25, 2008
While this hat would not appear on any of my favourite lists of the Queen’s millinery, I must admit that I was charmed seeing it and its wonderful matching bouclé coat again today. What do you think of this feathered hat?
Photos from Getty as indicated