Category Archives: Announcements, Extras & Millinery News

This Week’s Extras

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Back on September 21, Princess Akiko of Mikasa, as Honorary President of the Japan Rugby Association, attended a match between Australia and Fiji in an ivory cloche with slim burgundy hatband. Last Sunday,  wore a smart white hat with pistchio green hatband and side bow for National Sports Festival in Kasama.
On Monday,  Princess Yoko wore a pale pink oversize cloche hat for a visit to the Shimodate Museum of Art in Chikusei. On Wednesday, she was in in Mito where she took in a took in a rugby football match at the National Sports Festival  in a black bowler hat with jade bow trim. 
On Tuesday in Tokyo, Empress Masako repeated a pumpkin silk hat with upturned brim and bow at the side for the 60th Anniversary Convention Of Nikkei And Japanese Abroad.
On Tuesday, Crown Princess Victoria wore a burgundy bandeau headpiece with ribbon roses and veil to attend the opening of a church in Uppsala with her father.
The Takamado Princesses were also busy this week around Japan for the 74th National Sports Festival. On Monday, Princess Hisako wore a wide brimmed black hat to watch events and on Wednesday, she arrived at the field hockey competition in Tokai in a natural straw hat with kettle brim and bright green hatband. On Friday, Princess Tsuguko watched softball in Kasama City, repeating her wonderful cream and black hat with slim black hatband and scalloped point on the side. On Saturday, she wore a pale blue bowler hat with wide silk hatband to watch the handball competition in Jōsō. 
On Friday, the Duchess of Cornwall repeated her brown tweed ruched crown hat with faux fur brim for a visit to Dunnottar Castle with the Prince of Wales.
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Today, Queen Elizabeth headed to Sunday service at Crathie Kirk in her pale grey straw cloche hat with square crown. The hat, which has only been worn in Scotland (this was its fourth outing) is trimmed with a hatband and brim binding in the same black and grey  bouclé tweed as Her Majesty’s suit, and spiky dahlia bloom of trimmed black, grey and bronze feathers. The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her red Philip Treacy formed felt beret with pheasant feather trim.
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The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Such an interesting, modern take on a cloche in grey felt with upturned brim by Japanese milliner Nokku Boushi
Emerald and black jinsin stripes split disc hat with mass of feathers by Australian milliner Catherine Allen
Dusky pink rough-edged silk tulle and shell button headpiece by New York brand Suzanne Couture Millinery
Sleek midnight blue teardrop percher with two-toned silk ruffles by British milliner Bee Smith
Very handsome charcoal felt men’s hat with vintage bias striped tie hatband from US milliner Cassie MacGregor
Black sequin covered perchers with firey pink, red and orange draped trim from Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit
Wide brimmed statement pyramid with layered aqua ombre feathers by Australian milliner Cynthia Jones-Bryson
Eggplant purple felt cloche with fantastic black maze lace trim by British brand Atelier Millinery
From British brand Mind Your Bonce and embroiderer Heather Everitt, this tweed percher with exquisite moth trim

And from Australian millinery Renae Kohle who works under the Neigh Millinery label, this pale blue brimmed design with hydrangea and rose petals sandwiched within layers of the sinamay straw, trimmed with pearls.

Fascinating story about one of Queen Elizabeth’s former designers
Compelling advertisement scheduled to launch tomorrow in the UK, narrated by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Royal follower and regular commenter here, James Taylor, was recently interviewed on “Eye Up Notts” TV programme about this year’s exhibitions on Queen Victoria for the 200th anniversary of her birth (this 2-minute segment starts at 14:15)
We end the week (or, rather, start this new one!) with this moment of unadulterated joy- something that’s in short supply in many of our lives. Have a great week, everyone.

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Last Sunday, Queen Elizabeth repeated her cornflower blue hat with black trim and spiky grey feather flower to attend Sunday morning service at Crathie Kirk. The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her tan beret with pheasant feather trim.

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Princess Hisako attended the Japan Sports Masters Tournament (for athletes over age 35) on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, she repeated a white hat with pork pie crown and wide brim edged in a black stripe with floral trim on the side. Tuesday, she wore a black straw hat with trilby-style raised back brim and wide, ecru-striped hatband. On Thursday, she repeated her ivory small brimmed, lace-covered hat with side bow for the 130th anniversary of the Japanese Red Cross Society in Gifu.. Yesterday, she wore this brimmed design to attend the Regional Traditional Performing Arts National Convention in Nara.

The Imperial emperor and empress attended the 74th National Sports Festival’s opening ceremony in Hitachinaka yesterday. Empress Masako repeated a white brimmed hat with wide royal blue silk hatband.

Queen Elizabeth was joined for church this morning in Scotland by the Snowdon family. The Queen repeated an angular lime straw cloche with navy stripe around the brim and a mass of straw leaves in the two colours on the side. The Countess of Snowdon wore a sculpted beret in a fantastic shade of saffron felt, trimmed with a gold brooch while Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones donned a chic dark denim blue felt fedora with navy hatband.
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A new book by Angela Kelly was released today that will undoubtedly, be filled with many great looks at her designs (and hats made by Stella McLaren, the in-house milliner on Kelly’s design team). I now know what’s on the top of my Christmas wish list!

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Alpaca gives a cruelty-free and sustainable option for fur hats and this teal one from Peruvian Connection is wonderful
Red felt calot with wide ruffle and bling-y brooch trim from British brand Rebecca Couture Millinery
Very fun blue patterned pillbox hat with retro proportions by Australian milliner Karen Bailey
Loden green silk ribbon bandeau with veil from British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan
Love unexpected coral and burgundy scheme of this straw brimmed design by Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Ivory felt sculpted hat with crown of folded swirls trimmed with crystals by Israeli milliner Orit Aviezer
From Stephen Jones’ new spring 2020 collection, this gravity-defying black hat with crisp white stripes

And these two green beauties from British milliners- first, from  Dorothy Morant, a hand blocked cloche in printed felt with extended brim and stunning pleated velvet ribbon trim (clearly, the Downton Abbey movie is on my mind) and second, from Carrie Jenkinson, this emerald felt saucer percher with amazing half pinwheel of statement twists.


It was so lovely to become better acquainted with this new, very sweet royal face this week
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Prince Harry took a poignant walk in Angola down the same path his mother walked, 22 years ago.

We end the week with the Dutch king, clearly enjoying his visit today to the Motocross of Nations at the TT Assen
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Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Empress Masako in a white silk covered hat for the opening ceremony of the National Cultural Festival and National Arts & Culture Festival for People with Disabilities in Niigata on Monday.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in cosy hats while on a visit to Dovrefjell on Tuesday
Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser looking characteristically glamorous this week for meetings at Georgetown University and the World Bank


Princess Beatrix and the Prince of Wales attended a parade on the Ginkelse Heide on the outskirts of Arnhem this morning to commemorate the the 75th anniversary of ‘Operation Market Garden’ in September 1944 which marked the beginning of the liberation of the Netherlands. Princess Beatrix wore a black straw bumper hat and the Prince Of Wales wore the burgundy beret of his uniform of Colonel in Chief of The Parachute Regiment
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Josine Droogendijk, author of the “Mode Koningin Maxima” (Queen Maxima’s Fashion) blog, wrote a fascinating post this week about all 234 of Maxima’s hats!
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Midnight blue trilby with piped hatband and peacock feathers by British milliner Bundle MacLaren
Fantastic sculptural ikat-print turban with vertical lift by Australian milliner Meghan Briton
Handpainted purple and gold fedora from Italian hatmaker Borsalino
Acid green straw boater hat with black trim and silver stars by Australian milliner Cynthia Jones-Bryson Millinery
Black and white percher and scarlet fur felt teardrop beret with double bow by British milliner Tracey Miller
Delicate blue silk floral headpiece by Australian milliner Meredith McMaster
Black straw percher with gravity-defying trim by German brand Hutkunst Ana
Wonderful parade of designs from Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit (I adore this black lace brim!)
Such unique, angular trim on this tangerine straw hat with printed brim from Aussie brand Contempromental Millinery

And from Irish milliner Caithriona King, this natural straw saucer with soaring pink trim

Princess Kako wore a beautiful kimono on Monday in Austria to meet President Alexander Van der Bellen
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And we close with this stunning sunset portrait of Princess Tatiana of Greece, taken by Prince Nikolaos

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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On Wednesday, Crown Princess Kiko wore a beige silk covered pillbox to visit the emperor and empress emeritus on the occasion of her birthday
A salmon pink sculpted bumper hat on Princess Hisako on Thursday to open the The Okura Tokyo hotel.


Earl of Wessex in a fedora yesterday in Bundeena, Australia on a walk with local high school children on a new Royal National Park national trail, opened to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.
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Queen Elizabeth in a repeated Angela Kelly magenta boater hat to attend church in Scotland this morning
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Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and Princess Anne in casual hats to watch Zara Tindall compete in the Gatcombe Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park this weekend
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Brace yourselves- there’s a LONG list of fantastic new millinery designs that caught my eye this week:

Such a pretty magnolia flower headpiece by milliner Australian milliner Meredith McMaster
Exquisite saucers with statement silk ruffles in muted pink and purple by Australian milliner Rachel Henry
Ecru felt teardrop beret with soaring pheasant feathers anchored with pearls by Irish milliner Sophie Hunter
Sunshine yellow straw wide-brimmed bergère hat with statement feather by Australian brand Peacock Millinery
Black guipure lace bandeau with Swarovski crystals by American brand Bay Willow Design
For our gents, the most handsome midnight blue beaver felt fedora by Hornskov København
Fantastic gold and black printed, pleated turban with curling trim by Australian milliner Sandy Aslett
Whimsical pink hat with scalloped straw ribbon brim (and a dragonfly!) by Belgian milliner Amélie D’Hooghvorst
Mint green teardrop percher with flowers and white crin swirl by Irish brand Noeleen Designer Hats
Grey and pink sinamay and parasisal boater hat with woven crown from Australian milliner Jo Marree
Classic red felt brimmed hat stunning silk hatband from Belorussian milliner Olga Lumiere
Tasmania-based milliner Meghan Briton’s statement take on a white pillbox with black bow 
Pink textured sinamay based percher with wonderful floral trim by Aussie brand Locopa Designs
More pompoms (!!) on this fantastical design by Canadian milliner David Dunkley 

And two stunners to show here-  from Irish milliner Aoife Kirwan a percher in Irish linen beautifully embroidered with the country’s floral and fauna and from Australian milliner Alana English, a sky blue design with curving crown pleat, windowpane sinamay brim, pink hatband and spiky pink feather poufs.


A new exhibit at The Hermitage Amsterdam opens today featuring jewels of the Imperial Russian court, including this amazing brooch worn by Elizabeth (1741-62), Empress of Russia
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Princess Nobuko suffered a first lumbar vertebral fracture in a fall this week. I’m sure you join me in wishing her a speedy recovery, especially as she reportedly wants to attend the upcoming Imperial Enthronement.
Some lovely new portraits of Crown Princess Kiko, released for her 53rd birthday
And we end the week with a new royal hat wearer- Prince Amadeo of Belgium and his wife Elisabetta welcomed a son, Maximillian

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Weighing in on last week’s extras a bit late. Stay tuned later today for a separate post on the British royals at the Braemar Games and church this weekend.

On September 1, Princess Märtha Louise donned a fluffy pink organza and net fascinator for Derbyday at Øvrevoll Racecourse.
On August 31, Queen Margrethe wore a white straw hat with kettle brim and lace hatband to unveil a statue of Bernhard Arp Sindberg in Aarhus. The hat is so well paired with her blue and white dress.
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Crown Princess Mary repeated her black straw wide brimmed hat with pleated wave on one side of the brim last Thursday for Danish Flag Day. The hat, by Danish milliner Susanne Juul, had a newly added large black pleated flower on the side.

 

For Prince Hisahito’s 13th birthday last Friday, the Imperial Household Agency released photos taken on the private leg of his recent visit to Bhutan with his parents that show the young prince and Princess Kiko in informal cotton bucket hats. It’s fun to see the Akishinos looking so informal!
Princess Anne, Timothy Laurence and Mike Tindall in casual hats yesterday at the Burghley Horse Trials to watch Zara compete (she took a fall off her horse but reportedly, both were not injured)
Empress Masako in a white hat with double sky blue hatband and back bow yesterday at the 39th National Sea Enrichment Festival in Akita City.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye last week:
Black straw bumper with trio of large, rolled crin & straw flowers by New Zealand milliner Monika Neuhauser
Mustard yellow felt percher (in such a unique shape!) with bows by British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan
Two-tone sinamay rolled disc hat with wonderful floral trim (see the back!) by Kenyan milliner Chloe Mitchell

And from Russian milliner Denis Gulyaev, this sculpted fedora in the most stunning shade of dark raspberry felt with a deep purple wrapped hatband.

Empress Emerita Michiko underwent surgery for breast cancer Saturday (Sunday in Japan). I’m sure you all join me in surrounding her with wishes for healing and wellness.
Interesting article in the New York Times about Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (Princess Beatrice’s boyfriend). Seems he’s much more than a handsome face.
Charming photos shared by the Belgian monarchy of Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore on their first day of school last week
Several royals came up against interesting doppelgangers last week- King Philippe and Queen Mathilde both faced their likenesses on canvas (the portrait of Queen Mathilde is wonderful!) while the Duchess of Cornwall met herself in this charming work in blackwork needlepoint (a type of embroidery using only black thread).
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Photos from social media as indicated