Category Archives: Announcements, Extras & Millinery News

This Week’s Extras

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Have a lovely Sunday- I’ll be back first thing tomorrow for focused coverage and discussion on hats worn for the Romanian national holiday and look at two (one new!) designs worn by Queen Elizabeth over the weekend at the Windsor Horse Show.

On Tuesday, Empress Masako was spotted arriving at the Imperial Palace with the emperor to rehearse their first court ritual which took place on Wednesday. She repeated her unembellished almond bumper hat.
Also on Tuesday, the Duke of York was spotted in uniform as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards (with cap) for the morning’s Changing of the Queen’s Life Guard at Horse Guards riding new Cavalry Black horse ‘Darby’, apparently practicing for the upcoming Trooping the Colour.
On Wednesday, King Carl Gustaf donned his trusty brown fedora for the World Wildlife Fund’s annual meeting, held this year at Huvudskär and Utö in the Stockholm archipelago. The same day, King Harald commemorated Norwegian Armed Forces Day and Liberation Day at Akurshus Fortress, predictably in military uniform with cap.
Infanta Elena donned a neutral straw fedora to watch her daughter, Victoria de Marichalar, open the Seville Fair in a traditional Spanish mantilla with tall peineta comb (see more photos and video here). And 20 years after meeting at this event, the Dutch King and Queen returned this week along with their three daughters… and a quartet of wonderfully vibrant floral headpieces.


On Wednesday, Princess Alexandra visited a life boat station in Shoreham. She repeated her ice blue straw hat with tall crown wrapped in coordinating net tulle, designed by Rachel Trevor Morgan.
Queen Margrethe unveiled a new statue of Denmark’s longest reigning monarch King Christian IV (1577 – 1648) in Copenhagen yesterday. She repeated a hat with ecru straw crown and grey straw double brim for the event.


The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Emerald straw button percher with vibrant ribbon trim and soaring quills by NY milliner Jennifer Hoertz
Pink felt wide brimmed hat with rose gold diamanté hatband from LA based milliner Gladys Tamez
VA VA VOOM red straw percher with the most fantastic curving trim by Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Exquisite curving cream disc with pink handmade blooms and curving quills by Rachel Trevor Morgan
Navy beret percher with hand-beaded bow by Irish milliner Michelle Gleeson
Classic ivory straw picture hat with monochrome leaf printed brim by British milliner Bee Smith
Colourful red and green embroidered lace headpiece from German milliner Nicki Marquardt
Black and white patterned straw pyramid with crin and tassel trim by Italian brand Giulia Mio Millinery

Another interesting article on the Empress of Japan, written by someone with personal connection (The Asahi Shimbun)
King Hamad Of Bahrain and sons Sheikh Nasser and Sheikh Khaled were spotted out for a ride at Windsor Castle in between days spent enjoying the Royal Windsor Horse Show this week
Did you see this delightfully sweet exchange between Queen Elizabeth and former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on Tuesday?

Princess Margriet presented the Duke of Sussex with an adorable gift during his quick visit to The Hague this week to official launch this year’s Invictus Games, to be held in The Netherlands.

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And finally- the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared this sweet photo of ten wee toes today, in honor of Mother’s Day (notice the background forget-me-not flowers, a favourite of the Duke’s late mother)

Photos from Getty and social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Some of you have written asking for coverage of this weekend’s Kentucky Derby. I don’t believe a royal hat will appear at this year’s races so I’ll leave the coverage to you- feel free to post any Derby hats and engage in related discussion in the comments of this post. I’ll hold coverage of Grand Duke Jean’s funeral and Dutch Remembrance Day until later on Monday.

For the 70th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth this week, the British monarchy released these throw-back photos that include some wonderful past hats on Her Majesty
On his birthday on Tuesday, King Carl Gustaf was joined by Queen Silvia and their dog, Brandie, to open a ‘rain and rest’ pavilion for visitors of both the 2 and 4-legged varieties at Ormholmen in Drottningholm Castle Off-Leash Park. For this event, the King repeated his trusty brown fedora. 
Queen Margrethe officially commenced the 2019 sailing season with a small trip yesterday on board the royal yacht Dannebrog from Copenhagen to Elsinore. For this, she repeated her nautical navy hat with white brim binding and layered navy and white stacked ribbon hatbands.
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Interesting ceremonial hat on King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailant this morning as he was is carried on a golden palanquin out of the Grand Palace for the coronation procession
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Queen Elizabeth was spotted en route to church at Windsor this morning in the pink straw hat with ostrich feather trim by Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren) she debuted last year 
The British Hat Guild officially launched this week. A collective of 30 top British milliners (many whose work we regularly admire here), this new association is a collaborative initiative “dedicated to sharing ideas and promoting our unique heritage”.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Beautiful dusky pink straw saucer trimmed with silk flowers and crin ruffle by British milliner Dillon Wallwork
Amazing shape on this black wired crin headpiece by Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Adore the purple and deep blue colour palate on this iris and hydrangea headpiece by British milliner Vivien Sheriff
Wonderful free folded hat green felt (that can be worn in 2 positions) by New Zealand milliner Anel Heyman
Punchy graphic silver and gold motif on the brim of this black hat by British brand House of Flora
Cobalt blue leather bandeau trimmed with fantastic leather flowers by British brand Mind Your Bonce
Statement extra-wide brimmed orange, cream and black picture hat by Australian brand Murley and Co.
Fabulous feather work on this ivory disc hat with flowers and black & cream feathers by British milliner Sara Gadd
Graphic blue and black straw picture hat with amazing crown wrap by Dutch millinery Eugenie van Oirschot
Pink straw wide mushroom brim with gold veil hand-dyed ombre silk ruffles from Aussie milliner Rachel Henry
Charmingly rustic woven straw percher with flowers & leaf feathers by British milliner Beverley Edmondson

Interesting article on Empress Masako– her personality, work as crown princess and the causes she’s likely to support (The Asahi Shimbun)
Days before his coronation, the never-boring new Thai king announced his fourth marriage this week and has declared his new wife as queen. His bride, Suthida Tidjai, previously worked as a flight attendant for Thai Airways before being appointed as one of the king’s bodyguards. Most recently, she was promoted to his head of security and a general in the army. (CNN)
Three sweet portraits of Princess Charlotte, taken by her mum, released on Wednesday for her 4th birthday.
We end this week with a sweet photo shared by Princess Eugnie in celebration of her husband, Jack’s birthday.

Photos from social media and Getty as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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On Wednesday, Princess Akiko wore an oatmeal cloche at celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the emperor’s reign in Fukuoka Prefecture
Queen Elizabeth in a smart black straw hat with pleated straw hatbands and white brim binding and bow on Thursday at the funeral of her longtime friend, Jean (Jeanie) Margaret Wallop Herbert, Countess of Carnarvon.


Today, Princess Tsuguko attended an archery competition and officially opened Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Koto, Tokyo. She wore a mint green silk covered pillbox with charming three-dimensional vine trim trailing over the design.
Easter greetings last weekend from Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar (in a great photo taken by their um) and Prince Carl Phillip and Princess Sofia, all in cosy knit winter hats


The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Grey picture hat with exquisite hatband of flowers made from paillettes & crystals by British milliner Dillon Wallwork
Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit in a wonderful pink and purple ombre straw percher of her own design
White straw pillbox with the most exquisite gold floral trim from British milliner Sarah Cant
Silver velvet bandeau with delicate lace applique trim from Irish milliner Teresa Nugent
Pistachio green straw boater hat with layered silk hatbands from Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Cream straw high sidesweep with amazing gold curling quill from British milliner Rachel Black

And from Australian milliner Helen Strong, this black teardrop veiled percher with vibrant floral trim.

Lovely to see Atsuko Ikeda ( Emperor Akihito’s elder sister, the former Princess Yori) undertake an engagement at the Ikeda Zoo last Sunday.
Interesting article on Crown Prince Naruhito– who he is and how that will shape the kind of emperor he will be (Mainichi)

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Hisako wore a smart ivory hat with layered green hatbands and silk butterfly (or bow?) today in Fukushima Prefecture to open a national football training center.
A whole lot of new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Vibrant navy, purple and turquoise straw boater with pompoms by London-based milliner Lisa Tan
Very pretty pink scrolled percher saucer with flower & quills by New Zealand milliner Claire Hahn
Wonderful pattern on this vintage fabric hugger with feather peony by Australian milliner Cessiah Alice
Very fun textured pink saucer with bow by British milliner Jess Collett
Bold and very fun navy polka dot boater hat with navy ribbon from Australian brand Murley and Co. Millinery
2 bandeaus: Pink silk with braid and blue straw with hand cut & dyed petals from British milliner Laura Cathcart
Lilac straw button percher with cream extended flying brim and feather from American milliner Tiffany Arey
Punchy colour scheme on this grey and orange straw fedora with turquoise hatband from Belgian brand My Bob
Statuesque pink fur felt riviera with pink ombre hatband from Melbourne based Jill and Jack Millinery
Stunning sequinned and beaded flapper cap from American milliner Karen Morris
Adore the vibrant colour and graceful movement on this flower trimmed bandeau by Irish milliner Laura Hanlon
Classic straw wide mushroom brimmed design with black crin twists by British milliner Jane Taylor

And from British milliner Rae Oakley, this pale blue cartwheel brimmed picture hat with flying bows of blue straw and yellow and lime green flying crin. The colour scheme is unexpected but so charming!

Touching tribute from the Countess of Carnarvon to her late mother-in-law (Jean Margaret Wallop Herbert, wife of the 7th Earl of Carnarvon who was a close friend and former horse racing manager of Queen Elizabeth, died on April 10).  The Prince of Wales’ letter to French President Macron on Tuesday was also poignant.

Prince Gabriel celebrated his third birthday this week and the Swedish monarchy released this adorable portrait.
Sweet snap shared by Princess Madeleine of her own trio of Easter bunnies
And finally, the Danish monarchy released this clip of Queen Margrethe painting Easter eggs. May you all have a very happy Easter and if you’ll be wearing an Easter bonnet, tell us bout it (or share an embedded social media photo) in the comments!  I’ll pop back later tomorrow for the Easter hats at Windsor.

Photos from social media as indicated

Queen Elizabeth’s Maundy Thursday Hats: Part 4

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So far in our look back at Maundy Thursday services from years past, we’ve seen the hats Queen Elizabeth wore in the 1950s and 1960s; the 1970s and early 1980s; and the later 1980s and 1990s. Today we wrap up this series with a look at the designs the Queen has worn to this Easter weekend service so far this millennium:


2000, 2001 and  2002  


Marie O’Reagan in 2003; 2004 and 2005

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Pale yellow and cream in 2006 and pale dusty pink by Rachel Trevor Morgan in 2007


Rachel Trevor Morgan in 2008 and 2009; Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren) in 2010

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Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren) in 2011; Rachel Trevor Morgan in 2012; Kelly/McLaren in 2013 

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Trio of designs by Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren) 2014, 2015 and 2016

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Dark turquoise felt with velvet leaves in  2017 and Royal blue silk cloque with brown faux fur in 2019, both by Angela Kelly (made by Stella McLaren)  

UPDATE– since this post was published, the Queen has worn the following hats for Maundy Thursday:

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Yellow straw with bows and multicoloured feathers by Rachel Trevor Morgan in 2019

While the shapes here are familiar, what greatly surprises me is with the exception of the magenta boater in 2014, every hat worn to this event in the past decade has been some shade of blue. No question, there are some lovely blue hats here but this streak of one colour at the same event is rather curious. An interesting side note- in preparing this post, I learned that the Queen has visited every single cathedral in the UK for Maundy Thursday (the last to be checked off her list was in 2017 at Leicester Cathedral). Back to the hats- what do you think of this group and what colour do you think we’ll see the Queen wear for this year’s Maundy Thursday service, later today?

With a weather forecast tomorrow calling for a sunny 22 degrees and my great wish for an end to this decade-long blue streak, I’d love to see Her Majesty in one of the vibrant yellow hats she debuted last summer (this one or this one).

Photos from Tim Graham, Tim Graham, Tim Graham, Alex Livesey , AFP/Getty, Anwar Hussein Collection, via Getty; Peter Muhly/Stringer and Chris Radburn/PA Images via Getty; Getty as indicated