Category Archives: Austria

Belgian Royal Wedding: Family Members

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Princess Maria Laura’s wedding to William Isvy on September 10 was attended by her Belgian, Austrian, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein relations, many of whom wore hats or headpieces.

Princess Astrid employed a “more is more” approach to her mother-of-the-bride ensemble, in a brimless hat covered in the same the green ostrich feathers as on the cuffs of her teal lace jacket… with a few more teal ones studded in. 

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Lace, feathers, ribbon embroidery, crystal collar, purple, teal, green… it’s a lot of elements that together, put this look well over the top for me. ‘Nuff said.

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Designer: The entire ensemble is Gucci
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The bride’s sisters Princess Luisa and Princess Laetitia and sister-in-law Princess Elisabetta wore vibrant yellow, emerald and ruby ​​bandeau headpieces.

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Queen Paola wore a headpiece in biscuit pleated abacca that encircled her head. It’s lovely from front view, the arc of the piece creating a halo framing Paola’s face with a ruffle on one side .

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Designer: “Chamira” design by Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This design is new

The groom’s mother Lisa wore an ecru sinamay disc percher trimmed with ivory sinamay twists and ivory and ecru feather flowers.

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His sister wore a wide blush sinamay saucer trimmed with multiple twists, feathers and curled quills in a slightly darker shade of pink.

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Queen Mathilde surprised with the repeat of a hat not seen for nearly 20 years. In pink sinamay woven with metallic fibers, the wide-brimmed design follows a sweeping pyramid shape with sharp, dropped vertical edge.

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It’s a dramatic statement hat softened by its color and pairing with Mathilde’s lovely floral frock. When she first wore this hat for Prince Laurent and Princess Claire’s wedding in 2003 , I think it overwhelmed her a little but this time, thanks to a more jaunty angle, a patterned dress and the confidence that simply comes with maturity, she carried it off fantastically.

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Designer: Maison van den Borne. Dress by Nathan.
Previously Worn: Apr 12, 2003

Princess Elisabeth was head to toe in red, topping a fringed dress with a brimmed straw hat. The design, with a gently waved brim, is simply trimmed with a slim hatband.

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Designer: “Laurany” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Caroline Herrera. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Claire paired her leaf printed dress with a loden green straw picture hat with extended brim In this era where smaller bandeaux and perchers have reigned in popularity, it’s fun to see a design of such scale!

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Louise wore a vibrant headpiece headpiece of silk flowers. It’s such a youthful design that paired beautifully with her fuchsia dress.

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Designer: “Eden” design by Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Rotate.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Delphine wore a fedora hat covered in “The Bubble” silk print from her newly released wearable art collection. It’s a bold design that was well balanced against her solid red dress. 

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Cilem Tunc Van Trier. 
Previously Worn: at this photoshoot

Princess Marie-Esméralda wore a dark blue straw cloche with extended brim. The hat is trimmed with a wide royal blue Petersham hatband and white silk rose on the side. Princess Léa wore a blue silk bow headpiece with veil. 

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Princess Margaretha of Liechenstein wore a tall blush pillbox wrapped in a wide band of caramel abaca with a knotted bow at the back. Princess Maria Anunciata, shown beside her mother below, wore a bandeau headpiece of pink silk petals. Princess Margaretha’s other daughter, Princess Marie-Astrid, attended the bride and was shown in the prior post in a plaited pink bandeau headpiece. 

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Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg wore a fuchsia straw saucer percher trimmed with orange silk abaca twists.

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Princess Dianne of Nassau wore a pink silk abaca draped calot with large bows. Prince Jean’s daughter, Princess Marie Gabrielle of Nassau, wore a pale green silk halo headband headpiece . 

Archduke Lorenz’s sister Countess Beatrice of Arco-Zinneberg attended along with all of six of her daughters Countess Anna Teresa, Countess Margherita, Countess Olympia, Countess Maximiliana, Countess Marie Gabrielle and Countess Giorgiana. Countess Margherita is pictured below in a black straw pyramid shaped hat with bow (see the back here). Countess Marie Gabrielle repeated the wore a in a deep navy straw vertical Philip Treacy saucer rimmed in midnight blue velvet trimmed with purple butterflies and silk orchids that her mother wore to her sister Olympia’s wedding in 2019.

ss Dianne of Nassau wore a pink silk abaca draped calot with large bows. 

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Also spotted in hats were Archduchess Anna-Gabriele of Austria with her daughter Catherina, Princess Therese of Liechtenstein, Princess Xenia of Croÿ and Princess Eleonora de Ligne.

That wraps up Princess Maria Laura’s wedding! What hats or headpieces stood out most to you?

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Images from Getty as indicated  

Austrian-Luxembourg Wedding 40 Years On

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 Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg and Archduke Carl Christian of Austria were married 40 years ago on February 6, 1982. Marie-Astrid wore the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara, a convertible necklace made by Van Cleef and Arpels and gifted to her mother, Princess Josephine of Belgium, when she married Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg in 1953 by the Belgian colony of Congo (this piece has a fascinating history explained over at The Court Jeweller). Not only was the streamlined tiara one with tangible family connections, it made a great counterpoint to Marie-Astrid’s ruffle trimmed dress.

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Habsburg Bourbon Wedding in Austria

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On Saturday, Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma and Archduchess Gabriella of Austria were married on the grounds of Schloss Tratzberg in Jenbach, Austria following a three year engagement. Archduchess Gabriella might be familiar to some of you- she is the daughter of Archduke Carl Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria (thus niece of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg). There is a comprehensive explanation of the couple’s familial roots here.

Gabriella wore an ivory silk strapless gown with fitted bodice that extended to an A-line skirt with short train. A cropped overlay jacket of appliqued lace with three-quarter length sleeves and an embellished boat neckline topped the gown.

Gabriella completed her bridal look with full length lace veil and the Grand Duchess Adelaide Tiara with diamond leaf and berry motif and center sapphire (you can read more about the tiara over at Luxarazzi or The Court Jeweller). Some reports have suggested that the veil is the same as was worn by the bride’s elder sister Archduchess Marie Christine back in 2008 but as you’ll see here, the veil’s size and lace pattern is different. Whatever the provenance of the lace, it paired beautifully with the gown, lace jacket and delicate bandeau tiara to create a very pretty bridal look for Gabriella.

The wedding took place late afternoon so there were no hats but some lovely royal guest fashion is to be admired, including a sweet pink Austrian folk dress on the couple’s nearly 3-year old daughter, Victoria. At the back of the bottom photo, you’ll also catch wee Prince Charles of Luxembourg, proudly held by his papa.

Austro-French Royal Wedding Part 2

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The wedding of Prince Jean Christophe Napoléon and Countess Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg on Saturday saw many royal faces with numerous extended family members and guests in Paris to celebrate with the couple.

The bride’s mother, Maria Beatrice of Arco-Zinneberg, was born an Archduchess of Austria-Este, the elder sister of Prince Lorenz of Belgium (Archduke of Austria-Este before gaining the title of prince when he married Princess Astrid). As uncle and aunt of the bride, they were in attendance, Princess Astrid in a brimless hat of spiky dark green feathers. Their daughter, Princess Maria Laura, who acted as a witness for her cousin, wore a sparkling bandeau headpiece. Princesses Luisa Maria, Laetitia Maria and Elisabetta (Amadeo’s wife) were also on the guest list but so far, elude photos.

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Archdukes Rudolph, Carl Christian and Simeon of Austria are also Habsburg relatives of the bride through her mother. Archduke Rudoplph’s wife, Archduchess Marie-Helene wore a white saucer trimmed with veil and a figure-8 bow in the same raspberry pink stripe as her silk coat. Archduchess Marie-Astrid topped her royal blue and gold dress with a navy straw saucer based cocktail hat trimmed with a multi-looped silk abaca bow and a swath of dotted navy tulle.

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Archduke Simeon’s wife, Archduchess Maria (née Princess Maria of Bourbon-Two Sicilies) wore a navy straw brimmed hat with voluminous straw overlay on the brim that wrapped around the design as a draped scarf of sorts. They are pictured here with Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein;  Margaretha topped her orange suit in a repeated russet brown straw hat with mushroom brim, trimmed on the side with a straw bow and pouf of dotted tulle.

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Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus’ elder daughter, Princess Maria Anunciata, wore a high halo bandeau headpiece in brilliant emerald green, lavishly trimmed with silk roses and a ruffle of rough-edged straw studded with tiny beads. Her younger sister wore a deep burgundy velvet bandeau (photo below). Their aunt, Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, wore a picture hat in champagne straw with wide mushroom brim. The hat’s sheen is spectacular and the repeated use of the wide brim binding also on the hatband gives great balance to the design.

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Much of Luxembourg’s Nassau royal family members were also in attendance. Princess Stephanié, Hereditary Grand Duchess, repeated a circular wrapped headpiece made from overlapping layers of red banana fibre, trimmed with a multi-looped side bow. Princess Claire wore a classic black bandeau trimmed with faux pearls.

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Countess Diane (wife of Prince Jean), wore a tall slice hat of black crin with crown covered in curling pink and black feathers. Jean’s daughter, Princess Marie-Gabrielle, wore a bandeau headpiece covered in varied shades of dusky pink feathers topped with a pink birdcage veil sprinkled with copper sequins.

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Princess Sibilla repeated a wonderful red hat made by Dillon Wallwork. The design features a squared crown covered in the silk crepe, a sidesweeping windowpane straw brim with wide brim edge also in silk crepe, and a wide grey silk hatband with side bow. Also in a British made hat was Princess Beatrice of York in a Julian Garner design described by the milliner as a boater “made out of a fine parasisel straw and is trimmed with hand cut dyed feathers embellished with Preciosa crystals”

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The Greek royal family was represented by Crown Prince Pavlos, Princess Olympia, Prince Michael and Princess Marina. Princess Olympia wore an angular grey-olive bandeau headpiece while Princess Marina donned a black felt fedora with ribbon hatband and kicky upturned brim on one side.

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The Royal House of Hanover was represented by Prince Christian and Princess Alessandra who wore a dark purple bandeau veiled headpiece. The Olympe design from Spanish brand Mimoki features an overlapping double bandeau wrapped in cotton raffia. The Duchess of Bragança topped her blue silk dress and coat with a navy straw arc headpiece trimmed with feathers.

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Princess Tatiana Radziwill wore a red circle headpiece of silk abaca studded with read beads with flying bow tails at the back. Duchess Sophie of Wurtenberg wore a fascinator of bright pink feathers.

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Princess Maria Pia of Savoy wore a pink and grey floral headpiece set on a circle of gathered net tulle veil.  Princess Edouard De Lobkowicz (née Princess Marie Francoise of Bourbon-Parma) wore wonderful throw-back voluminous pillbox covered in curving mint, grey and peach straw leaves.

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The groom’s maternal aunt, Princess Anne Marie of Bourbon Two Sicilies, wore a braided black picture hat with upswept brim on one side, trimmed with a black organdie multi-looped bow and net veil. Her daughter, Dorothée de Bourbon-Siciles, wore a fascinator of neon pink crin, dotted crin and feathers while her daughter-in-law wore a chic black veiled pillbox with bow on the side. 

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Finally, the groom’s maternal uncle, Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, attended with his glamorous wife and daughters. Princess Camilla’s navy blue straw vertical disc hat is lavishly trimmed with different varieties of feathers in navy and black, large loops of navy crin and crystal-studded windowpane crin on the exposed underside of the raised brim.  Princess Maria Carolina, who served as a witness, topped her orchid purple suit with a magenta straw hat. With a sharply curved ‘slice’ shape, the design is trimmed with pink and black feathers on the lower side of the brim. Princess Maria Chiara wore a tan silk abaca draped hat with pleated crescent, net tulle veil and dark blue organza leaves and lighter blue flowers.

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Numerous more royal guests attended the wedding who, I’m afraid, were not caught by photographer’s lenses. Even so, we do have record of 33 hats and headpieces from this event which we are able to admire. This leads me to ask, dearest readers- which ones stand out to you, most?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Austro-French Royal Wedding

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It’s extremely rare for us to see the kinds of dynastic marriages that were more common a century ago so when one happens, as it did at Les Invalides in Paris on Saturday between a couple with combined roots in the houses of Habsburg, Napoléon, Savoy, Aosta, Bourbon Two-Scillies, Arco-Zinneberg, and Orleans, it garners much attention.

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The groom, Prince Jean Christophe Napoléon, is great-great-great nephew of Napoléon Bonaparte and current head of the Imperial House of Napoléon. The bride, Countess Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg is the great-great-great niece of the French Emperor’s second wife, Marie Louise of Austria and, through her mother, a great-granddaughter of Charles I and Zita, the last Emperor and Empress of Austria-Hungary. Thus, these nuptials echoed the 1810 wedding of Napoleon Bonaparte I and the Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, bringing the Imperial House of France and the Austrian House of Habsburg together again, albeit in a love match without the strategic political motivations! (Through her father, Olympia is great-great-granddaughter of the last King and Queen of Bavaria and through her mother, the 3x great-granddaughter of  King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Through Prince Jean’s great-great-grandfather, King Leopold II of Belgium, he is related to the Belgium, Luxembourg, and the British royal familes).

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Countess Olympia chose a graphic gown from Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 2019 bridal collection. Made of a large scale leaf motif silk applique lace, the sleeveless gown follows a simple A-line silhouette with v-neck bodice held by spaghetti straps. The skirt’s full circle shape is raised in front and extends to what looks to be a cathedral-length train at the back, the lace providing a scallop around the edge.

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The gown was topped with a matching capelet, which Countess Olympia removed for the evening reception held at the historic Palace of Fontainebleau. A long silk tulle veil edged in the same leaf pattern lace topped the look, anchored with a diamond bandeau tiara that once belonged to the bride’s maternal grandmother Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta.

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Attendants wore ivory silk frocks with Peter Pan collars, puffed sleeves and full skirts accented with mint green ruched sashes tied in bows at the back. Their sweet look was topped with head wreaths of ivory roses and fresh green hydrangeas.

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The bride’s mother, Maria Beatrice of Arco-Zinneberg (née Archduchess Maria Beatrice of Austria-Este), wore a in a deep navy straw vertical Philip Treacy saucer rimmed with a narrow cuff of midnight blue velvet. The hat is beautifully trimmed with purple butterflies and handmade silk orchids that link with its velvet brim edge. Countess Olympia’s sister, Countess Maximiliana, helped the bride manage her dress in a black veiled beret percher with pleated silk abaca forward leaning ruffle. If any readers have come across photos of Olympia’s other four sisters, Countess Anna Theresa, Countess Margherita, Countess  Giorgiana, and Countess Marie Gabrielle, please share links in the comments.

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The groom’s mother, Princess Beatrice of Bourbon-Two Sicilies , topped her graphic cape with a cream felt fedora trimmed with a russet brown ribbon hatband. I’ve not located a photo of his sister Caroline but Jean’s paternal grandmother, the Dowager Princess Napoléon,  who has considerable French and Italian aristocratic heritage of her own, wore a black veiled pillbox hat. The sheen on the hat’s straw pairs so well with her printed suit.

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See the hats worn worn by extended family and royal guests here.

Photos from Getty as indicated