Danish Princess Celebrates Academic Anniversary

Princess Benedikte of Denmark was in Kiel, Germany yesterday to take part in a ceremony marking the 350th anniversary of the Christian-Abrechts-Universitaet. For this celebration, she repeated her red felt beret with stepped crown. I have long been a fan of the interesting shape of this hat and find the vibrant colour a great match for Princess Benedikte. While I’m still on the fence about the other elements in this ensemble (the blouse and earrings, to be exact), the princess’ ecru suit grounds the overall picture and allows the hat to be noticed on its own merit. In the end, it’s a very successful way to wear a royal hat. Princess Benedikte, October 5, 2015 in Susanne Juul | Royal Hats Princess Benedikte, October 5, 2015 in Susanne Juul | Royal Hats Princess Benedikte, October 5, 2015 in Susanne Juul | Royal Hats

Designer: Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: October 3, 2014April 23, 2013October 2, 2012; February 13, 2012

Photos from Carsten Rehder/dpa/CorbisCarsten Rehder/dpa/Corbis and Carsten Rehder/dpa/Corbis

Scandinavian Monarchs Install Bishops

On Sunday, the monarchs of Denmark and Sweden each attended the installation of bishops in their countries. Queen Margrethe of Denmark was present at the installation of Henrik Wigh-Poulsen as bishop of Aarhus, resplendent in the mint green bumper hat she first wore for her birthday earlier this year. These photos shoe the lovely curled detail on the side of this bumper hat’s brim, a wonderfully creative touch that I think sets this hat apart. My only concern is that Margrethe seems as excited about this hat as I am (it has been worn four times since April)…  I just hope we don’t see it too often.

Queen Margrethe, September 6, 2015 | Royal Hats Queen Margrethe, September 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 5, 2015May 23, 2014April 16, 2015

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia were at Upsala Cathedral on Sunday for the ordinations of Mikael Mogren as bishop of Västerås and Johan Dalman as bishop of Strängnäs. Queen Silvia repeated her turquoise straw pillbox hat for the occasion. It’s a simple hat that elevated to greatness thanks to its fantastic colour.

Queen Silvia, September 6, 2015 | Royal Hats Queen Silvia, September 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 11, 2015September 15, 2013

I think both of these hats are prime examples of small-scale millinery done very well. What do you think?

Photos from Jens Thaysen via Stiften and Sven-Olof Ahlgren via UNT.se

Danish Royals Pay Tribute at Flag Day

On Saturday, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie commemorated Danish Flag Day by laying a wreath at Kastellet (The Citadel) and attending a memorial service for Danish soldiers at the Church of Holmen in Copenhagen. For this event, Princess Marie repeated her black headpiece with looped black silk organdie ribbons. This piece frames Marie’s face so beautifully and and the scale, which is as large as a small hat, is a very flattering one for her. Black hats can look very flat and one dimensional but this piece has a lovely sense of layered texture and movement while remaining perfectly appropriate for a memorial occasion.

Princess Marie, September 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Marie, September 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Marie, September 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Marie, September 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Marie, September 5, 2015 | Royal HatsDesigner: unknown
Previously Worn: April 16, 2015;  October 1, 2013September 5, 2013 

Photos from Splash News, Splash NewsSplash News, Splash News, and Splash News via Corbis

Danish Royal Couple on Summer Cruise

Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark set off on their annual summer cruise this week. On Tuesday, they visited Southdjurs Municipality. For their arrival into the port of Ebeltoft, the Queen repeated her vibrant blue blue hat with pork pie crown and downward curved brim. My favourite part of this piece is the striped velvet band around the crown which adds such depth and dimension to the very blue ensemble. 

Queen Margrethe, September 1, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 4, 2005June 6, 2014; May 5, 2013; April 27, 2014; October 6, 2013; September 3, 2013; July 4, 2013; June 2, 2013May 6, 2013June 14, 2012September 2, 2012September 20, 2011September 6, 2011May 23, 2011

On Wednesday, the royal couple sailed on to Vejle. Queen Margrethe repeated her straw hat made from close and open weaves of red straw. We have seen this hat many times but its casual feel and perfect compliment to nautical navy makes it just the right hat for a royal cruise.

Queen Margrethe, September 1, 2015 | Royal Hats

Queen Margrethe, September 1, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: September 17, 2014June 19, 2014May 26, 2014; August 31, 2013; July 1, 2013 May 29, 2013May 14, 2013; September 11, 2009; June 30, 2008; February 20, 2008; September  12, 2007June 7, 2007;  May 10, 2007

Today, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik concluded the trip with a visit to Aabenraa. For this stop, the Queen repeated her pale blue bumper hat with braided trim. After wearing it frequently last year (enough that I grew tired of it), this was this hat’s first 2015 outing and I was pleasantly surprised to see her wear it again. It’s a great colour and scale for her.

Queen Margrethe, September 4, 2015 | Royal Hats Queen Margrethe, September 4, 2015 | Royal Hats Queen Margrethe, September 4, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: October 21, 2014October 7, 2014September 14, 2014June 24, 2014May 19, 2014April 25, 2014

The hats worn on this year’s cruise feel more formal to me than those worn in years past. Perhaps the scheduled events carried more formality? Nevertheless, the two blue hats worn this week are two of the best in Queen Margrethe’s millinery closet and one can never go with classic navy and red when one is sailing. Good choices all around, I think, although I desperately hope we’ll soon see a few new hats for the Danish Queen. It’s time.

Photos from Henning Bagger/Scanpix via The Danish Monarchy; Splash News and Splash News via Corbis; Christian Meyer for The Danish Monarchy; Claus Fisker/Scanpix via The Danish Monarchy

Danish Queen Visits Holiday Village

On Monday, Queen Margrethe visited the Queen’s Holiday Village in Grenaa to celebrate its 25th anniversary. For the occasion, which saw the unveiling of a mosaiac in her likeness by artist Mads Hjorth, she repeated a beige hat. A sort of stylised fedora, the rounded and sloping sides of the crown of this piece abruptly end in a squared off top. While from a closeup view the hat seems all right, from a distance the shape is clunky and awkward. Paired with a beige suit, the ensemble is very bland and makes me yearn for Margrethe’s usual approach to colour (lots of it, from head to toe).
Queen Margrethe, August 31, 2015 | Royal Hats

The mosaiac of Her Majesty is wonderful but the hat… not so much.

Queen Margrethe, August 31, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: September 10, 2013September 4, 2013September 6, 2012June 8, 2012

Photos from Splash News and Splash News via Corbis