After looking at the bridal couple and their mothers and the Grand Ducal family, we’re going to wrap up our look at last weekend’s wedding of Princess Alix de Ligne and Count Guillaume de Dampierre with a review of the hats worn by some of the remaining royal guests. My sincere thanks to Valentin Dupont, author of Royalement Blog, for generously sharing his photos of the event.
Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria wore a small green cocktail hat trimmed with natural straw twists, beige feathers and a net tulle veil. I’m all for royal women trying new millinery shapes but the base of this one is much too small for Marie-Astrid and the placement of it’s embellishment leaves the piece looking like a toy helicopter hovering over her head.
Marie Astrid’s eldest daughter, Countess Marie-Christine of Limburg-Stirum, wore a gold headband while her youngest daughter, Archduchess Gabriella of Austria, wore a navy straw hat with ruched silk trim. The navy hat is fine but the gold headband? I’m perplexed.
Countess Diane of Nassau (wife of Prince Jean of Luxembourg) wore an interesting blue straw hat with upturned brim cut in a unique chevron shape. This unusual brim shape is emphasized by several rows of cream stitching that contrasts nicely with the denim blue hat. While I was originally intrigued by this hat, seeing it on this video shows an entirely different picture- one of a floppy denim hat that looks far more suited for a day in the garden than a wedding. Countess Diane and Prince Jean are photographed below with their friend, Count Jehan de Lannoy (elder brother of Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie. It’s a small world, this world of western European nobility).
Prince Jean’s daughter, Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Nassau, looked to be wearing a chocolate Garbo style hat with floppy brim that coordinated with the piping on her pink and yellow dress. She was photographed with her cousin, Princess Marie-Astrid of Liechtenstein (daughter of Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein) who wore a natural straw cloche hat with an embellished hat band.
Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein topped her blue and white ensemble with a navy straw headpiece. While these photographs don’t tell for certain, I suspect this headpiece is an open circlet. Her daughter, Princess Anunciata, wore a cream Garbo style hat with floppy brim that looked effortlessly chic with her fuchsia top and trousers. Between the two fuchsia pant suits we saw at these nuptials, this one was by far my favourite!
Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, wife of Prince Guillaume (Grand Duke Henri’s youngest brother) wore a lime straw hat with raised brim at the back, embellished by straw curls and what looks like pleated hat bands in the same straw. While the style of the hat is intriguing, I’m far less convinced about the colour, both with Princess Sibilla’s colouring but especially, paired with her yellow lace dress. This ensemble begs the question- how much citrus can a royal outfit handle before it turns sour?
Prince Robert of Nassau (cousin of Grand Duke Henri) was also in attendance with his American born wife, Princess Julie, who wore a melon orange straw hat with sharply raised ‘slice brim’, trimmed with a large straw swirled rose. Their daughter, Princess Charlotte of Nassau, wore a dramatic white percher saucer hat lavishly trimmed in white silk roses.
The Duchess of Bragança, who attended with her husband and two of her children, wore a natural straw hat with square crown and flat, upfolded brim trimmed with a hat band sash in the same pale green silk as her coat.
With 900 people in attendance there were numerous other royals and nobles in attendance. Valentin Dupont, author of Royalement Blog, has posted a gallery with 81 pictures of royal and noble guests (with identification!). It’s certainly worth a peek.
That brings our look at this Belgian royal wedding to a close. What hats stood out to you most at this event? Stay tuned this Friday when we see the Grand Ducal family out again (and in hats!) for their country’s National Day.
Photos from Valentin Dupont, author of Royalement Blog and Rex/Shutterstock
While the 
Here are a look back at all of the hats and headpieces worn by members of the royal houses of Liechtenstein and Luxembourg this year. Please click on each photo to link to larger views and detailed information on each hat.
