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.
Princess Margaretha (#1 and 2) and Princess Isabelle von und zu Liechtenstein (#3)
The Belgian Royal Family was joined by cousins from the houses of Luxembourg and Liechtenstin for Queen Fabiola’s funeral today in Brussels. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a small black velvet pillbox which was trimmed with a simple band of black silk around the perimeter of the hat.
While these simple black pillbox hats were so very appropriate for the funeral today, I think there is also something very beautiful about each of them.
Yesterday’s wedding of Prince Amedeo, Archduke of Austria-Este and Elisabetta Rosboch von Wolkenstein was attended by a number of royal guests from Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. Archduke Carl Christian and Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria attended with their entire family (Carl Christian is a first cousin of Prince Amedeo’s father Prince Lorenz while Marie Astrid is a first cousin of his mother Princess Astrid). Marie Astrid wore a sweet cream straw cloche style hat with raised brim in the front. The hat was trimmed with a slate huted straw band around the crown and slate and cream woven flowers on the side. The 1920s style hat was a great shape on Marie Astrid and I thought it was both fun and flattering.
Archduchess Kathleen (below, left) and Archduchess Gabriella (below, right), did not appear to wear hats. Archduchess Marie Christine looked to be wearing a gold hair ornament of some fashion (below, center).
Archduchess Adelaide wore a black fascinator with wiry feathers and a black dotted veil.
While Achduchess Marie Astrid’s sister, Princess Margretha of Liechtenstein did not wear a hat (nor did her daugthers), her sister-in-law Countess Diane de Nassau did. Countess Diane wore a simple natural straw picture hat edged in a white band around the brim and a black band around the crown. The clean lines of the hat were an excellent balance for her bold black and red dress. She is seen here with her husband, Prince Jean of Luxembourg (below, left) and brother-in-law, Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg.
Archduchess Anna-Gabriele of Austria wore a small white rose fascinator with petite feathers. Belgian born Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein pulled out a summer version of the show stopping hat and matching bow-trimmed jacket that she wore to Prince Felix and Princess Clair’s wedding last September. This lavender straw hat featured a sweeping brim that was raised on one side and a spray of pale purple hued feathers. While and I like the white trim on the edge of this hat’s brim, its dramatic shape and beautiful colour, I think this hat would be better paired with a summery floral dress instead of this turtleneck based ensemble.
The young bride’s ivory silk duchesse gown was made by Belgian designer Pierre Yves. You will note in the photo below that the bodice of the dress was actually a Bolero-length jacket with wide collar, pleated cuffs and front buttons. The main dress, with a box pleated full skirt and pleated cummerbund at the waist, featured a halter-style sleeveless bodice that was covered in Brussels lace. It’s an interesting design for a royal bride but certainly one that lends itself to both the formality of a royal wedding and the ‘lets-get-this-party-started’ vibe a private reception.
Marilène topped her dress off with a full length silk veil edged in ivory silk ribbon. The veil was anchored by a reduced version of the “Ears of Wheat” tiara from the Dutch Royal collection. Unfortunately, the tiara was worn so far back on Marilène’s head that it is nearly invisible.
Princess Margriet wore a pink Breton-style hat trimmed with white and dark pink contrasting bands on the brim and around the crown. It is such a flattering hat shape on her and the colour, shades darker than her pale pink suit, created the perfect amount of contrast for her ensemble. Marilène’s mother, José van den Broek-van Schendel, wore an unusual but very pretty pale grey-blue hat with upturned, fluted brim.
Queen Beatrix wore a giant tangerine straw pillbox hat swathed in open-weave gold net. The unique hat however, coordinated very well with Beatrix’s Indian sari-inspired dress and created a rather bold and striking ensemble
Princess Juliana, in what was to be her final public appearance, wore a black dotted hairnet with black large black bow.
Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria wore a taupey-pink straw picture hat with slightly upturned brim and pink flower and ribbon trim (below, top left). Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Parma wore a rusty straw hat with monochrome bloom on the side (below, center right).
Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein wore a cream hat with squared crown and wide, upturned brim (top left, just above the bride). Princess Christina of the Netherlands wore a navy straw hat in a similar shape with a wide, upturned brim. This hat was trimmed with a lime green sash around the crown to match her suit – this colour combination was the most lovely of contrasts (front right, beside her sister Princess Margriet).
While the past sixteen years has brought many changes to millinery fashion, there are a number of hats at this wedding with classic shapes that have stood the test of time. Which one of these royal hats is your favourite?
Dignitaries, heads of state and European Royals were in attendance yesterday for the canonisations in which Popes John Paul II and John XXIII were declared saints. It was not surprising to see several Queens who have been granted the Privilège du Blanc (the special permission granted to Catholic queens, duchesses and princesses to wear white during an audience with the Pope) at this special event. Queen Sofia stood out in an intricately designed traditional lace mantilla and high peineta comb. With her floor length white lace gown, she looked very regal.
Princess Marie Aglaë of Liechtenstein, who has not been granted the Privilège du Blanc, wore a black coat and lace veil.
Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein and her daughter, Princess Maria Annunciata (back left, with iphone), were also in attendance. They sat with Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, who wore a beautiful black lace veil.
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.
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Yesterday’s w
Royal Hats 