to July 29, 1984 and a visit to the Sandringham flower show in a prim red straw hat with short upfolded brim and straw hibiscus trim by Frederick Fox. The shape feels very much of the time, doesn’t it?!

 to August 1, 1978 and a purple patterned and pleated turban. Not bad, as far as 1970s turbans go.

 to July 21, 1988 and a very smart white hat with upswept front brim trimmed with yellow flowers worn on a visit to Devon. While the hat follows the capulet shape favoured by the Queen Mother (a cloche shape with extended front brim that is folded back), the angle shown in this photograph makes it look wonderfully chic, almost foreshadowing the upswept brims that are en vogue today.

 to this day in 1994, a visit to northern Canada and a simple rolled brim hat in navy and white straw.

 to September 1998 and the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lampur when Queen Elizabeth wore one of the most oddly shaped hats (a folded pyramid atop a ruched turban trimmed with flowers and bows) I’ve ever seen. The shape and construction of this piece is so unique you’d think it would stick out in memory but I sincerely don’t think I’ve seen it before. Do any of you remember this peculiar piece?

UPDATE: Angela Kelly references this hat in her book, telling a fun story how it arrived from the milliner and, slightly perplexed by the design, the Queen decided it worked better worn backwards!