to a Canadian visit in July 1997 that saw Her Majesty in a mint green straw hat with raised kettle brim, pleated crin crown wrap and front rosette. It feels like a very 1990s shaped and styled hat to me although I don’t remember seeing it before- is it familiar to any of you?

to this day in 1988 when Queen Elizabeth arrived to take up residency at Balmoral Castle in a classic navy and white straw boater hat.

 to August 4, 1991 and the 91st birthday of the Queen Mother celebrated at Sandringham. Queen Elizabeth’s upturned wide-brimmed hat in red straw is trimmed with a hatband, back bow, brim piping and wide stripe around the underbrim in the same silk paisley print as her frock. It’s a matchy-matchy ensemble (characteristic for the time) that I don’t recall seeing before- do you?

 to July 22, 1979 and a natural straw bumper hat with button topped crown worn on a visit to Tanzania

to August 4, 1995 and the Queen’s arrival in Portsmouth to begin a sailing holiday in a yellow and white straw hat with wide, kettle brim and square crown.