Ascot 2021 Day 1: Earl & Countess of Wessex

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The Earl and Countess of Wessex attended Royal Ascot today, the Countess in a beautiful hat first worn nearly a decade ago.

Described by the milliner as “a large petal disc,” the buff pink design follows an asymmetrical wave (or petal!) shape and is trimmed with a large silk rosette and curling quills. Many of you will remember its initialwearing at the Tindall’s wedding in July 2011.

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The design has beautiful scale, presence and movement, its neutral colour softening its statement just the right amount. I think it suits Sophie so well. As much as I adore seeing new hats at the races, it’s also great to see pieces, such as this, we haven’t seen as much as they deserve.

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Designer: Jane Taylor. Dress by ARoss Girl x Soler (Amanda belted silk crepe de chine maxi dress)
Previously Worn: June 3, 2014; July 30, 2011

Prince Edward repeated his black silk top hat which, as always, was gleaming. The hat’s proportion and height suits him so very well (and his printed tie adds that note of whimsey he often brings to the races!).

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What do you think of this pair of hats today at Ascot?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Ascot 2021 Day 1: Prince of Wales & Duchess of Cornwall

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After not seeing a royal hat at Ascot Racecourse for an unthinkable two years (last year’s only royal hat at the races was worn at home), it was fantastic to see several royal hats at the races today! We’ll kick things off with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

Camilla debuted a new hat today in pale aqua blue with parabuntal straw domed crown and sinamay sidesweeping wide brim. The design is finished with a padded silk hatband and knotted bow at the side, secured with a blue covered button.

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It’s another beautifully proportioned piece, the bow balanced with the raised brim on the opposite side. I particularly admire how the different materials on crown and brim give respective weight and lightness to these elements.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Ribbon trimmed coat and cream dress by Bruce Oldfield. 
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Prince Charles repeated his antique black silk top hat.

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What do you think of the Duchess’ new hat today?!

Images from Getty as indicated  

Centenary of Southern Jutland’s Reunification

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One of the many royal events postponed during the height of the pandemic was the June 13, 2020 100th anniversary of Denmark’s reunification with Southern Jutland following the German defeat in the First World War. This celebration took place a year later than scheduled, yesterday, with Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Christian attending a ceremony at the old border to Germany, at Frederikshoej, south of Kolding.

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Queen Margrethe marked the occasion with a new wide brimmed picture hat in white parasisal straw, simply trimmed with a silk hatband.

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It has been a long while since we saw the Danish queen in a hat with brim as large as this and it’s a nice change to see, even though I’m not excited by the all white ensemble.

What do you think of Queen Margrethe’s new white hat yesterday?

Images from Getty as indicated

Queen Hosts Bidens For Tea

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Queen Elizabeth welcomed President and Dr. Biden to tea at Windsor Castle today following the G7 Summit in Cornwall.

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For the occasion, the Queen debuted a new hat. In medium pink parasisal straw, the design features a sloped crown and upturned kettle brim, slightly raised on one side. The hat is trimmed with slim straw and felt overlapping hatbands tied in multiple side bows and a single, curving quill.

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The top of the crown is blocked in a pair of indented crescent swirls around one side that gives beautiful movement to the piece.

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The colour is lovely on Her Majesty, as is the gentle slope of the crown and brim. I think I’d prefer some more contrasting trim however- I’m a bit worried that when this dress’ matching coat is added (because there’s always a coat!), it’s going to be an overly monochrome look. We’ll have to wait and see.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan. Dress by Stewart Parvin
Previously Worn: this hat is new

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I was hoping we’d see a new hat on the Queen this weekend and she did not disappoint. What do you think of this new pink design?

Images from Getty as indicated

Trooping the Colour 2021

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The Queen’s Colour of F Company Scots Guards was trooped at Windsor Castle today to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday, followed by a flypast by the Red Arrows.  

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For this event, the Queen repeated  the same grey hat we saw her wear a few weeks ago to the opening of parliament. The design features a flared crown covered in silk cloque fabric and a mushroom shaped straw brim overlaid in pleated crin and is trimmed with a grey goose feather mount and vine of gold silk flowers that wrap around the front that echo the floral applique around the neckline of her coat.

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It’s unusual to see the Queen repeat the same hat within such a short timeline, to two high-profile events. We’re also used to seeing Her Majesty in a colour that sets her out in a crowd and this grey ensemble uncharacteristically blended in. I was hoping for a bright new chapeau today and while I’m a bit disappointed, rumours are swirling that we’ll see the Queen next week at Ascot where she usually debuts a few new hats.

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Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella Mclaren
Previously Worn: May 11, 2021;  June 20, 2019

The Queen was joined by her cousin, the Duke of Kent. The texture of his hat looks to be faux fur (the British military no longer uses real bearskin pelts for their famous dress uniform hats).

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This is the second year running that we’ve seen a mini Trooping the Colour at Windsor Castle- next year’s event will be celebrated as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and it will be wonderful to see a return to the full event complete with  the Queen and her family back on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Images from Getty as indicated