Crown Princess Mette-Marit celebrated her 47th birthday last week, something that calls for celebration. What better celebration is there, dearest readers, than a dive into a royal millinery closet?! This time, we’re looking at her hats and headpieces in shades of purple, burgundy and pink; here they are, in order of introduction:
1.
2. 
3.
Designer: Philip Treacy; unknown; Philip Treacy
Introduced: December 10, 2003; May 22, 2004; Sep 22, 2004
4.
5.Embed from Getty Images 6.
Designer: unknown; Mona Strand; unknown
Introduced: June 9, 2005; Oct 25, 2005; Jan 21, 2006
7.
8.
9.
Designer: all unknown
Introduced: May 17, 2006; June 11, 2006, Jan 20, 2009;
10.
11.
Designer: unknown
Introduced: April 18, 2009, May 17, 2009
12.
13.
14.
Designer: all unknown
Introduced: April 26, 2010; July 2, 2011; Nov 7, 2017
I initially prepared this as two inventories but brought them together when several designs (#8 and #11) didn’t classify definitively as either purple or pink. This merge uncovered some interesting trends. First is the division of darker and lighter tones- with the exception of #4, this collection is almost evenly divided between darker hued designs at the beginning of Mette-Marit’s royal life and lighter ones during more recent years. Second is how few hats have been added over the past decade- just three (and two of them headpieces). And finally, is the sad memory of some wonderful brimmed designs (looking at you, blushing #10 and striking #1) that were worn once or twice and disappeared, seemingly in favour of much smaller designs. Thankfully, dramatic floral and lace statements from headpieces #9 and #12 mitigate this slightly disappointing millinery trajectory a little.
So… what do you notice about this group of hats? Which designs stand out to you most?
Photos from Julian Parker/UK Press, A. Jones/J. Whatling/J. Parker/M. Cuthbert/UK Press, Antony Jones/UK Press, Sven Nackstrand/AFP, Mark Cuthbert/UK Press, Julian Parker/UK Press, Ragnar Singsaas, Julian Parker/UK Press, Sasha Mordovets, Sylvan Lefevre via Getty; Belga and Getty Images as indicated
52 years to this day in 1968 and a pair of hats worn by a royal bride. Sonja Haraldsen donned a voluminous banded turban-tam hybrid to greet guests arriving at Fornebu airport for her wedding the next day to Crown Prince Harald (who looks very handsome in a jaunty trilby).
The Countess of Wessex’s ivory lace covered beret-base percher is a delicately textured design with lovely dimension from its trimming- a silk rose, feathers and curling slim quills, all tinged in palest peachy-pink. Sophie has paired this exquisite Jane Jaylor design with four ensembles:
Royal Hats 