This Week’s Extras

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Last Sunday, Princess Kako was spotted arriving at the Imperial Royal Palace to greet her grandparents on the occasion of her 25th birthday.
Also last Sunday, Princess Hisako attended the national Women’s Football Championship final in a chocolate bowler variation with interesting black knotted felt hatband. On January 1st, she attended the Emperor’s Cup football match in an ecru bumper hat with fur brim and side bow.


Members of the Norwegian royal family wore simple bandeau headpieces (some in pink, presumably a statement of hope) for yesterday’s funeral of Ari Behn. Princess Laurentien wore a sleek black turban-style hat. You can also read Princess Märtha Louise’s touching statement, released last night, here.


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The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Statement folded star headpiece by British milliner Bee Smith
Elegant brimless blocked hat in oxblood felt by Russian milliner Lia Gureeva
Dark green ruffled velvet bandeau by UK brand Camilla Rose Millinery
White button percher with wonderful printed twists by Hong Kong-based Irish milliner Noeleen

Lovely picture of the Emperor and Empress Emeritus and their family, taken in mid-December
Amazing new photo of Queen Elizabeth and the UK’s future 3 kings released to celebrate this new decade

Photos from social media as indicated

Hats From the Past

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Royal Hats to June 7, 1977 and a wonderful pair of flower trimmed hats on Princess Margaret and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, en route to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee.

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Photo from Getty as indicated

Favourite New Royal Hat: September & October 2019

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Happy New Year! We’re ushering in 2020 today with a look back at hats worn last year. During September and October 2019, we saw a number of new royal hats at openings of parliament and the Imperial enthronement, among other events, which, based on your comments, truly impressed. We’re going to look back at these thirteen admirable designs and choose one to be put forward in our countdown to your Favourite New Royal Hat of 2019.

Please click on each caption link to jump to original feature posts with additional views, information and discussion on each hat. Here are the thirteen  hats you most admired last September and October, shown in the order they were worn:

1.    2.
Autumn Phillips’ green felt beret percher with flying bow and leaves by Sally Ann Provan worn Sep 9
Princess Sofia’s burgundy velvet bandeau and bow by Matthias Lavesson worn Sep 10
3.    4.
Queen Máxima’s claret felt rounded beret with double rolled bow by Philip Treacy worn Sep 17
Princess Laurentien’s pink straw teardrop percher with feather hibiscus flowers by Eudia worn Sep 17
5.     6.
Princess Mary’s navy felt waved, sidesweep saucer with flying bow and silk rose by Jane Taylor worn Sep 28
Princess Benedikte’s dark green bumper hat with navy straw waved leaf trim worn Oct 1
7.    8.
Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie’s orchid purple button percher with multicoloured shibori silk pleated pinwheel studded in crystals by Sylvia Martinez worn Oct 16
Queen Mathilde’s ochre ruched silk toque with applique flowers and leaves by Fabienne Delvigne worn Oct 16
9.  10.
Queen Mathilde’s turquoise felt calot hat with overlapping flat bows by Fabienne Delvigne worn Oct 17
Princess Mary’s mulberry straw Jane Taylor saucer with pupley-grey silk flowers worn Oct  22
13.  12.  13.
Queen Mathilde’s petal pink silk covered pillbox worn Oct  22
Crown Princess Victoria’s purple straw saucer with silk flowers & twists by Philip Treacy worn Oct 22
Princess Hisako’s peach silk boater hat with silk leaves and ruffled crin brim overlay worn Oct 25
This poll will remain open until next Tuesday, January 7  at midnight GMT.   As usual for these polls, each computer or mobile device can vote twice per day for as many hats as you wish. Happy voting!
 

Favourite Repeated Royal Hat: September & October 2019

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We’re still behind on 2019 polls so before the clock strikes midnight and we usher in 2020, I’m going to get this one out!

September and October were busier months of royal hats thanks for a number of state visits and the Imperial enthronement. Based on your comments, twelve repeated hats stood were received with particular admiration; we’re going to look back at these beauties and choose one to be put forward in our countdown to your Favourite Repeated Royal Hat of 2019.

Please click on each caption link to jump to original feature posts with additional views, information and discussion on each hat. Here are the  twelve hats you most admired in September and October, shown in the order they were worn:

1.    2.

Queen Máxima’s natural straw picture hat with high upsweeping ‘slice’ brim by Fabienne Delvigne worn Sep 4
Crown Princess Mary’s black straw picture hat with fluted brim and leaf trim by Susanne Juul worn Sep 5
3.    4. 
Queen Elizabeth’s purple felt flat crowned hat with upturned kettle brim and silk flowers by Angela Kelly worn Sep 9
Duchess of Cornwall’s red felt formed beret with pheasant feathers by Philip Treacy worn Sep 9
5.    6.
Princess Hisako’s cream straw hat with black brim stripe and monochrome flowers worn Sep 24
Queen Margrethe’s charcoal felt trilby with pompom and feather trim worn Sep 29
7.   8.
Queen Máxima’s coral straw saucer with tan binding and multicoloured feathers worn Oct 15
Duchess of Cornwall’s pale blue felt beret percher with oak leaf trim by Philip Treacy worn Oct 15
9.  10.
Queen Máxima’s sienna orange straw picture hat with sidesweeping brim by Fabienne Delvigne worn Oct 16
Queen Elizabeth’s lilac-grey straw hat with roses and looped bow by Rachel Trevor Morgan worn Oct 19
11.   12. 
Queen Máxima’s grey silk flower headpiece with dotted tulle by Fabienne Delvigne worn Oct  22
Queen Máxima’s burgundy velvet ruched calot with black veil overlay by Fabienne Delvigne worn Oct 29
This poll will remain open until next Tuesday, January 7 at midnight GMT.  As usual for these polls, each computer or mobile device can vote twice per day for as many hats as you wish. Happy voting!

British Royals Attend Church

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Queen Elizabeth attended Sunday service this morning at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene close to her Sandringham estate, accompanied by several members of her family. For this outing, she repeated a pale yellow hat with straw brim, bound in a contrasting grey stripe, and feather pouf trim.

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Many of us have previously praised this hat’s colour scheme – that grey stripe of brim binding sets it off so beautifully – and I’ve come around to its mix of textures (fabric on the crown, straw on the brim), which give some soft contrast to the design.

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Designer: Angela Kelly. Made by Stella McLaren.
Previously Worn: Feb 10, 2019; Mar 14, 2017; December 2, 2016; June 26, 2015

The Countess of Wessex wore the same camel felt fedora with overlapping pheasant feather hatband she wore to church last Sunday, pairing it with a slightly different beige coat and animal pint silk scarf.

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The ensemble is saved by the patterned scarf and hat’s feather hatband, which give some interest to an ensemble that is, to quote one of my favourite comments of all time here on the blog, “It’s a whole lot of biscuit.”.

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Designer: Suffolk Fedora in Camel from Hicks & Brown. Max Mara coat.
Previously Worn: Dec 22, 2019; Aug 25, 2019; Dec 23, 2018; May 14, 2018

Princess Anne’s tan felt trilby with side spray of pheasant feathers and darker brown ribbon hatband is the most mysterious hat worn today. The shape is something we’ve seen on Anne before and one she wears very well.

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Anne first wore during her August stay at Balmoral, a week after debuting a very similar (slightly darker) brown trilby trimmed with a side bow. It’s always interesting to see two similar hats added to one’s millinery wardrobe (I’ve searched Anne’s archive back to the 1960s to see if this one was previously worn) and this pair of brown trilbies is so close, it has me scratching my own head.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Sep 1, 2019

I’m afraid today’s church hats weren’t very exciting- what do you think of this brown and yellow trio?

Photos from Getty as indicated