Hat Sharing?

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Months back, reader Clay wondered about what kind of hat sharing goes on between royals. Our friends over at Luxarazzi have documented numerous hats shared by members of the Luxembourg royal family over the years, and I suspect there are more. Clay recalled Zara Phillips sharing hats with her best friend Dolly Maud- the only one I’ve been able to find is this red felt button percher with pheasant feathers made by Rachel Trevor Morgan.

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Zara Tindall on December 25, 2013; Best friend Dolly Maud in the same hat, March 14, 2014

I know there are other royal hats that have been shared so here we go, dearest readers- this week’s discussion question is: Which royal hats have being shared by multiple different (royal and non royal) people?

Photos from Getty as indicated

Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats to a pair of summer hats, worn by a doppelganger pair of royal cousins, 110 years ago. Despite the handsome nautical hats, there’s there’s an air of tragedy that surrounds this photo, taken at the last visit the future King George V (right) would enjoy with his cousin, Russian Czar Nicholas II.

Photo from the Royal Collection Trust via social media as indicated

Seeing Double: Duchess of Cambridge

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Royal HatsWhen the Duchess of Cambridge arrived for the first day of racing at Royal Ascot this year, some of you had an immediate sense of deja vu. You were right- she wore a similar version of the same hat for Trooping the Colour on June 11, 2016. Here’s a number of side-by-side views to compare:

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Between deceiving camera angles and the slightly lower angle Kate has placed the blue hat on her head, differences between the two designs, aside from colour, are very difficult to decipher.

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While some photos suggest the hats are a slightly different shape, they are both clearly round and, I’m guessing, created from the very same hat block.

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I often find it puzzling when a royal opts for the same hat in two versions but this pair somehow makes more sense- perhaps it’s the colour difference, that while subtle, lends the hats to very different pairings. Perusing through Philip Treacy’s Spring Summer 2019 collection, I honestly couldn’t find a style to pair with this blue skirt and blouse (everything was either too fussy or too stark) that would make a better compliment that this design.

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Which version of this hat do you prefer?

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Photo from Getty as indicated

Monday Multiples: Queen Elizabeth

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Thanks to Jimbo for providing the introduction and background research for this “Monday Multiples” series.

Jimbo’s Introduction: Mixing hats with different outfits is not a new millinery phenomenon.  Queen Elizabeth, everyone’s favorite and most prolific royal hat wearer, was leading the way 20 years ago!  Here is the same hat, worn with a different ensemble each time.  Granted, not the most fascinating of designs, this tan straw go-to hat could have been intended as the grab-the-closest-hat-hanging-by-the-door-as-you-make-a-mad-dash . . .  we all have one!

Hat: Almond braided straw with upturned kettle brim, trimmed with a multiple strand plaited hatband and rolled circle button at back. Designer unknown.

Look #1: With a pale turquoise tailored suit with stitched lapels worn on April 19, 1999 in Seoul, Korea, on March 29, 2000 in Launceston, Tasmania and on a March 22, 2001 visit to a London publisher.

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Look #2: With a deeper turquoise wool bouclé coat worn to welcome a Chinese state visit on October 19, 1999

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Look #3: With a black silk dress printed with ivory stemmed flowers worn November 14, 1999 in Durban, South Africa

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Look #4: With an ivory bouclé double breasted coat with brass buttons and a taupe silk dress with ivory polka dots worn October 12, 2000 in Manchester

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Which outfit do you prefer most with this neutral hat?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

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On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales visited the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone to celebrate the Battailion’s 25th anniversary and present operational medals for their recent deployment to Afghanistan. His uniform and cap reflect his ranking of Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment.
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Princess Mako in a white silk covered bowler hat with blue stitched hatband on Wednesday for her arrival in Peru. The finishing on this hat is impeccable- not a pucker or stray stitch in sight
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Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria in traditional folk head scarves on Thursday to present the Öland Inhabitant of the Year Award at Solliden Palace.
On Thursday, Princess Alexandra wore her new-ish hat to the Thrive Flower Show in Reading. In almond textured straw, the classic design features a cartwheel brim and twisted bow at the side. It’s nice to see Alexandra in a hat without an elevated crown!
Also on Thursday, Crown Princess Kiko attended the 55th Blood Donation Promotion National Convention in Kanazawa in a pale blue silk jacquard covered hat with layered hatband and kettle brim.
The final hat on Thursday (busy day!) was on Princess Hisako. She attended the annual Innovation Awards for Advanced Technology ceremony in a pale lime textured suit with hat covered in the same fabric and a stitched white kettle brim with trilby-style higher upturn around the back.
You might have noticed this week that Royal Hats is now found on Instagram here. Don’t worry- there’s nothing there that isn’t already here on the blog!
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Incredible statement hat with ombre hand dyed feather stars by Australian milliner Kate Ghedina
Stunning colour gradients on this sinamay hugger with handpainted lotus flower by Dutch milliner Mirjam de Rijke 
Natural straw boater with wonderful black vintage lace printed with stars by UK brand Mind Your Bonce
Charming Wimbledon-inspired strawberries and cream swirled design by British milliner Anne Tomlin
Such interesting colour pattern on this teal straw boater by Australian milliner Stephanie Spencer
Fascinatingly organic (and rustic!) texture on this hat by Parisienne milliner Veronica Marucci
Lovely movement on this raspberry pink headpiece by Italian millinery brand Gallia and Peter
Gold beaded ivory silk cap with pleated crin soaring swirl by French milliner Sylvia Martinez
Navy kokoshnik bandeau with geometric cutouts by Australian milliner Lauren Ritchie
Such interesting texture on this gold braided straw and leather percher by British milliner Karen Henriksen
Pink straw bandeau wrapped in diamond veil with lavish floral trim by Australian brand Locopa Designs
Another 3D carved wonder, this time in brilliant red, gold and purple, from Australian brand Taboo Millinery
Dutch milliner Wies Mauduit keeps knocking it out of the park with new designs, including this beautiful pink straw picture hat with a fantastic brim shape, beautiful trimming and impeccably finished silk binding. Utter perfection.

Wonderful family shot of the Belgian royal family, taken to celebrate King Albert and Queen Paola’s diamond wedding anniversary
Relaxed shots of Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre who are enjoying their annual summer vacation on the Norwegian island of Dvergsøya
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Photos from Getty and social media as indicated