Swedish Monarchs Support Art At Waldemarsudde

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The Swedish King and Queen attended an annual Association of Friends of the Artists event today. The event was held again this year at Waldemarsudde, former home and gallery of Prince Eugene, fourth son of King Oscar II who was an accomplished landscape painter, art collector and patron (at the time of his death in 1947, Prince Eugene’s private collection included 3,200 works by the himself, and 3,500 works by almost 450 other artists) who created a Swedish Artists’ Support Fund Foundation in 1937. For this fundraiser, Queen Silvia wore a picture hat red straw hat.

A quick trip back in the photo archives shows this hat’s last outing was over a decade ago on May 5, 2008 during a state visit to Portugal. Photos taken from this visit show the hat has a wide, sidesweeping brim in triple-layers of very thin red straw and is trimmed by an oversize straw flower with straw petals cascading over the crown (which appears to be a nearly transparent, single layer of straw) and lower side of the brim.

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It’s not my favourite hat on the Swedish queen- I think the scale is too large on her. Wide brims are great unless they leave the impression of swallowing up their wearer, something I think is the case here.

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Designer: I suspect Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: May 5, 2008

It’s always curious when a hat that’s not seen the light of day for a decade makes a sudden return. Photos of today’s event aren’t good enough to tell if there’s been a renovation of this hat’s crown (it looks square in today’s photo)- hopefully, we’ll not need to wait another decade to see it in closer detail to know for certain. What do you think of Queen Silvia’s reappeared red hat?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Hats From the Past

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Royal Hats With this year’s Order of the Garter procession just a week away, here is a look back to Garter Days in 1913 and 1948. The British royals take tradition seriously- no surprise that in 116 years, the ceremonial hats have not changed!

This Week’s Extras

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Queen Silvia celebrated Swedish National Day, along with the king, in Ludvika last Thursday in a repeated ivory felt calot hat with silk flower and brown feather trim. Festivities later in the day saw the Queen and adult princesses in folk costume with traditional white cotton folded hats.

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Also on Thursday, Prince Harry was in uniform to preside over the annual Founder’s Day Parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea (a retirement and nursing home for former members of the British Army). Royal Hospital residents, known as Chelsea Pensioners, wore their distinctive tri-corn hats.
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On Thursday, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko conducted rites related to the abdication at the Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Tokyo. The empress emerita repeated a slate grey veiled saucer with knotted bow.
On Saturday, members of the Imperial royal family attended the 5th anniversary memorial ceremony for Prince Katsura. The Imperial royal women, who included the Empress, the late Prince’s mother, Princess Yoriko and sister,  Yasuko Konoe (formerly Princess Yasuko of Mikasa) all wore black hats.


Infanta Elena and her father, King Juan Carlos, attended the men’s singles final match yesterday at the French Open Tennis tournament in Paris in summery straw fedora hats
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The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Wonderful dusky pink embellished bandeau (see the detail!) by Scottish label Angels and Insects Edinburgh
Exquisite veil on this black button percher with white silk flowers from British brand Lock & Co.
Elegant coral sinamay teardrop with crin layered bow by Irish milliner Edel Black
Fantastic pink straw boater with animated bow & hand-dyed pheasant feathers from British milliner Ian Bennett
Adore the shape and movement on this royal blue straw veiled headpiece by Irish brand Marc Millinery
Wonderful black percher with white oversize pinwheel flower by London-based Spanish milliner Rafa Peinador
Prettiest textured straw button percher with ombre straw ruffle by British milliner Ellie Vallerini
Trios of lovely lilac and pale grey designs by Italian milliner Guiliana Mio
Love the unique swirling curves this denim blue straw design from British label John Boyd
Cream straw button percher with amazing ombre fuchsia & aubergine crin trim by British milliner Tracy Miller
White and yellow marabou feather fluff hat by London-based milliner Awon Golding

Great family photo released by the Danish court on the occasion of Prince Joachim’s 50th birthday

The Duke of Edinburgh celebrates an incredible 98th birthday today and I’m sure you join me in wishing him the happiest of birthdays.
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Photos from social media as indicated

Trooping The Colour: Gloucester & Kent Families

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We conclude our look at the hats seen Saturday for Trooping the Colour with those worn by members of the Gloucester and Kent families. With extremely limited photos (my sincere thanks to Paul Ratcliffe for again, providing the only available photos of these family members) to share, I’m going to try and avoid confusion (or excessive scrolling for photos) by reducing commentary to a minimum. Please click on the following galleries twice to open up larger size photos:

Gallery 1:

 

The Duchess of Gloucester: steel blue straw veiled pillbox
Previously Worn: May 29, 2019; May 23, 2019;  May 31, 2018

Lady Rose Gilman: muted slate blue straw beret with knotted straw sash
Previously Worn:  Jun 10, 2016 Previously worn by the Duchess of Gloucester: Nov 21, 2012; Jun 2, 2012

Lyla Gilman (Lady Rose’s young daughter, far right below): pink polka dotted bandeau

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Gallery 2:

 

Princess Michael of Kent: rounded, white fabric covered pillbox
Designer: I believe it is John Boyd 
Previously Worn: May 29, 2019, June 12, 2016; June 2, 2016; June 15, 2013; June 11, 2011; June 20, 2008

Countess of St. Andrews: white braided straw hat with turned down brim, trimmed with a tan jinsin fan around the top of the crown and knotted bow below the brim 
Designer: Celine Robert. It is the “Tuxia” design from SS 2016
Previously Worn: June 11, 2016

 

Gallery 3:

 

Lady Helen Taylor: black straw beret percher with navy veil and triangle tufts of purple and royal blue crin
Previously Worn: May 18, 2019

Estella Taylor: tan fabric bow bandeau
Previously Worn: I believe this is new

Lady Frederick Windsor: pale blue sinamay dramatic sidesweep covered in feather flowers
Designer: Catherine Walker Millinery. I believe it is the “Trevi” hat.
Previously Worn: I believe this is new

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Lady Gabriella Kingston: blush sinamay hat with angled crown and sharply sideswept brim with jinsin hatband and twists
Designer: Philip Treacy. It is OC 591 from SS 2019. Coral coat dress by Claire Mischevani
Previously Worn: I believe this is new

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Flora Ogilvy: ecru straw disc percher with a multi-looped bow and silk rose on the side
Previously Worn: May 18, 2019


Zenouska Mowatt : vibrant magenta silk bandeau with folded bow (love this with her blue lace dress and aqua shoes!)
Designer: Laura Cathcart Millinery. It is the “Arizona in fuchsia“. Carolina Herrera dress.

Previously Worn: This hat is new

Trooping the Colour is always a highlight in our royal hat watching calendar and this year’s celebration, which saw 28 hats, did not disappoint. We’ve seen some stellar hats (including a handful from designers we’ve not previously seen on royal hats) which makes me all the more excited for the Garter service and Royal Ascot next week. 
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Photos from Getty and social media (thanks to Paul Ratcliffe!) as indicated

Trooping The Colour: York, Wessex & Phillips Families

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We jump back into our review of the hats at yesterday’s Trooping The Colour ceremony with those worn by the rest of the Queen’s immediate family. Princess Beatrice wore a bandeau headpiece described by the designer as “back silk dupion-covered sculpted headband with a white flourish, inspired by historical styles. Graceful and dramatic, this headband features a large blooming white silk flower.” Beatrice wears the kokoshnik-shape really well (it suits her hairstyle and face shape) and this piece was a great compliment to her pink and black dress.

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Designer:  Judy Bentinck. It is the ‘Kiyomi’ bandeau.  Dress from Emilia Wickstead
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Eugenie topped a vibrantly printed dress with a black straw bergère hat embellished with a large white silk rose. The hat pairs so well with the dress- it’s scale is great to link with Eugenie’s black sash belt without overwhelming the ensemble and these black accessories give grounding and grandeur to the look. What really has me swooning for this hat is the perfect angle Eugenie placed it on her head. SO GOOD. Also making his millinery dĂ©but at this event was Eugenie’s new husband, Jack Brooksbank, who sported a top hat in black felt.

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Designer:  Emily London. It is the ‘Varenna’ hat. Dress from Amanda Wakeley.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Countess of Wessex repeated a black straw statement hat, also in black straw. In a pointed ellipse shape, the design features a grandiose, sidesweeping wave which is built upon the base of a calot style cap. The hat is finished with a trailing branch of black silk blossoms.

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This is one of several hats Sophie has in this unique shape (see here and here) and it is wonderful to see it again, not only because it’s fantastic on her, but because it paired fantastically with her green silk dress. Sophie carries off such statement millinery pieces so successfully and this hat tops a terrific ensemble for her.

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Designer: Jane Taylor. It is a custom version of “Lady A” from SS 2013.  Dress by Suzannah
Previously Worn:  Mar 9, 2017; June 21, 2013

Lady Louise Windsor repeated the smart navy satin covered button percher trimmed with satin and beaded Rouleaux twists she first wore for Princess Eugenie’s wedding last fall. Not only does yesterday’s outing show a better view of the beaded detailing on the bows, it also reveals the hat to have a scattering of velvet flowers with pearl centers. It’s a youthful design in a classic colour that Louise wears very well (and it’s great to see her wear it several times).

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Designer: Emily London
Previously Worn: Apr 21, 2019;  Oct 12, 2018

Autumn Phillips wore a pale grey straw percher hat described by the designer as “a handblocked straw button trimmed with a crystal bow.” Autumn has embraced cocktail hats with button or beret bases for a long time and this one, with it’s slightly lilac undertone, makes a lovely pairing with her pink frock.

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Designer: Julian Garner. It is the “Jessica” design. Dress by Claire Mischevani
Previously Worn: This hat is new 

I think there’s something significant to admire about each of these five hats- what are your thoughts?
Photos from Getty as indicated