The Millinery Lesson

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We have all admired the work of milliner Marie O’Reagan, who made hats for Queen Elizabeth II for several decades. Her story is beautifully told in Mike Southon’s short film, “The Millinery Lesson” which also gives an insightful view at the history of millinery over the past century. Watch it here.

Here are some of the more than 200 hats Marie made for Her Majesty, under her own label as well as those of Freddie Fox and Philip Somerville.

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Images from Getty as indicated  

Catching Up… The Imperial Royals

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For an August 25 home show exhibition opening in Chiba City, Princess Hisako repeated her pale blue brimmed hat with muti-coloured feather trim on the side.

On August 28, Princess Hisako attended a calligraphy exhibition in Tokyo in an ecru hat with upturned brim and bow at the back.

On September 2, Princess Hisako wore a blush straw bucket hat with lattice woven brim to open a nutrition convention.

For the  150th anniversary of Japan’s modern school system on September 5th, Empress Masako wore an ivory short brimmed hat with wide hatband in the same butter-gold as her silk suit.

On September 12, the Emperor and Empress attended the 75th founding anniversary of the Japan War-Bereaved Family Association. For this event, Empress Masako wore a dove grey suit and matching hat with straight-sided crown and short brim trimmed with a pale, pleated hatband.

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On Saturday, September 17, Crown Princess Kiko wore a black bumper hat to see off the Emperor and Empress on their flight to London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

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Princess Hisako wore a hat with white brim and purple crown on September 24 for a national sports event.

On September 27, most of the Imperial family attended the state funeral of former Prime Minister  Shinzo Abe

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On September 29, Princess Akiko wore an ivory hat with short brim and blue hatband for a milestone in the Shinto religion.

Saturday, October 1: Empress Masako wore a white short brimmed hat with indigo hatband for a sports festival opening.

Princess Hisako attended the National Sports Festival from October 3-5 in two chic hats.

On Wednesday, October 5, Princess Yoko wore a white hat with layered mushroom brim to attend events at the national Sports Festival.

On Thursday, October 6, three Imperial women wore hats for various events.  Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako marked the 150th anniversary of Japan’s railway system. Empress Masako wore an ecru hat with upturned brim trimmed with a latte stacked hatband and bow at the back.

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The same day, Princess Hisako topped a lovely blue and white printed dress with a shallow white hat while Princess Akiko attended the National Sports Festival in an ivory brimmed hat with layered hatbands in soft pink.

On Saturday, October 8, three Imperial hats were worn! Princess Hisako attended the National Performing Arts National Convention in a brimless lilac silk covered hat trimmed with sparkling beads studded on one side. The next day, she repeated a green pork pie hat with curved brim. Princess Akiko donned a grey hat with short brim and side bow to attend a wheelchair race while her mother wore a jaunty magenta mini percher pillbox trimmed with an crin ruffle and silk flowers for a conference in Oita.

On October 9 and 10, Princess Tsuguko and Princess Nobuko attended the National Sports Festival. Princess Tsuguko wore a prim ecru boater with wide toffee hatband while Princess Nobuko wore an angular take on a tam hat, in navy, with a bow around the back.

On Tuesday, October 11, Princess Kako attended National Sports Festival. She wore an ivory brimmed hat with fuchsia hatband overlaid in lace with and a spray of fuchsia flowers on one side.

 

The trim makes this hat! It’s a wonderfully vibrant look for Kako. Interestingly, the hat appears to have been upcycled from her elder sister’s wardrobe. I suppose that answers the question of what happened to Mako’s hats…

On Wednesday, October 12, Princess Hisako attended a tree planting ceremony. She wore a white hat with short brim upfolded on one side and trimmed with orange flowers and a slim orange hatband.

On Thursday, October 13, Princess Akiko repeated an ecru cloche with upfolded brim for a national self-defence awards ceremony. The same day, Empress Masako repeated an ivory brimmed hat with blush hatband and scroll braid trim to the an event in Tokyo.

On October 14, Princess Hisako visited an elementary school in Sopporo in an ecru hat with interesting crown made of overlapping sections in different textured fabrics.

On Saturday, October 15 in Kanai City, Princess Nobuko, opened a garden wearing a dark blue pork pie hat with extended brim trimmed simply with a lighter hued hatband. The same day in Sopporo, Princess Hisako attended a house festival in a black felt hat with upturned brim trimmed with a teal hatband and a teal bow with black beaded embroidery just as on her collar.

On Sunday, October 17, Princess Hisako wore a chocolate homburg hat with twisted chocolate and pumpkin hatband to present a football championship. This hat pairs so well with her suit and pumpkin turtleneck.

Images from Getty and social media as indicated  

This Week’s Extras

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On the final day of the Dutch state visit to Sweden, Queen Máxima wore the “Laxmi” fuchsia bandeau headpiece with wonderful embroidered bead, pearl and sequin embellishment by NamJosh for Anthropologie. 
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Queen Sonja in folk costume yesterday while on a visit to the United States

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week (see the comments for more):


Immense congratulations to the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg on the announcement that they are expecting a second child in April. The announcement was preceded with the release of lovely snaps of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa with their three youngest grandchildren.

An extremely concerning announcement came from the House of Oranje this week about Princess Amalia’s safety. Royal Blogger Netty Liestra is mobilizing support for the princess- read how you can join in here.

And finally, a lovely shot of Queen Camilla with some of the hundreds of Paddington Bears given in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, which will be distributed to children through Bernardo’s charity. 

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Images from social media as indicated 

Catching Up… The British Royals

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On September 25th, Queen Camilla wore a voluminous black tam with feather trim to attend Sunday service at Crathie Kirk. This hat is better viewed here at its last outing in 2006.

On September 29th, Princess Beatrice stepped out in a green velvet knotted bandeau by Jennifer Behr. It’s such a gorgeous colour on her.

On Sunday, October 2, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended church at Crathie Kirk in Scotland. Camilla repeated a red felt beret with pheasant feather trim.

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Oct 6, 2019; Sep 7, 2019; August 25, 2019; Sep 30, 2018; Sep 23, 2018; Sep 16, 2018; Sep 24, 2017; Aug 20, 2017; April 16, 2017; Sep 11, 2016; Sep 26, 2015; Sep 5, 2012; Sep 1, 2012; May 9, 2012; Sep 18, 2011; Apr 9, 2006; Apr 10, 2005

On Sunday, October 9, the king and queen were off to Crathie Kirk again, this time Camilla in her green beret with feather trim!

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Sep 3, 2022; Oct 2, 2021

Yesterday, Queen Camilla attended the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. She repeated a navy blue straw hat with angular crown and sidesweeping brim, simply trimmed with a padded ivory hatband.
 
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Designer: Philip Treacy. Dress by Bruce Oldfield. 
Previously Worn: May 10, 2022; July 21, 2021
The wind nearly made off with her hat!

Images from Getty and social media as indicated  

Catching Up… Swedish & Norwegian Royals

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On September 19, Crown Princess Victoria visited the Church of England in Stockholm to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. She wore a new black velvet hair bow.

Designer: Eivy Flodin
Previously Worn: This is new

On Tuesday, September 27, the Swedish royal family attended their country’s opening of parliament.

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Queen Silvia wore a new ivory felt calot with narrow cuff around the base of the design. The hat is very close to another white calot she debuted at this same event in 2018, but with slightly different shape, material and detail.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Crown Princess Victoria repeated a headpiece of black and white layered butterfly bows.

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Designer: Malinda Damgaard
Previously Worn: Sep 10, 2019; Sep 13, 2016; Oct 19, 2015; Sep 15, 2015

Princess Sofia wore a new headpiece for this event, a black satin covered headband trimmed with a wide black grosgrain ribbon bow anchored with a Swarovski crystal buckle.

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Designer: Dolce & Gabbana “Swarovski Crystal Embellished Headband”
Previously Worn: This piece is new

On Tuesday, October 4, Queen Sonja of Norwan repeated a black veiled calot hat for the opening of her country’s parliament. 

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Dec 12, 2014; Dec 10, 2011

Also on October 4, King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria attended the start of annual meetings of the Swedish Church at Uppsala Cathedral. Queen Silvia repeated a navy straw pillbox hat with accordion folded bow at the back.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Apr 7, 2018

Crown Princess Victoria wore a headpiece of folded cockades in pale pink satin. For several years, Victoria has tended to choose more fascinators and smaller headpieces than hats and these cockade designs, with their beautiful detail, are such great pieces for her.

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Designer: Örjan Jakobsson (Parant Couture Headpieces)
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

On September 11, the Swedish royal family welcomed the Dutch king and Queen on state visit.

Queen Silvia wore a new headpiece, an open bandeau circle covered in the same green wool crepe as her coat. The hat is trimmed with large, slim wired bows at the back, again covered in the same fabric, that look like abstract leaf shapes.

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Designer: unknown. Coat and dress by Georg et Arend.
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

Crown Princess Victoria debuted another folded cockade headpiece, this one in the most wonderful cerise shade.

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Designer: Örjan Jakobsson (Parant Couture Headpieces). Dress and jacket by Camilla Thulin Design
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

Princess Estelle repeated the black velvet Eivy Flodin hair bow her mother wore on September 19, at the very top of this post.

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Princess Sofia topped her red outfit with a wide bandeau headpiece.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Lilli Jahilo. 
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

On Thursday, the final day of the visit, Queen Silvia repeated an navy headband with… is it a flat bow?

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Designer: unknown. Suit by Chanel.
Previously Worn: 

Images from Getty and social media as indicated