to an event, 45 years ago this year, held at the Garden Club de Monaco. Princess Grace attended in a memorably oversized white tam ‘o shanter style hat.
Top New Royal Hat Of 2017
And then there were eleven.
Eleven hats debuted in 2017 from eight different milliners worn on heads representing six different royal houses. Eleven new hats made of silk, straw, crin, felt and velvet adorned with ruffles, roses, twists, feathers, jewelled picks,silk abacca and lace.
One dome, three perchers, one pillbox, two upsweeps,a cartwheel, two saucers, and a boater – eleven stunning designs that we admired, discussed and chose as our favourites throughout the year. Eleven new designs that now, we narrow to a single winner. It’s time to crown the Top New Royal Hat of 2017.
Click on each photo to jump to original posts with additional photos, information and discussion. Your eleven finalists for Top New Royal Hat of 2017 are:
1.
2.
2. Princess Hisako’s domed black hat with back feather spray worn Jan 28 at a tableware festival
Zara Tindall’s blue velvet percher with silk abaca knot & peacock feathers by Juliette Botterill worn Mar 14
Zara Tindall’s blue velvet percher with silk abaca knot & peacock feathers by Juliette Botterill worn Mar 14
3.
4.
4. Crown Princess Mary’s ecru felt pillbox with lace applique trim by Jane Taylor worn Mar 28
Queen Máxima’s grey felt picture hat with upswept brim by Fabienne Delvigne worn April 7 in Delft
Queen Máxima’s grey felt picture hat with upswept brim by Fabienne Delvigne worn April 7 in Delft
5.
6.
6. Duchess of Cambridge’s dusty pink crin saucer hat with rose and straw twists by Jane Taylor worn May 20
Princess Anne’s cream straw hat with upswept brim and curling feathers worn May 20 in Scotland
Princess Anne’s cream straw hat with upswept brim and curling feathers worn May 20 in Scotland
7. 
8.
8. Duchess of Cambridge’s pink button percher with triple crin ruffle trim by Jane Taylor worn June 17
Countess of Wessex’s plum straw oversized boater with silk roses by Jane Taylor at Ascot June 21
Countess of Wessex’s plum straw oversized boater with silk roses by Jane Taylor at Ascot June 21
9.
10.
10. Princess Madeleine’s pale blue Philip Treacy vertical saucer with flowers worn July 14 for her sister’s 40th birthday
Princess Charlene’s navy felt hat with cartwheel brim by Gallia e Peter worn for National Day on Nov 19
Princess Charlene’s navy felt hat with cartwheel brim by Gallia e Peter worn for National Day on Nov 19
11.
The poll will remain open until Tuesday, January 25 at midnight GMT and as always, each computer or mobile device can vote twice per day for as many hats as you wish each time. The winner will be unveiled January 26. Happy voting!
Photos from Stig Lindberg; Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty; Benoit Doppagne via Belga; Patrick van Katwijk and UK Press Pool via Getty; Church of Scotland; Max Mumby/Indigo, Max Mumby/Indigo, Michael Campanella, SC Pool/Corbis and via Getty; Ward/WENN.com ORG XMIT: wenn33520371
Top Repeated Royal Hat of 2017
Throughout a series of polls over the past year, we have narrowed down our favourite repeated royal hats to a finalist group of eleven stunning designs. Your finalists include numerous brimmed designs, a pillbox, an upsweep, a swirled percher and a lattice saucer and trimmings that run the spectrum from florals and bows to twists, bands and quills.
While each of these eleven finalists is a winning design, it is now time to cast your votes, dearest readers, for a single winner. Please click on each hat to link back to its original feature post with additional views and information. Without further ado, here are your eleven finalists for Top Repeated Royal Hat of 2017:
1. 
2. 
2. Crown Princess Mary’s purple felt pillbox with side feather trim by Jane Taylor worn Feb 7 in Aarhus
Crown Princess Mary’s black Susanne Juul hat with tall felt crown, straw brim & feather quills on Mar 21
Crown Princess Mary’s black Susanne Juul hat with tall felt crown, straw brim & feather quills on Mar 21
3.
4.
4. Queen Elizabeth’s lilac-grey straw hat with straw flowers by Rachel Trevor Morgan worn April 11
Princess Benedikte in a deep purple straw hat with pink hatband and silk flower trim worn May 7
Princess Benedikte in a deep purple straw hat with pink hatband and silk flower trim worn May 7
5.
6.
6.Queen Elizabeth’s vibrant green hat with domed crown, feathers & silk flowers by Rachel Trevor Morgan worn May 24
Duchess of Cornwall’s cream straw Philip Treacy hat with ecru layered hatband and twists worn June 17
Duchess of Cornwall’s cream straw Philip Treacy hat with ecru layered hatband and twists worn June 17
7.
8.
8. Queen Elizabeth’s sky blue straw hat with lattice brim and bow by Philip Somerville worn June 1 and June 17
Duchess of Cornwall’s pale blue straw upsweep with large rose by Philip Treacy worn at Ascot June 21
Duchess of Cornwall’s pale blue straw upsweep with large rose by Philip Treacy worn at Ascot June 21
9.
10.
10.Countess of Wessex’s blue swirled straw percher with crin flowers by Jane Taylor worn Sep 29
Countess of Wessex’s natural straw saucer with lattice brim and coral feather by Jane Taylor worn in Brunei Oct 5
Countess of Wessex’s natural straw saucer with lattice brim and coral feather by Jane Taylor worn in Brunei Oct 5
11.
Crown Princess Masako’s dark burgundy hat with double hatband worn Dec 5
The poll will remain open until Tursday, January 25 at midnight GMT and as always, each computer or mobile device can vote twice per day for as many hats as you wish each time. We will celebrate the winner on January 26. Happy voting!
Photos from Scanpix; Patrick van Katwijk and WPA Pool via Getty; Ole Hartmann Schmidt via Konghuset; Mark Cuthbert, Max Mumby/Indigo, Mark Cuthbert, Mark Cuthbert and Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty; The British Monarchy; Asahi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun via Getty
Imperial New Years Lectures 2018
Yesterday, members of the Imperial Royal Family attended the Ceremony of Kosho Hajime (Imperial New Year’s Lectures) at Imperial Palace in Tokyo. A tradition of royal enlightenment since 1869, these Imperial New Year’s Lectures saw experts in the field of human, social and natural sciences address the royal delegation in their respective fields. When the lectures began 149 years ago, the daytime dress code across royal courts for ladies reflected the prevailing Victorian fashions of the time- long gowns with hats. This event is one of a handful each year that maintains this dress code, giving us the rare opportunity to see hats with full length gowns.
Crown Princess Masako made her first appearance at this event in 15 years in a repeated Breton hat. Made of the same hint-of-blue silk jacquard as her gown, the hat features a pork pie style crown and characteristic rolled Breton brim.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Dec 9, 2014; Dec 23, 2013; Dec 9 2010; Dec 23, 2009; Dec 9, 2006; Dec 23, 2005
Princess Kiko topped her celery green gown with a matching capulet style hat that I believe is a new addition to her wardrobe. Following a classic capulet shape (a calot with extended front combined with a bumper brim around the front and sides of the piece), the hat is trimmed with a small back bow and covered in the same lace that adorns the top of Kiko’s gown. Princess Mako made her last appearance at this event in a repeated navy velvet, rounded edge pillbox hat trimmed with a bow on the side in the same blue silk as her gown.
Previously Worn: I believe Princess Kiko’s hat is new. Princess Mako wore this to this same event in 2016
The Mikasa and Takamado princesses also attended this event. Princess Nobuko wore a wonderful pale green pillbox trimmed with a giant ivory silk flower that I believe is new. Princess Akiko repeated a pale pink silk calot trimmed with lattice woven ribbon and pearls. Princess Yoko wore a majenta textured pillbox. Princess Hisako topped her elegant dove grey gown with a matching bumper hat with side feather trim that I believe is new. Pricess Tsuguko also went with a new design that looks to be a burgundy silk tam variation trimmed with flowers on the side. Princess Ayoko repeated her pale yellow silk jacquard gown and matching calot bandeau trimmed with silk flowers and leaves on each side.
These lectures always brings some millinery surprises and such is the case this year, even with a few repeated pieces. I missed seeing Princess Hanako, who always stands out at this event. What hats stand out to you here this year?
Top Royal Hats December 2017
December brought us some wonderful new and repeated royal hats but two designs stood out from all the rest as your favourites:
Crown Princess Masako’s dark burgundy hat with double hatband worn Dec 5
Autumn Phillips’ red velvet button percher with bow and jewelled picks from Emily London worn Dec 25
Jump over to the original polls (repeated hats here, new designs here) for a closer look at the results. Stay tuned first thing Friday morning for our final polls to name favourite new and repeat royal hats of the past year!
Photos from Asahi Shimbun via Getty; Ward/WENN.com ORG XMIT: wenn33520371
Royal Hats 