Researching Queen Mary’s Milliners

Posted on by

 British author Tim Symonds (acclaimed author of the Sherlock Holmes series) recently wrote to me with a request for royal hat assistance. He is setting a new novel series between the years of 1916 and 1920 and is researching who the milliners to Queen Mary were during these years, as well as where their millinery workshops were located. This question stumped me- can any of you help? Please share any information in the comments below.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Visits Household Cavalry

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales paid an official visit to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at Hyde Park today. For this engagement, the queen repeated her blue felt hat trimmed with chrysanthemum feather flower trim.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Today’s outing marks the tenth public appearance of this hat in almost exactly four years, firmly cementing it as one of the queen’s favourites.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly, made by Stella McLaren. Coat designed by Stewart Parvin
Previously Worn: Sep 4, 2017; Oct 27, 2016; Mar 14, 2016; Nov 12, 2015; Jun 11, 2015; Apr 5, 2015; Oct 24, 2014; Apr 8, 2014; Oct 23, 2013
Photos from Getty as indicated

Dutch Monarchs Visit Eemnland

Posted on by

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visited the region of Eemnland where they made stops in Amersfoort, Soest, Eemnes and Bunschoten. For this visit, Queen Máxima brought out a hat worn just once before, back in 2012 for Prinsjesdag. In rich magenta felt, the hat follows the familiar upswept ‘slice’ brim shape favoured by the Dutch queen and that she wears so very, very well.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The ensemble paired with this hat could not be more different than the streamlined gown we saw with it on its first outing and gives the hat a completely different feel. The silk coat and patterned dress are great in theory but the dress’ maribou trim at the neckline, sleeves and hem trim take it a little too far over the top for my taste, leaving the hat struggling for attention within the overall look. Remove the maribou from the dress and tailor in some of the bulk from the coat to balance the ensemble and I think it would sing much more harmoniously.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: While I thought this was a repeat of the hat worn for  worn for Prinsjesdag on September 18, 2012  it is a new design
My quibbles about the Natan coat and dress aside, it’s wonderful to see this hat again. What are your thoughts about its outing today?
UPDATE- despite looking identical to the 2012 Prinsjesdag hat, Josine over at Mode Koningin Maxima confirmed this hat is actually is a new design. Aside from colour variation (unreliable in different lighting conditions), the crown shapes are slightly different and the Prinsjesdag hat has a slimmer hatband and side bow.
Hat today; Hat worn for Prinesjesdag, Sep 18, 2012  
Photos from Getty as indicated; Michel Poro and Patrick van Katwijk via Getty 

Queen Elizabeth Marks Ship’s Anniversary

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth paid a visit to HMS Sutherland at the West India Dock in London today to mark the 20th anniversary of the ship’s commissioning. For this event, she repeated her teal blue wool hourglass shaped hat trimmed with black velvet flowers and leaves.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

These photos show the exaggerated hourglass shape of the hat- something that sends it into ‘cartoonish’ territory thereby preventing me from completely warming to it. Shape quibbles aside, the colour is glorious and I adore how the black velvet trim ties in with the collar on Her Majesty’s coat.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly.
Previously Worn: December 3, 2015; April 2, 2015; October 16, 2014
Any new thoughts about this repeated hat?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Last Week’s Extras

Posted on by

Royal Hats

A quick word of thanks to you all for doing such a stellar job of sharing all of the hats worn while I was away. I greatly appreciate being able to leave Royal Hats in your capable hands and enjoyed some much needed R&R while I was unplugged. It has taken me a few days to get back into regular posting routine and I appreciate your patience! 

Reader ChicagoChuck shared this link to a wonderful newsreel of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s visit to Canada in 1951, a visit that included a royal stetson! (National Film Board of Canada)

The Earl and Countess of Wessex donned casual hats during their visit to Brunei in early October

 

I was pleased to share a few words over at Luxarazzi, published last week about what hats I’d like to see shared among the Luxembourg royals. The Luxembourg royals don’t have deep shelves in their hat closets so I extended the sharing boundaries over to the millinery wardrobe of their cousin, Queen Mathilde.

I missed a few hats worn at in the last days of September- jump over to our last roundup post and scroll through the comments to see pieces worn by Princess Benedikte, Princess Hisako and Princess Annemarie of Bourbon Parma.

It never fails to amaze me how much beautiful new work comes out of the millinery industry each day. New designs jumping out at me include:

White straw saucer with black trim from Melbourne label Chris Mullane Millinery
Red felt vertical saucer with eye catching silk flower trim from Juliette Botterill Millinery
Such beautiful movement on the ‘Sega’ percher in cream and pink from Louise Macdonald Millinery
Navy hat with sweeping silk brim trimmed with gold-backed fuchsia leather foliage by US brand Lifted MIllinery
White metallic straw boater with lavender stitched circles from Stephen Jones Millinery
Bright pink boater by Marilyn Van den Berg, designed to be worn at a very jaunty angle

And this percher, with the most wonderful handmade silk organza vine from a true millinery master, John Boyd

 Royal Hats

The Danish Royal Court shared a photo of Prince Christian, taken by his mother aboard the royal yacht Dannebrog, to mark the prince’s 12th birthday.

Empress Michiko conducted a written interview this week on the occasion of her 83rd birthday- an excellent translation can be read here. My admiration for this woman just grows and grows (Imperial Family Of Japan)

Lovely photo of Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien and their family taken during a recent visit to George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon

Princess Ingrid of Norway joined her mother and grandmother on Thursday to unveil new sculptures in her namesake park.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Such a sweet snap of Prince Carl Philip and Pincess Sofia with their young sons, shared by the Swedish Monarchy

Reader ChicagoChuck shared another video- 50 minutes of the coronation of King George VI in 1937.  Amazingly, it includes 10 minutes of footage of the actual coronation service inside the Abbey (jump to 12:15).  There are some excellent glimpses of the royal family.

James Ogilvy (son of Princess Alexandra) shared this peacefully beautiful image that I think makes for a great start to this week.