Ascot 2024 Day 1: Gloucesters and Kents

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The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the first day of Royal Ascot, the duke in a grey felt top hat. The Duchess repeated a blue straw bandeau with bow and feather spray.

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Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn:

Lady Gabriella Kingston wore a pink hat with sisal flared crown and rolled-edge twist trim and what looks like a pinokpok brim.

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The slightly shorter brim on this design suits Gabriella so well, as does the lovely colour. The slight textural contrast between the two materials elevates the hat, as does its pairing with her lovely floral dress. It’s wonderful to see her looking so well.

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Milliner: Philip Treacy. Dress by Catherine Walker. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

Thoughts about these two designs?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Ascot 2024 Day 1: Princess Royal and Family

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Princess Anne attended the races at Ascot racecourse today in a teal fabric hat with shallow crown and curved brim. The brim is split at the back and curled up beneath a flat bow which anchors a larger crin bow with multiple loops.

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At first glance, the hat’s shape is reminiscent of styles Anne wore in the 1980s and 1990s… but my archive doesn’t have anything resembling this hat. At second glance, the slim hatband and brim binding are machine stitched on, an indication that this design is not a handmade design, as were most of Princess Anne’s hats 40 years ago.

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Do any of you recall seeing this hat before?

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Milliner: unknown
Previously Worn: unknown

Peter repeated a black top hat.

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Mike Tindall repeated his black silk top hat while Zara wore a buttercup yellow boater hat with staw crown and woven weave brim. The boater is simply trimmed with a pale aqua slim hatband tied in a bow at the back.

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Zara wore a pink twin to this hat last month for a Buckingham Palace garden party. Both are great designs, the wonderfully textural brim giving such interest to the boater’s characteristically straight lines. The impact of today’s hat was, however, a little lessened by the recent wearing of the pink one.

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Milliner: ‘Rosa‘ by Sarah Cant. Dress by Laura Green London. Styled by Annie Miall. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

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Images from Getty as indicated  

Ascot 2024 Day 1: Princess Eugenie

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Princess Eugenie attended the races today in a wide brimmed flat saucer hat in cream straw.

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I find it a bit bland. What makes it interesting is the large blush silk rose added to her hair beneath the brim on the raised side of the hat.

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Milliner: Siniang design by Emily London. Dress by Diane von Furstenberg.
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

Thoughts?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Ascot 2024 Day 1: The King & Queen

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And they’re off! We kick off this week’s hat extraveganza at Ascot Racecourse with King Charles and Queen Camilla. The king repeated his black antique silk top hat, adding some fashion personality with a buttercup waistcoat and blue tie.

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Queen Camilla eschewed her go-to neutrals for a vibrant ensemble in cobalt blue. The new hat features a tall, angled crown and an upfolded brim on one side with a wide padded hatband sandwiched between wired silk bands.

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The colour is magnificent, as is the scale on Camilla. I’m less a fan of the chunky hatband, which seems a little at odds with the more delicate lace trim on her coat and dress.

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Milliner: Philip Treacy. Dress and coat by Fiona Clare Couture. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

Thoughts about Queen Camilla’s new hat?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Garter Service 2024

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Members of the British royal family and distinguished guests gathered today at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, for the annual Garter Service. This service, which celebrates The Order of the Garter (the highest order of chivalry and one of the most prestigious honours in the United Kingdom awarded at the Sovereign’s pleasure as a personal gift) dates back to 1348 and remains a highlight on the royal calendar each year. Current members include the King and Queen, Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, Duke of Edinburgh, and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who all attended in Garter robes with the Order’s distinctive black velvet hat with ostrich feather plume.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh repeated a hat described by its milliner as, “A bespoke hand dyed, two tone style disc, trimmed with bows.” The pink window pane sinamay brim extension on this saucer gives such lightness and lift to the design, as does its pairing with this floral dress.

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Designer: Bespoke “Artemese” design by Jane Taylor. Zimmerman dress. 
Previously Worn: May 3, 2023;  June 2, 2022

The Duchess of Gloucester became a Garter member today and her children were on hand for the service. Lady Davina  wore a deep blue velvet headband. 

Lady Rose Gilman repeated a red sinamay button percher with feather trim.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 18, 2019; June 17, 2017

The Duchess of Gloucester became a Garter member today and her children were on hand for the service. Lady Davina  wore a deep blue velvet headband. 

Thoughts?

Images from Getty as indicated