Luxembourg-Liechtenstein Wedding 40 Years On

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Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein were married 40 years ago on March 20, 1982 at Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City. Like her sister a month earlier, Princess Margaretha chose the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara for her wedding headpiece. A convertible necklace made by Van Cleef and Arpels, the piece had been a wedding gift for to her mother, Princess Josephine of Belgium, in 1953 by the Belgian colony of Congo (read about its fascinating history over at The Court Jeweller). The streamlined tiara was a striking contrast to the ruffled dresses fashionable in the early 1980s- notice the triple tiered ruffles on those sleeves!

Images from Getty as indicated

Austrian State Visit to Belgium Begins

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King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed  Alexander Van der Bellen, President of the Federal Republic of Austria and his wife Doris Schmidauer to Belgium today for a three-day state visit.

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Queen Mathilde wore a new fedora hat for this welcome in muted burgundy melusine felt simply trimmed with a felt hatband. The hat pairs well with the lighter hue wool coat and even lighter pink dress but…. I find my reaction to this hat one of ambivalence. It’s fine. But not great. Something about the awkward shaping/ placement of the hatband and unfinished edge of the relaxed brim doesn’t quite measure up for me- it lacks the crisp panache that usually makes a fedora so chic. And for those of you with a sense of déjà vu about it, you’re not wrong. I’m all for royals buying whatever designs they like but wish couture milliners would steer them away from bespoke pieces that are exact duplicates.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne “Malia” design. Coat by Natan.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

What do you think of this new hat today in Brussels?

Images from Getty as indicated  

This Week’s Extras

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On Wednesday, Queen Margrethe reviewed a parade of the Life Guards and presented a military honor in her lovely blue hat with tartan hatband by Mathilde Førster.
Also on Wednesday, the Earl of Wessex donned a hat during his visit to Kenya for the Duke of Einburgh’s International Award

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

Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 4

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Princess Anne and Zara Tindall continued their attendance at the Chetenham Festival this week on its final day today. Princess Anne repeated a hat she’s worn to this event in the past, an angular cloche in wheat coloured straw with a brim extension on one side that is sharply upswept and covered in feathers. The hat is trimmed with an ivory floral patterned silk jacquard sash hatband and a spray of feathers on the side opposite the raised brim.

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Designer: 
Previously Worn: May 7, 2019; Apr 16, 2017;  Mar 15, 2017; Mar 18, 2016; Dec 25, 2015; Jun 16, 2015

Zara Tindall topped a raspberry coat with a lovely hat described by the designer as a “Black wool felt beret with velvet red roses, velvet leaves and bronze curled quills.”

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The hat has lovely contrast, its berry hued flowers linking so well with the vibrant coat and the copper curled quills lending  lift through their little bit of shine. I also really like how the hat’s brimless shape balances with the coat’s shawl collar which would be overwhelmed with a brimmed hat. It’s another well styled and really pretty look for Zara.

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Designer: 
Previously Worn: Bee Smith “Loretta” design. Coat by The Pretty Dress Company. Styled by Annie Miall. 

That wraps up the Cheltenham Festival for 2022? What was your favourite royal millinery look at the races this year?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 3

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The third day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival saw a return to sunny skies along with handsome pair of royal hats. Princess Anne repeated her warm brown felt trilby with extended brim trimmed with a slim darker brown hatband and spray of feathers on the side.

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It’s a great neutral hat for the Princess Royal and the scale of this design suits her well. What stands out today is the styling of the rest her her ensemble. The combination of saturated orange coat and patterned dress is an unexpectedly bold one that really does call for a neutral hat, although the different shades of brown on gloves, purse and hat and those black boots puts the overall look out of balance for me.

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Designer: Amy Morris-Adams
Previously Worn: Mar 11, 2020; Sep 1, 2019

Talking about balance, Zara Tindall’s stylist hit it just right today with the choice of this pale turquoise described by the designer as a peachbloom felt percher hat adorned with cut feathers, bow detail and felt cut outs.

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The combination of deep teal coat with the turquoise hat is unexpected but so brilliant, the pale hat lifting the overall look and elevating its sophistication. Yes, it’s Zara’s go-to hat shape – we’ve seen her wear other very similar designs from Juliette Botterill – but somehow this still feels new and fresh.  It’s certainly an argument for the value of a stylist.

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Designer: Juliette Botterill “Feather Bow Percher.” Coat by Claire Mischevani. Styled by Annie Miall. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

Thoughts about these hats today at the Cheltenham Festival?

Images from Getty as indicated