to this day in 1970 when the late Queen Mother, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones and Lord Linley were photographed arriving at Liverpool Street Station, Queen Elizabeth in a veil-covered capulet hat and Lady Sarah in a charming pleated velvet tam.
Images from Getty as indicated
We end with a lovely message from Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar and yesterday’s poignant Christmas message from The Queen.
Images from Getty and social media as indicated
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, Wessex family and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended this morning’s service at St. George’s Chapel. For this occasion, the Duchess of Cornwall wore a new hat. The deep turquoise felt beret is trimmed with diamond-trimmed peacock feathers anchored with a quartet of turquoise felt layered squares.
The colour is fantastic on Camilla as is the feather trim, its sweeping scale giving the hat greater presence. Many of wished for more vibrant additions to her millinery wardrobe and while I welcome this one, I’m less certain about her turquoise and denim blue patchwork coat.
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Embed from Getty Images
Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: This hat is new
The Countess of Wessex was also in a new hat. Her domed pillbox, in tan and chocolate cheetah printed felt, is simply trimmed with flat bow around the back.
Designer: Jane Taylor. It is the “Leopard Print Pillbox.” Loewe “Wool & Cashmere Double Breasted Coat.”
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Lady Louise Windsor wore a streamlined ivory felt beret hat paired with a blush silk flower in her hair.
Designer: Jane Taylor. It is the “Ivory Felt Beret.”
Previously Worn: This hat is new
The Duchess of Gloucester was also in a pale felt beret, this one trimmed with a classic French stem. The ecru blocked design has a lovely drape to the side with just the right amount of ‘slouch’ while still looking elegantly refined.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Over in Norfolk, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Christmas morning service at the church of St. Mary Magdalene. Kate wore a new deep chocolate felt fedora with wide brim. The hat is trimmed with a quadruple layered hatband of overlapping feathers and a small metal bird on the side. It’s such a chic hat for Kate; I particularly like the fantastic feather hatband, which gives such great texture and contrast.
Designer: Philip Treacy. It is OC814 from AW2020. BLAZÉ Milano “Anyway Checked Wool Blazer”
Previously Worn:
It’s lovely to see some hats on Christmas Day and five new ones, well that’s a wonderful surprise! Which designs stand out most to you?
Images from Getty as indicated
Last week we looked at all of the hats Queen Elizabeth wore on Christmas Day in the 20th century. Today, we focus on the “Chapeaux de Noel” she has worn over the past two decades:
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2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004
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2005; 2006 in Rachel Trevor Morgan; 2007 in Angela Kelly; 2008 in Rachel Trevor Morgan; 2009 in Angela Kelly
2010 and 2011 in Angela Kelly (made by Stella Mclaren); 2012 in Rachel Trevor Morgan
2013; 2014 in Rachel Trevor Morgan; 2015 in Angela Kelly (made by Stella Mclaren)
2017; 2018 and 2019 in Angela Kelly (made by Stella Mclaren)
There are a few surprises here- it has now been 20 years since we saw Her Majesty chose a green hat for Christmas Day and the past two decades have seen more fur than the two before. There are many more neutral hued hats in this group than in the hats worn last century and, aside from the fur designs in 2010 and 2013, all the hats since 2000 have had brims. Looking back, I admire the unexpectedly vibrant orchid purple design with red feathers in 2014 and turquoise blue with lovely velvet flowers in 2012, both by Rachel Trevor Morgan, along with the snow queen fur pillbox in 2010.
Sadly, it was announced this week that we won’t see the Queen publicly on Christmas Day this year (not surprising considering the surge of COVID cases in Great Britain) so we’ll have to make due with pondering past Christmas hats this year. Which one of these designs stand out most to you?
Images from Getty as indicated; Carl Court/AFP, Ben Stansall/APF, Leon Neal/AFP, Chris Jackson, Chris Jackson, Chris Jackson, Joe Giddens/PA Images, UK Press Pool/UK Press and Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
60 years ago to the December 19, 1961 christening of the now Earl of Snowdon. Princess Marina of Kent and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, attended in a pair of very memorable pillboxes!
Image from Getty as indicated
Royal Hats 