This Week’s Extras

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The Prince of Wales in a smart plaid cap (notice the pattern matching!) Last weekend to host an event for traditional craft of Hedgelaying.

Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in black headbands for the funeral of Norwegian social justice advocate Kim Friele.
Zara and Mike Tindall in cozy knit hats on Monday at a Christmas event at Legoland Windsor.
On Wednesday, Princess Beatrice joined other members of the British royal family for  “Together at Christmas” community carol service at Westminster Abbey in a burgundy velvet knotted bandeau headpiece by Jennifer Behr.
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On Friday, Princess Anne repeated a her chocolate fur pillbox with pompom on top of the crown to review the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Two Russian royal hats in Paris yesterday- Princess Victoria Romanoff in a red beret to receive the order of Saint Mary of God for charitable work and Grand Duke George in a dapper fedora for the christening of Prince Joachim Georges Laurent Napoléon Murat, first son of Joachim, Prince of Pontecorvo and Princess Yasmine (the Murat family lineage is explained here). 
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Fabulous pillbox studded with black organza leaves and feathers by Wales-based Spanish milliner Andrea Carrillo
Amazing 22-meter long spiral design of buckram suede and wire by London-based Australian milliner Lisa Tan
Burgundy felt bandeau with oversize felt rose trim by Swedish milliner Maja Vensson
Wonderful handpainted brim on this navy boater by Spanish millinery artist Lidya Diaz
Classic and beautifully proportioned charcoal wool felt beret by British brand Lock & Co.
Stunning and oh-so wearable black beaded bandeau by Pariesienne modiste Clotilde Toussaint
How fantastic is this couture coat and matching turban by Thomas von Nordheim?!
Perfect pattern matching on this plaid newsboy cap by Spanish brand Nana Golmar
Adore the vibrant jewel-tone flowers on this electric blue felt button by British brand Gemma J Millinery
Beaded felt soft berets by German brand Hutmanufaktur
Who says practical, warm hats need to be boring? Not Estonian brand Kan Kan Hats with this red and green felt design!
Dramatic feathers on this black felt formed beret by London-based milliner Merve Bayindir
Wonderful plaited brim edge on this design by straw plaiter Veronica Main to wear for her MBE this week!
This floral patterned design (hand painted by the looks of it) by Japanese milliner Shingo Hasobe is exquisite!

 

Sweet snaps of Prince Charles meeting St. Nicholas

Lovely new portraits released for Princess Amalia’s 18th birthday along with a sweet, less formal family snap. 

And finally, Christmas greetings from the Cambridge family! 

Images from social media as indicated 

Catching Up Imperial Family Milestones

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In last weekend’s “Extra’s” post, we celebrated the December 5 official presentation of Princess Aiko following her 20th birthday, dazzling in a diamond tiara and necklace borrowed from her aunt, Sayako Kuroda.
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It turns out that members of the Imperial royal family also gathered for this celebration, the ladies in hats as well! Princess Kako was seen arriving at the Imperial Palace in her pale sage green silk jacquard covered calot hat with cuffed bumper brim, trimmed with a spray of silk flowers on the side.

Previously Worn: Dec 23, 2019; Apr 10, 2019; 
Princess Hanako repeated her dark green velvet hat with clamshell-shaped bumper brim trimed with an ostrich plume and bow at the back.  Princess Yuriko wore a turquoise printed silk draped pillbox (or maybe a toque shape?) with rolled rose and leaves made of the same fabric, placed on the side of the design. 

 Princess Hanako’s hat Previously Worn: Feb 24, 2019; Jan 14, 2015;  Jan 10, 2014; Jan 4, 2011
Princess Nobuko looked to be wearing a new dusty pink silk covered pillbox high on the back of her head. Princess Yoko repeated her tall salmon pink silk covered pillbox wrapped in a double fringe of feathers in the same hue. Princess Akiko looked to be wearing a new cream hat with shallow crown and brim covered in a beautifully draped hatband that tied in a side bow.

Princess Yoko’s hat Previously Worn: Mar 23, 2021;  Nov 8, 2020; Oct 25, 2019; Apr 10, 2019
Princess Hisako repeated a salmon pink velvet pillbox with indented pork pie crown, trimmed in pink, peach and burgundy velvet applique flowers that also embellish the neck and shoulder lines of her matching gown. An interesting note from Imperial family expert Prisma- while this ensemble dates back until at least 1992, it was worn, most recently, in January 2014 by Princess Noriko! Princess Tsuguko looked to be wearing a silvery blue silk covered pillbox that I believe is new.

Previously Worn: Jan 15, 2014 (by Princess Noriko); Jan 14, 1992
Sayako Kuroda was also in attendance in a pale green silk calot covered in a ruched dotted white veil.

On December 9th, Empress Masako celebrated her 58th birthday. She arrived at the home of her parents-in-law in a pale blue silk covered bumper hat.

Sayako Kuroda was also seen arriving at the Imperial Palace to greet the Empress on her birthday in a pleated ecru calot hat.

Which ones of these eleven hats stand out most to you?

Images from social media as indicated 

2021 Nobel Peace Prize

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The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held today at Oslo City Town Hall. Queen Sonja wore a new hat for the occasion, a black formed beret design overlaid with a dotted black veil.

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The classic shape suits Sonja well and the dot-studded veil lends contrast, texture and visual interest, pairing beautifully with her aubergine velvet jacket.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Thoughts about this new hat?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Princess Amalia Introduced to Council of State

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Upon her coming of age this week, Princess Amalia was introduced to the Council of State in The Hague today by her parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.

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Queen Máxima wore a new hat for the occasion, in vibrant magenta felt. With a rounded crown and steeply upturned sidesweeping  slice brim, the design is trimmed with a double satin stitched hatband and statement flower in layers of purple and red silk.

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The brim length on this design is shorter than many of  Queen Máxima’s other hats in this shape and this reduced scale works well, especially in this showstopping colour. As we’ve previously noted in discussions here on the blog, few of the hats in her closet are trimmed with flowers and it’s great to see a floral trim, especially one so dimensional and effective.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Coat dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: this hat is new

What do you think of Queen Máxima’s new hat today?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats over a century back to Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia out for a winter walk with her younger brother, Tsarevitch Alexei.

I woke to a similar covering of snow this morning- what kind of weather (and corresponding season of hat!) are you experiencing where you live?

Images from social media as indicated