Tag Archives: Duchess of Cornwall

Duchess of Cornwall’s Christmas Hats

Posted on by

Over the next six weeks, we’re going to fill quiet days with a series that takes us back through royal hats worn on Christmas Day. Today, we start with the Duchess of Cornwall:

Embed from Getty Images  Embed from Getty Images
Navy felt crown and straw brimmed hat with blue moire silk tafetta brim binding & hatband with statement flower in 2005; Leopard print felt beret with feather pinwheel trim in 2006, both by Philip Treacy

Embed from Getty Images  Embed from Getty Images
Black straw sidwsweep with velvet hatband and flying bow in 2007; Navy blue felt beret percher with silk rose in 2008, both by Philip Treacy

Embed from Getty Images  Embed from Getty Images
Dark blue faux fur papakha in 2009 and its chocolate twin in 2010

Embed from Getty Images
A slouchy wool Lock & Co hat with faux fur cuff brim in 2011

Embed from Getty Images  Embed from Getty Images
Flat crowned designs in jewel tones from Philip Treacy- purple in 2012 and navy in 2013

Embed from Getty Images  Embed from Getty Images
Dramatic black felt upsweep with wide ribbon binding by Philip Treacy in 20015 and 2016


Red wool hat with ruched crown and faux fur cuff brim from Lock and Co in 2017

I thought there would be more repeated designs in this group, and I’m also surprised by how Camilla’s hats have become more streamlined over the past decade- those early hats make major statements! What do you think of this millinery progression, dearest readers?

Photos from Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock; and Getty as indicated

British Royals Commemorate Remembrance Sunday

Posted on by

Members of the British Royal Family joined veterans, military servicepeople, members of government and civilians for a Remembrance Ceremony held yesterday morning at The Cenotaph, in Whitehall.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The Prince of Wales, who placed wreaths on The Cenotaph of behalf of his mother, was joined by the Princess Royal, the Dukes of Cambridge, Sussex, York, and Kent and the Earl of Wessex, all in military uniform.

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth, who watched the service from a Whitehall balcony for the third year, repeated a black straw hat with silk crepe covered crown and binds the upturned kettle brim. The hat is simply trimmed with a stripe of black silk which circles the crown, anchored by two covered buttons in the font.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly, made by Stella McLaren
Previously Worn: June 27, 2017; Nov 8, 2015

The Duchess of Cornwall wore a new, brimless hat. The design follows an oversize helmet (or mushroom top?) shape with gently rounded edges. The curved lines of the hat are dramatically accentuated with a mass of overlapping black feathers that circle around it.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Duchess of Cambridge also wore a new, brimless hat, her design built on a formed teardrop beret base with gentle crease down the center which gives it a gentle curve. The hat is beautifully trimmed with black braid ‘frog’ fasteners and corresponding beaded buttons which, along with the embroidered and tassel trimmed swags on her coat, give a thoughtful military nod to the day.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy. Coat by Catherine Walker
Previously Worn: this hat is new

The Duchess of Sussex wore a streamlined black felt hat with wide cartwheel brim. The straight sides of the hat’s crown elevate its sophistication, as does its slim hatband, tied in front in an elegantly austere bow.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Stephen Jones’ ‘Facetime’ from AW 2019 Miss Jones Collection. Coat by Stella McCartney. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Countess of Wessex wore a black felt perching saucer hat trimmed with a large bow. A subtle swirl on the inside of the saucer (created through hand shaping) gives lovely movement to the design.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Jane Taylor. It is the ‘Black Felt Hat With Bow’ from AW 2019. 
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Gloucester usually attend this event but so far, do not appear in any photographs (I’ll update the post if they do). In the meantime, there are some beautiful new hats here to admire.

Photos from Getty as indicated 

750th Anniversary of Westminster Abbey

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of Cornwall attended service at Westminster Abbey yesterday to mark the landmark church’s 750th anniversary. pale dove grey with fuchsia trim. For this celebration, the Queen repeated her dove grey silk crepe coat and matching hat with upturned kettle brim and flat crown, trimmed with a wide fuchsia hatband and a large grey ostrich feather.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

While the colour is not my favourite on Her Majesty and I’m not convinced the feather scale is right, I’m struck by the impeccable finishing on the hat- there’s no hint of pucker or visible stitching on the brim binding. It’s beautifully made.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren. 
Previously Worn: Dec 25, 2018

The Duchess of Cornwall gave us a welcome millinery surprise, repeating a pale blue formed beret hat that hasn’t been worn in over a decade. The hat is trimmed with a cascade of blue leaves around the front of the design.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Camilla wears so many wide brimmed hats that any change in shape or scale is a fun thing to see. This shade of blue is beautiful on her and the leaf trim gives some wonderful lift and dimension to the piece- it makes a great visual statement despite its small footprint. The hat coordinates perfectly with the applique stripes on the ensemble’s coat, making me wonder if the coat was designed specifically for this hat. If it was, we’re likely to see this hat worn more frequently, something I’ll applaud.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Dec 10, 2007

What do you think of these hats yesterday on their second outings?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

Posted on by

Back in September, Princess Hisako opened an exhibition at the Yokohama Museum of Art in a hat with cream straw crown and olive straw brim with interesting hatband of flattened vertical straw loops.
On Monday, Empress Masako attended the 70th anniversary of the National Rehabilitation System in a sleek, pale grey suit with matching short-brimmed hat
On Tuesday, Princess Akiko presided over national self defense awards in a repeated ecru silk-covered cloche hat with upturned kettle brim and wide hatband. The same day, Princess Mako attended the closing ceremony of the 74th National Sports Festival in Ibaraki in an ivory bowler hat variation with pale blue hatband tied in a side bow.
Prince Albert’s daughter, Jazmin Grimaldi, shared several portraits this week wearing an orange fedora.
The Duke of Gloucester sported a dapper green fedora during his visit to  Morocco last week. Today, the Duchess of Gloucester repeated a cuffed black velvet hat with silk bow and the Countess of Ulster wore a veiled pillbox for the opening of parliament today (the Earl and Countess’ son, Lord Culloden, was one of the Queen’s four pages).


Queen Elizabeth arrived for the opening of Parliament in the incredible diamond and pearl George IV Diadem she wears for this event each year (read more about it over at The Royal Collection). She chose not to wear the Imperial State Crown this year- understandable, given its heavy weight. The Duchess of Cornwall sparkled in her go-to Greville tiara (sometimes known as the Boucheron Honeycomb tiara. You can read an excellent history of this tiara here).
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Wonderfully trimmed fedoras in camel, yellow and mustard from British brand John Boyd Millinery

Bold black and cream striped waved discs by Spanish-based British milliner Donna Hartley
Emerald button percher with statement pheasant feather trim by British brand Rebecca Couture Millinery
Beautiful hand draping on this camel felt design (proof beige isn’t always boring!) by British milliner Jane Taylor
Magenta straw bowler with silk brim and ombre ruffled trim by Australian milliner Rachel Henry
Stunning gold beaded halo bandeau headpiece with twist from Australian milliner Marilyn Van den Berg

And from Irish milliner Carol Kennelly, this utterly fantastic black percher with shooting stars.

After last Monday’s announcement that children of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine have been removed from the Royal House of Sweden (along with their HRH titles) and will be free to pursue private lives, was endorsed by both the prince and princess with sharing of new family photos.
Turns out the lovely new photos of Princess Elisabeth, one which was turned into a stamp released on her 18th birthday, were taken by her dad.
View this post on Instagram

⁣ ⁣ bpost geeft ter gelegenheid van de achttiende verjaardag van Prinses Elisabeth (25 oktober) een officiële postzegel uit. De foto werd genomen door de Koning in de tuin van het Kasteel van Laken.⁣ —————⁣ bpost émet un timbre officiel à l'occasion du dix-huitième anniversaire de la Princesse Elisabeth (le 25 octobre). La photo a été prise par le Roi dans le jardin du Château de Laeken.⁣ —————⁣ bpost issues an official stamp on the occasion of the eighteenth birthday of Princess Elisabeth (October, 25). The photo was taken by the King in the garden of the Castle of Laeken.⁣ ⁣ @bpost #bpost #postzegel #timbre #stamp #birthday #verjaardag #anniversaire #PrincesseElisabeth #PrinsesElisabeth #PrincessElisabethofBelgium #ElisabethvanBelgie #Princesse #Prinses #Princess #Elisabeth #royalty #BelgianRoyals #BelgianRoyalFamily #België #Belgique #Belgium #Brussel #Bruxelles #Brussels #BelgianRoyalPalace #MonarchieBe

A post shared by Belgian Royal Palace (@belgianroyalpalace) on

Princess Eugenie celebrated her first anniversary with this look back at her wedding

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

Posted on by

Last Sunday, Queen Elizabeth repeated her cornflower blue hat with black trim and spiky grey feather flower to attend Sunday morning service at Crathie Kirk. The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her tan beret with pheasant feather trim.

Embed from Getty Images
Princess Hisako attended the Japan Sports Masters Tournament (for athletes over age 35) on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, she repeated a white hat with pork pie crown and wide brim edged in a black stripe with floral trim on the side. Tuesday, she wore a black straw hat with trilby-style raised back brim and wide, ecru-striped hatband. On Thursday, she repeated her ivory small brimmed, lace-covered hat with side bow for the 130th anniversary of the Japanese Red Cross Society in Gifu.. Yesterday, she wore this brimmed design to attend the Regional Traditional Performing Arts National Convention in Nara.
The Imperial emperor and empress attended the 74th National Sports Festival’s opening ceremony in Hitachinaka yesterday. Empress Masako repeated a white brimmed hat with wide royal blue silk hatband.
Queen Elizabeth was joined for church this morning in Scotland by the Snowdon family. The Queen repeated an angular lime straw cloche with navy stripe around the brim and a mass of straw leaves in the two colours on the side. The Countess of Snowdon wore a sculpted beret in a fantastic shade of saffron felt, trimmed with a gold brooch while Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones donned a chic dark denim blue felt fedora with navy hatband.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

A new book by Angela Kelly was released today that will undoubtedly, be filled with many great looks at her designs (and hats made by Stella McLaren, the in-house milliner on Kelly’s design team). I now know what’s on the top of my Christmas wish list!

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Alpaca gives a cruelty-free and sustainable option for fur hats and this teal one from Peruvian Connection is wonderful
Red felt calot with wide ruffle and bling-y brooch trim from British brand Rebecca Couture Millinery
Very fun blue patterned pillbox hat with retro proportions by Australian milliner Karen Bailey
Loden green silk ribbon bandeau with veil from British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan
Love unexpected coral and burgundy scheme of this straw brimmed design by Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Ivory felt sculpted hat with crown of folded swirls trimmed with crystals by Israeli milliner Orit Aviezer
From Stephen Jones’ new spring 2020 collection, this gravity-defying black hat with crisp white stripes

And these two green beauties from British milliners- first, from  Dorothy Morant, a hand blocked cloche in printed felt with extended brim and stunning pleated velvet ribbon trim (clearly, the Downton Abbey movie is on my mind) and second, from Carrie Jenkinson, this emerald felt saucer percher with amazing half pinwheel of statement twists.


View this post on Instagram

Something green 🤔🤔🤔

A post shared by Carrie Jenkinson (@carriejenkinsonmillinery) on

It was so lovely to become better acquainted with this new, very sweet royal face this week
Embed from Getty Images
Prince Harry took a poignant walk in Angola down the same path his mother walked, 22 years ago.
We end the week with the Dutch king, clearly enjoying his visit today to the Motocross of Nations at the TT Assen
Embed from Getty Images

Photos from social media as indicated

British Royals Attend Braemar Games

Posted on by

On Saturday, Queen Elizabeth was joined by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay and Peter and Autumn Philips for what looked like a very enjoyable day at the Braemar Games.

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth repeated her royal purple felt hat with square crown, downward facing brim with upfolded kettle edge and dark purple velvet hatband trimmed with stitched purple velvet leaves and silk flowers.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

This outing gives us a good look at this hat’s trim, which was updated for it’s last outing. This change elevates the hat- I adore those stitched velvet leaves)-  and the trim works much better than the white irises that originally adorned it. Fascinatingly, this trim change has made the design look much more in proportion, an optical illusion that works so well here (the hatmaker herself confirmed there were no changes to the hat’s crown height, as we suspected during its last outing) and ties beautifully with the velvet trim on this ensemble’s coat.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren
Previously Worn: Mar 11, 2019;  Jan 13, 2019; Oct 23, 2018; Mar 6, 2018; Dec 7, 2017; Nov 24, 2016

The Duchess of Rothesay repeated her formed beret in deep cranberry red felt, trimmed with a pair of pheasant feathers.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

This is the first good look we’ve had at this hat in years which is great, because it’s really wonderful on Camilla. She has just two red hats in her wardrobe, such a shame as she wears the colour so well.

Embed from Getty Images

An interesting side note on this hat- worn well past the 10 wears that we’ve discussed recently (thanks to a quote from the late milliner Philip Somerville guessing this as the average number of times most royal hats are worn), the original feathers that appeared on this hat were replaced in 2017 for the larger ones we see on it today. While the change may have been an aesthetic one, it certainly has added to this hat’s longevity!

Embed from Getty Images
At the Palace of Holyroodhouse on May 9, 2012

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: August 25, 2019; Sep 30, 2018; Sep 23, 2018; Sep 16, 2018; Sep 24, 2017; Aug 20, 2017; April 16, 2017; Sep 11, 2016; Sep 26, 2015; Sep 5, 2012; Sep 1, 2012; May 9, 2012; Sep 18, 2011; Apr 9, 2006; Apr 10, 2005

Autumn Phillips wore a percher hat with sculpted base in sage green described by the milliner as “hand-blocked peachbloom felt pillbox hat trimmed with an abstract bow, and finished with 2 degrade dyed feathers and a large crystal pearl in subtle tones of the same colour.”

Embed from Getty Images

The scale and movement of this piece is wonderful on her and makes such a great pairing for her slightly lighter green plaid wool coat. I particularly admire the shape and height of the bow and the colour of the feathers. Some might be tempted to pair this coat with burgundy hat to match its velvet trim but I adore that Autumn (or her stylist, Annie Miall) went the less expected route with this design in green. It’s so much more interesting and brings out her green eyes so well.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Sally-Ann Provan’s Artani design  It is the Guinea London Knightsbridge coat. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Yesterday, Queen Elizabeth attended Suinday service at Crathie Kirk in a repeated cloche variation covered in pale silk crepe. The hat’s contrasting black lower hatband, which shows up as a sharply punctuating pinstripe, and black leaves, nestled behind those exquisite handmade flowers, are an unexpected touch on this hat but one that makes it work so well.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: Aug 6, 2019; Aug 12, 2018

The Duchess of Rothesay also attended church, repeating her red beret’s taupe twin, also trimmed with pheasant feathers.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Aug 11, 2019; Aug 19, 2018; Oct 8, 2017; Sep 10, 2017; Aug 13, 2017; Sep 18, 2016

That’s five hats in Scotland over the weekend. Which ones stood out most to you?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Catching Up With The British Royals

Posted on by

With nine British royal hats appearing at semi-public events this week, I thought we’d take a dedicated look at these designs to kick off this holiday weekend (our regular weekend “Extra’s” post will follow tomorrow). Last Sunday, Queen Elizabeth was spotted en route to Sunday service at Crathie Kirk in Scotland in a new hat. UPDATE- thanks to you super sleuths, we know know this hat is a repeat and more than a decade old!

Embed from Getty Images

In bright pink straw, the design’s sidesweeping brim is edged in a wide binding stripe in robin’s egg blue, which is repeated on the straw twist and burnt feathers of its trim. While the colour makes a fun statement (especially with such an unexpected colour pairing!), I’m not keen on the hat’s flared crown, which gives it a slightly cartoonish vibe from front view.

Embed from Getty Images
Designer: unknown. Based on dates, I strongly suspect Philip Somerville
Previously Worn: November 24, 2007
The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her red felt Philip Treacy beret with pheasant feather trim. Camilla has worn this hat exclusively in Scotland (mainly for private events such as this) which is a shame, as the pop of colour is great on her!
Embed from Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge repeated a navy saucer shaped percher hat with large center knot felt flower on the back.
Embed from Getty Images
Designer: Lock and Co. 
Previously Worn: Aug 26, 2018; Feb 7, 2016; March 26, 2015 (private event)
The Countess of Wessex repeated a camel felt fedora with overlapping pheasant feather hatband. Sophie wears fedora and trilby shapes well and the hatband on this casual design is such a great touch.
Embed from Getty Images
Designer:  Suffolk Fedora in Camel from Hicks & Brown
Previously Worn: Dec 23, 2018; May 14, 2018
Princess Anne wore a hat that, I think, is a new design. In warm camel felt, this trilby features an extended brim that raises, in classic trilby fashion around the back, and is trimmed simply with what looks like a two-tone hatband in gold and chocolate, tied in a side bow. It’s a similar design to the turquoise and purple hats she added to her millinery wardrobe over the past year, although not as interesting a colour.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this is new

Autumn Phillips rounded last Sunday’s royal attendees at church in a dark caramel felt button percher trimmed with a chocolate organza ruffle around a silk bloom and two striped pheasant feathers. As far as brown hats go, it’s a good one

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Unknown. It looks like Juliette Botterill to me
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Today, the York Princesses and their mum attended Ellie Goulding’s wedding in Yorkshire. Princess Beatrice topped an irredescent emerald frock with a new black bandeau headpiece in leather, trimmed with handmade flowers and textured leaves. Black leather could be a tricky material to pull off for a royal headpiece but this one’s floral trim beautifully balances its edgy material, creating a smoothly elegant piece in a shape that looks great on Bea.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Athena by Justine Bradley-Hill. by Dress by The Vampire’s Wife 
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Eugenie repeated her navy straw pillbox with braided perimeter. It remains a great design for her, paired again with a floral frock (I think the open neckline of this dress makes for a better pairing).

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Juliette Botterill (bespoke version of the “Pleated Pillbox” from SS 2018). Dress by Peter Pilotto
Previously Worn: Apr 18, 2019

The Duchess of York topped a lace coat with a straw bumper hat with outside edge wrapped on two layers of Lady Amherst feathers. The bandeau shape suits Sarah well and the classic black and white scheme is a tad more wearable than this design’s original version!

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: I believe it’s by Jess Collett
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Thoughts about these British royal hats?

Photos from Getty as indicated