Queen Elizabeth, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were in Cardiff this morning to attend the opening ceremony of the sixth session of the Senedd.

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For this occasion, the Queen repeated her dusty pink cashmere covered hat with domed crown and downward facing brim, trimmed with layered black and pink hatbands and a side spray of handmade silk flowers.

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It’s amazing how much visual impact that slim black pinstripe of hatband brings to this design (along with the black buttons on the coat), adding punchy contrast amidst all the dusky pink. It’s another take on the stovepipe silhouette we often see on Her Majesty’s hats, this one set apart by the extended brim which is beautifully balanced by that slight dome on the top of the crown.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan. Cashmere coat and silk dress by Stewart Parvin.
Previously Worn: Oct 15, 2020;  Mar 13, 2019; Mar 27, 2018

The Duchess of Cornwall wore a new beret percher hat in red felt trimmed with a side spray of monochrome felt leaves and berries.

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The colour nod to the red Welsh dragon is a lovely touch and the different textures on hat and coat dress (note the tassels at the the back!) make the monochrome look work. This is a case when a large brimmed hat in the same colour would likely have been too much and while beret shapes are a secondary go-to silhouette for Camilla, the shape and scale of the fantastic trim on this design  make a striking, stand-alone statement.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Coat by Fiona Clare.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay attended the opening of the sixth session of Scottish Parliament on Saturday in Edinburgh. The queen officially opened new session of the devolved Scottish government in a ceremony that paid tribute to local heroes from across Scotland who have supported their communities throughout the pandemic.

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For this event, she wore a new hat. Covered in the same textured deep teal green wool crepe as the ensemble’s coat, the hat’s crown has molded sides and a domed top while the brim, covered with fabric on the underside only, follows a sharp sidesweep. The design is trimmed with a monochrome hatband and multi-looped bow in the same fabric and a pair of statement feathers.

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At first glance, its familiar shape (it has two twins) downplays this hat. But the detail in the fantastic statement feathers – bright turquoise spines and dyed blue and green barbs- and the contrasting bright green sinamay on the top of the brim, give this design more interest and dimension than it initially appears to have. I adore a hat that draws you in for a close look and this one certainly delivers.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Duchess of Rothesay also wore a new hat in the loveliest shade of loden green. The rigid beret design is also covered the same crepe as her coat (notice the round seam around the crown) and is simply trimmed with a stunning spray of striped pheasant feathers.

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It is a great look for Camilla, the same fabric on coat and hat broken up by he coat’s red trim and Camilla’s ruffled cream blouse which provide enough contrast of colour and texture to keep the ensemble from falling flat. Like the queen’s hat, the feather trim on this design absolutely makes it.

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Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: This hat is new