Tag Archives: Empress Michiko

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Princess Alexandra opened the new offices of Sightsavers in a smart cream hat on Thursday (The British Monarchy)

Empress Michiko in one of her go-to grey saucer hats to celebrate a lasting legacy from her wedding (The Imperial Family of Japan)

Crown Prince Haakon participated in a youth construction course and commemorated the 75th anniversary of the joint Allied victory at the Battle of Narvik (Royal House of Norway)

Infanta Elena in her trusty fedora last weekend at a bull fight with her children and father (Diez Minutos)

Princess Beatrice and Beatrice Borromeo at the Getty wedding in Rome today (Daily Mail)

Summer royal hats often include silk blooms. Here is a great peek at the process to make these hand made beauties (John Boyd Hats)

Royal Hats

Crown Princess Mette-Marit opened the Norwegian Festival of Literature. She is taking a hands-on approach to literacy advocacy, setting off on a “Literature Train” tour across the country (Royal House of Norway).

Queen Maxima thoughtfully wore the Canadian national colours in her tiara at a state dinner in Ottawa where she looked stunning (Daily Mail). You can see a great video report on the reasons for Dutch monarch’s visit here at NPO.

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg (who is an accomplished violinist) joined Queen Mathilde of Belgium for the final of the 2015 Queen Elizabeth music competition (Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg)

Queen Rania looked amazing for Jordanian Independence Day celebrations (Daily Mail)

Add your tiara predictions for the upcoming Swedish royal wedding over at the Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor.

Imperial Royals Attend War Memorials

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A pair of war memorials in Tokyo over the past two days have been attended by members of the Imperial Royal Family. Yesterday, Prince Fumihito and HIH Princess Kiko of Akishino attended a service paying tribute to unidentified Japanese victims of war at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery. For this ceremony, Princess Kiko wore a simple Bowler style hat with short brim and band around the base of the crown.

Princess Kiko, May 25, 2015 | Royal Hats

Today, the Emperor and Empress were on hand to lay a floral tribute at a service commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Great Tokyo Air Raid at Tokyo Memorial Hall (the resting place of the ashes of more than 1000 victims of the bombing). For this memorial event, Empress Michiko topped her white suit with a new rimmed saucer hat trimmed with a flat bow around the front of the hat.

Empress Michiko, May 26, 2015 | Royal HatsThere is something serenely beautiful about the Empress’ choice of white for these types of memorial events, isn’t there?

Photos from The Asahi Shimbun and The Asahi Shimbun via Getty

Imperial Couple Visit Ishikawa

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Last Saturday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan kicked off a three day visit to Ishikawa Prefecture. For this first day, which saw them travel via express high speed train and visit a specialized school for children with disabilities in  Nonoichi City, the Empress wore an interesting new hat. On first glance, it might look like another one of her grey saucers but if you look closely, you’ll notice it is a double saucer with the bottom layer embroidered in a fishnet pattern of silver thread. The double saucer is a different take on the Empress’ go-to millinery shape and while the difference is subtle, it’s nice to see even a bit of play and experiment with her hats.

Empress Michiko, May 16, 2015 | Royal HatsEmpress Michiko, May 16, 2015 | Royal HatsEmpress Michiko, May 16, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. Likely a milliner at Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

 

On Sunday  the Imperial couple attended a large Tree Planting Festival in Komatsu City and visited a manufacturer of traditional Kutani Pottery. For these events, Empress Michiko repeated a large white saucer hat trimmed with a slate blue bow in the same shade as her suit.

Empress Michiko, May 17, 2015 | Royal Hats Empress Michiko, May 16, 2015 | Royal Hats Empress Michiko, May 16, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: May 26, 2013

 

On Monday, the Emperor and Empress concluded their visit to the region with a stop at the newly restored Kanazawa Castle and its famous Kenroku-en garden. Empress Michiko repeated her navy and gold suit and matching navy saucer hat trimmed with flat, folded bow. While the ensemble does feel a bit ‘retro airline hostess’, the use of colour and gold trim is such a departure for the Empress (and such a welcome change from her go-to grey) that I’m not going to  complain.

Empress Michiko, May 17, 2015 | Royal Hats Empress Michiko, May 17, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. Likely a milliner at Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: April 9, 2015

Photos from Sankei, Sankei, Asahi, Sankei, Asahi and Getty as indicated

Imperial Royals Support Red Cross

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The Japanese Red Cross Society’s annual convention took place in Tokyo yesterday. The event was attended by Empress Michiko (Honorary President),  Princess Kiko, Princess Hanako, Princess Nobuko and Princess Hisako (all Honorary Vice Presidents). Empress Michiko used the occasion to bring out a new white saucer hat trimmed with white flowers and grey leaves.

Empress Michiko, May 13, 2015 | Royal Hats2015-05-13 Red cross

Princess Kiko wore a white silk rounded pillbox (it looks to be this one) and Princess Hanako repeated her smart ecru  hat with square crown and linear, upturned brim. Princess Nobuko wore a white pillbox with navy crown and side flower trim while Princess Hisako topped her elegant blue suit with a small hat in the same shade that looks to be sporting a stylish, Trilby-esque brim. In 2015 we have seen the Imperial royal ladies step out in some in some more interesting hats than we have seen in years past and I’m so pleased to see this trend continue.

Photos from Yomiuri and Getty as indicated

Imperial Couple Award Midori Prize

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The Midori Prize is a biennial international prize awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at global, regional or local levels. The 9th prize was awarded yesterday at a ceremony in Tokyo attended by the Emperor and Empress. Empress Michiko repeated her pale grey rimmed saucer hat with folded flower trim in the same charcoal grey as her suit. Interestingly, this is the same hat we saw the Empress wear last week– since she seldom repeats the same hat back to back, we can only guess she is very fond of this one. Of all her grey hats, this one is certainly my favourite as well.

Empress Michiko, April 27, 2015 | Royal Hats

Empress Michiko, April 27, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: April 17, 2015; January 14, 2015;  April 11, 2014; December 6, 2013; December 2, 2013

Photos from Asahi