Austro-French Royal Wedding Part 2

The wedding of Prince Jean Christophe Napoléon and Countess Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg on Saturday saw many royal faces with numerous extended family members and guests in Paris to celebrate with the couple.

The bride’s mother, Maria Beatrice of Arco-Zinneberg, was born an Archduchess of Austria-Este, the elder sister of Prince Lorenz of Belgium (Archduke of Austria-Este before gaining the title of prince when he married Princess Astrid). As uncle and aunt of the bride, they were in attendance, Princess Astrid in a brimless hat of spiky dark green feathers. Their daughter, Princess Maria Laura, who acted as a witness for her cousin, wore a sparkling bandeau headpiece. Princesses Luisa Maria, Laetitia Maria and Elisabetta (Amadeo’s wife) were also on the guest list but so far, elude photos.

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Archdukes Rudolph, Carl Christian and Simeon of Austria are also Habsburg relatives of the bride through her mother. Archduke Rudoplph’s wife, Archduchess Marie-Helene wore a white saucer trimmed with veil and a figure-8 bow in the same raspberry pink stripe as her silk coat. Archduchess Marie-Astrid topped her royal blue and gold dress with a navy straw saucer based cocktail hat trimmed with a multi-looped silk abaca bow and a swath of dotted navy tulle.

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Archduke Simeon’s wife, Archduchess Maria (née Princess Maria of Bourbon-Two Sicilies) wore a navy straw brimmed hat with voluminous straw overlay on the brim that wrapped around the design as a draped scarf of sorts. They are pictured here with Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein;  Margaretha topped her orange suit in a repeated russet brown straw hat with mushroom brim, trimmed on the side with a straw bow and pouf of dotted tulle.

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Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus’ elder daughter, Princess Maria Anunciata, wore a high halo bandeau headpiece in brilliant emerald green, lavishly trimmed with silk roses and a ruffle of rough-edged straw studded with tiny beads. Her younger sister wore a deep burgundy velvet bandeau (photo below). Their aunt, Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, wore a picture hat in champagne straw with wide mushroom brim. The hat’s sheen is spectacular and the repeated use of the wide brim binding also on the hatband gives great balance to the design.

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Much of Luxembourg’s Nassau royal family members were also in attendance. Princess Stephanié, Hereditary Grand Duchess, repeated a circular wrapped headpiece made from overlapping layers of red banana fibre, trimmed with a multi-looped side bow. Princess Claire wore a classic black bandeau trimmed with faux pearls.

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Countess Diane (wife of Prince Jean), wore a tall slice hat of black crin with crown covered in curling pink and black feathers. Jean’s daughter, Princess Marie-Gabrielle, wore a bandeau headpiece covered in varied shades of dusky pink feathers topped with a pink birdcage veil sprinkled with copper sequins.

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Princess Sibilla repeated a wonderful red hat made by Dillon Wallwork. The design features a squared crown covered in the silk crepe, a sidesweeping windowpane straw brim with wide brim edge also in silk crepe, and a wide grey silk hatband with side bow. Also in a British made hat was Princess Beatrice of York in a Julian Garner design described by the milliner as a boater “made out of a fine parasisel straw and is trimmed with hand cut dyed feathers embellished with Preciosa crystals”

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The Greek royal family was represented by Crown Prince Pavlos, Princess Olympia, Prince Michael and Princess Marina. Princess Olympia wore an angular grey-olive bandeau headpiece while Princess Marina donned a black felt fedora with ribbon hatband and kicky upturned brim on one side.

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The Royal House of Hanover was represented by Prince Christian and Princess Alessandra who wore a dark purple bandeau veiled headpiece. The Olympe design from Spanish brand Mimoki features an overlapping double bandeau wrapped in cotton raffia. The Duchess of Bragança topped her blue silk dress and coat with a navy straw arc headpiece trimmed with feathers.

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Princess Tatiana Radziwill wore a red circle headpiece of silk abaca studded with read beads with flying bow tails at the back. Duchess Sophie of Wurtenberg wore a fascinator of bright pink feathers.

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Princess Maria Pia of Savoy wore a pink and grey floral headpiece set on a circle of gathered net tulle veil.  Princess Edouard De Lobkowicz (née Princess Marie Francoise of Bourbon-Parma) wore wonderful throw-back voluminous pillbox covered in curving mint, grey and peach straw leaves.

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The groom’s maternal aunt, Princess Anne Marie of Bourbon Two Sicilies, wore a braided black picture hat with upswept brim on one side, trimmed with a black organdie multi-looped bow and net veil. Her daughter, Dorothée de Bourbon-Siciles, wore a fascinator of neon pink crin, dotted crin and feathers while her daughter-in-law wore a chic black veiled pillbox with bow on the side. 

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Finally, the groom’s maternal uncle, Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, attended with his glamorous wife and daughters. Princess Camilla’s navy blue straw vertical disc hat is lavishly trimmed with different varieties of feathers in navy and black, large loops of navy crin and crystal-studded windowpane crin on the exposed underside of the raised brim.  Princess Maria Carolina, who served as a witness, topped her orchid purple suit with a magenta straw hat. With a sharply curved ‘slice’ shape, the design is trimmed with pink and black feathers on the lower side of the brim. Princess Maria Chiara wore a tan silk abaca draped hat with pleated crescent, net tulle veil and dark blue organza leaves and lighter blue flowers.

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Numerous more royal guests attended the wedding who, I’m afraid, were not caught by photographer’s lenses. Even so, we do have record of 33 hats and headpieces from this event which we are able to admire. This leads me to ask, dearest readers- which ones stand out to you, most?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Belgian State Visit to Luxembourg

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in Luxembourg yesterday for a three-day state visit with their cousins.

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Queen Mathilde braved rainy weather in a green boiled wool coat and matching bandeau headpiece.

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Mathilde wears green so well and this shade is great on her. While I like the bandeau’s ruching much better from front view than from the side, the shape suits her well and the ensemble’s styling with a mix of green and cognac accessories is so well balanced. It’s a great autumn look.

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne custom design named “Maelle”. Coat and dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa is recovering from recent knee surgery and as such, her participation was limited to a welcome and photo inside the Grand Ducal Palace and attendance at last night’s state banquet.

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Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie stepped in for her mother-in-law today, joining Queen Mathilde for a number of engagements in a new hat. The vibrant hat’s base is a button percher in orchid purple felt and it is trimmed with an abstract flower made from petals of multicoloured, pleated shibori silk leaves and pinwheels which are embellished with Swarovski crystals. It’s a fun, bright, whimsical piece that Princess Stéphanie wears extremely well.

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Designer: Sylvia Martinez
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Queen Mathilde also wore a new hat today, an ochre orange silk toque hat with flat top and ruched sides. The design is trimmed at the back with applique cutout flowers and leaves from the same fabric as this ensemble’s grey printed dress. Orange hats are not easy to pull off but this one works so well, thanks to its small scale and clear connection to the dress. It pairs so well against the dark grey, giving the overall look some lift and energy.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne custom design. Dress by Dries Van Noten.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

This trio of small millinery designs each packs a fair bit of visual punch- which hat stands out most to you?

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Luxembourg National Day

Members of the Grand Ducal family celebrated their country’s national holiday yesterday with a military parade and Te Deum thanksgiving mass.

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Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a formed calot hat in vibrant chartruese straw.

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It’s no secret that I love a wide-brimmed hat but large hats simply doesn’t suit all people. Wide brims often overwhelm Maria Teresa- the shape and scale of this one are really good on her and the punchy colour makes it stand out. The navy and chartreuse scheme of this ensemble is an unexpectedly good one and I really like the coordination of sleeve beading with the hat

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Lanvin.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore a wired headpiece of cream, pink and blue flowers and shells made of porcelain. It’s a delicate piece that pairs well with her pale pink dress and upswept hairstyle.

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Designer: Sylvia Martinez. Dress by Paule Ka.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Alexandra wore a natural straw oversize cloche hat with extended brim bound in black ribbon. While I like the contrast provided by the brim’s binding, it brings the focus of the hat down to the brim edge- maybe a black Petersham ribbon hatband would restore balance? I’m also struggling to see the connection between the hat and Alexandra’s blue suit.

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Designer: unknown. Suit was previously worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

It was a quieter group of hats this year for Luxembourg’s national day- what do you think of this trio?

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Photos from Getty as indicated 

Funeral of Grand Duke Jean: Family

The funeral for Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg was held Saturday at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City, attended by all members of the extended Grand Ducal Family and their Belgian royal cousins. Out of respect for this event and the Grand Duke’s memory, this post does not contain any commentary on the hats and it is not open for comments.

Grand Ducal Family:

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Extended Grand Ducal Family:

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Belgian Royal Family:

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To identify individuals, click on the photo and link to its original source, with explanation. You can see the many royal guests who attended at this post.

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Inventory: Princess Stéphanie’s Blue Hats

Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, celebrates her 35th birthday today and in honor of this, we’re going to dive into our first inventory of her millinery closet. We don’t see Stéphanie wear many hats beyond Luxembourg’s National Day, Closing of the Octave after Easter and the occasional state visit but despite this, she’s stepped out in five blue designs so far during her royal life. Here they are in the order that they have been worn:

1.
Designer:  unknown
Introduced: May 5, 2013

2.  3.
Designer:  both are unknown
Introduced: June 23, 2013; Sep 21, 2013

4.  5.
Designer: unknown; Amelie D’Hooghvorst
Introduced: June 23, 2016; August 11, 2017

For someone who does not wear hats often, there are some brave designs here! I’ve always adored whimsical curling trim on #2 (SUCH a fun hat for a new princess!) and admired the bold shapes of flower #3 and ruched headpiece #4, both of which take some confidence to pull off. Stéphanie’s colouring matches well with lighter shades which suit her much better than the dark first hat. I’m impressed with this inventory, not because all the hats are flawless but because it shows the Hereditary Grand Duchess’ willingness to experiment with millinery shape and scale- something that makes me take more deliberate notice of her style. What do you think of  Princess Stéphanie’s blue hats?

Photos from Manuel Dias via Le Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg; Patrick van Katwijk/dpa/Corbis; Corbis;  The Catholic Church of Luxembourg; Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty