Tag Archives: Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie

Catching Up Two Royal Weddings

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Countess Anna Therese of Arco-Zinnebe married American Colin McKenzie last Saturday, September 30, in Bavaria.


I’m not able to legally share photos here but there is a great post over at the Court Jeweller about the bride’s royal connections, tiara and other jewels; Dutch royal blogger Netty Liestra has an excellent recap of the entire event here (including a look at all the royal guests) here as does Luxarazzi, with posts here and here.  Finally, there is a good photo gallery of the event here.


Also last Saturday, Nicholas Medforth-Mills (formerly Prince Nicholas of Romania) married Alina-Maria Binder in a Romanian Orthodox Service at the Sfântul Ilie Church in Sinaia. Following the ceremony, the couple rode by carriage to the reception site at Sinaia Casino where they waved to crowds from the balcony. Alina-Maria’s dress was designed by a Bucharest-based designer and includes traditional Romanian hand embroidery and the neckline and sleeves. The dress’ high neckline is contrasted with a deeply cut ‘v’ back and the pleated ballgown skirt extends to a short train.

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The cathedral veil looks like silk tulle and is edged in a leaf patterned lace, which gives some unique texture to the bridal look and frames Alina-Maria’s face in such a pretty way. Her delicate bandeau headpiece looks to be costume- my guess is that as relations are strained between Nicholas and his family (both his mother, Princess Elena, and his aunt, Margarita, Custodian of the Crown, did not attend), Romanian royal jewels were not offered to the couple. This unfortunate situation aside, Alina-Maria’s headpiece brings a beautiful delicacy and lightness to the look that blends beautifully with the veil and suited her petite features very well.


Alina-Maria changed into a silk halter dress for dancing (see last photo below) but retained the headpiece.

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As far as I can tell, no members of the Romanian royal family attended (so no hats to report)-  Nicholas’ only sibling Princess Elisabeta-Karina was one of the attendants and did not wear a hat.
Photos from Getty as indicated

Luxembourg National Day

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Members of the Grand Ducal family took part in celebrations of their national holiday on Saturday. Following the official ceremony and military parade, the family attended an inter-religious Te Deum mass at the Cathédral Notre-Dame de Luxembourg.

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Grand Duchess Maria Teresa led her family in a sleek pale lilac dress and jacket topped with a matching percher hat.

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In straw, the large button base is trimmed with a pair of entwined straw twists. Maria Teresa’s placement of the hat is spot-on and the scale is good on her. While some might year for a hat that makes a larger statement, I though this piece carried on the sleek tone set by her outfit and the pieces complimented each other, and their wearer, well.

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June 23, 2018 in PT | Royal Hats Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore a soft pink brimmed hat with shallow, almost saucer crown and sideswept brim, trimmed with silk ranunculus and hydrangeas and pleated green straw nautilus-like spirals on the brim’s lower side. While this hat is all about that beautiful, painterly floral trim, I also like the scale, gentle shape and soft colour on Princess Stéphanie. Sylvia Martinez has provided some new shape and styles of hats for the Hereditary Grand Duchess and it’s wonderful to see their millinery collaboration growing, particularly with such great results as this.

June 23, 2018 in Les Folie's Bibis | Royal Hats June 23, 2018 in Les Folie's Bibis | Royal Hats June 23, 2018 in Les Folie's Bibis | Royal Hats

Designer: Sylvia Martinez of Les Folie’s Bibis
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Claire topped her lilac eyelet lace dress with a bright pink silk flower fascinator tucked behind her right ear. The headpiece’s scale and placement is great and while the colour is lovely on Claire, I’m not sure about the colour balance between the bright piece and her pastel dress. I think the softer pink floral headpiece she wore it with at National Day in 2016 made a more successful pairing.

June 23, 2018 | Royal Hats June 23, 2018 | Royal Hats June 23, 2018 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Alexandra also paired her dress with a floral headpiece. A rose shaped flower in pale pink rolled fabric, the headpiece is trimmed with pink silk leaves and pairs harmoniously with her dotted pink dress. It’s a good piece that’s good on Alexandra and good with her dress… good but slightly boring.

June 23, 2018 | Royal Hats June 23, 2018 | Royal Hats

Some have suggested this pink headpiece is the same as the one Princess Claire wore for National Day but close up views show that the fabrics, scale, center detail and use of leaf trim are all different.

Designer of Alexandra’s headpiece: unknown
Previously Worn: It is new
It’s always lovely to see the whole family at this event. I think my favourite hat is fairly transparent in this post- what do you think of these designs? 
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Photos from Getty as indicated;  Lex Kleren; Catholic Church of Luxembourg

Dutch State Visit To Luxembourg: Day 1

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima arrived in Luxembourg today for a three day state visit and you know, dearest readers, that a state visit means new hats!.

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The Dutch king and queen were met by the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess at  Findel Airport this morning. Princess Stéphanie wore a new almond straw hat with shallow rounded crown and mushroom brim. The hat is trimmed with a large cream silk flower and green silk leaves and feathers that trail toward the back. On its own, the hat is a great scale and shape on Stéphanie’s but in combination with her green dress, tops a wonderfully balanced ensemble. This is such a beautiful look on the Hereditary Grand Duchess.

May 23, 2018 | Royal Hats May 23, 2018 | Royal Hats

May 23, 2018 | Royal Hats

Designer: Les Folie’s Bibis (Sylvia Martinez). Dress by Natan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Dutch king and queen were official welcomed at the Grand Ducal Palace by Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Queen Máxima wore an eye catching green chartreuse silk dress topped with a new hat. The green felt design features a flat crown and wide, cartwheel brim and is simply trimmed with a Petersham ribbon hatband, brim binding and flat bow at the back.

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My thoughts about this hat have flip flopped several times! The shape and scare are excellent on Queen Máxima but my first impression about the colour and use of felt was that the design felt unnecessarily heavy and suited to an outdoor winter event. Sorting through photos, I’ve had a change of heart. Matching a hat to the bright chartreuse silk would have put the ensemble WAY over the top and I suspect the green felt was chosen to coordinate with (rather than perfectly match) and mellow the impact of the statement dress. In that sense, it does well. I just wonder if straw might have been a better weight and texture compliment to the shiny silk and feel more appropriate for the season.

May 23, 2018 in FD | Royal Hats May 23, 2018 in FD | Royal Hats

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa paired her pink silk coat with a matching straw beret calot hat, simply trimmed with a small bow at the back. The scale and shape of the hat works very well with the raised collar on the coat and Maria Teresa’s statement earrings bring a bit of sparkle to the sleek pieces. The paler hued dress makes the ensemble work and I think the smaller hat is a great choice for the Grand Duchess, who’s petite height makes large brims sometimes overwhelm her.

May 23, 2018 in FD | Royal Hats

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May 23, 2018 in FD | Royal Hats

Designer: Gillis Modistes. Coat is Yves Dooms.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

There are some statement looks today- what did you think of these hats?
Photos from Getty as indicated; Cyril Moreau / Bestimage; Emmanuel Claude and René Scho / SIP

Luxembourg Royals At Closing Octave Procession

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On Sunday, members of the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg attended the annual closing procession of the Octave of Our Lady of Luxembourg, a national religious celebration that occurs every year several weeks after Easter. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa celebrated the day’s events in a new calot hat in gold-beige draped straw. It’s a quietly polished look for Maria Teresa – the gold hue of the hat coordinates well with the gold threads in her dress – that feels like it might have benefit from a bit of colour added to the ensemble.

   May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats

May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats  May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: this hat is new
The Hereditary Grand Duchess and Princess Alexandra elected for more statement millinery pieces. Princess Stéphanie’s red headpiece of layered red banana fibre straw is embellished with a side multi-looped bow. Head wrap designs are tricky at the best of times and the placement of this one, low down on Stéphanie’s forehead, is awkward. Princess Alexandra’s hat, in navy straw, features a rounded crown, fluted wide brim and a red and white striped hatband.
May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats
My opposition to these hats is based in the styling of these ensembles- Princess Stéphanie’s businessy blazer seems an odd pairing for the headpiece (her headpiece and lace dress combo at National Day two years ago was a better combination) while Princess Alexandra’s beachy hat and summery halter dress are completely at odds with her dark leather belt, tailored jacket and pumps. The horribly matched necklines of the dress and jacket make it almost impossible for me to focus on the hat and that just makes me sad.
May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats May 6, 2018 | Royal Hats
Designer: I suspect Fabienne Delvigne for Princess Stéphanie’s red headpiece. Princess Alexandra’s hat is unknown.
Previously Worn: both are new
The annual octave procession always sees a number of Grand Ducal hats- what do you think of this trio of designs this year?
Photos from René Scho and Claude Piscitelli via Cour grand-ducale 

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

On Monday, Empress Michiko attended the 70th anniversary of the Japanese Nursing Association in Tokyo in a mushroom grey rimmed saucer with green and grey plaid origami bow. Also that day, she and the Emperor attended a ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the enforcement of Local Autonomy Act- her hat was a repeated white saucer with dark olive ombre bow and floral embellishment

Nov 20, 2017 | Royal Hats Nov 20, 2017 | Royal Hats

On Wednesday, members of the Imperial Royal family attended a memorial service for late Prince Norihito of Takamado (Princess Hisako’s late husband, father of Princess Tsuguko, Princess Ayako and Mrs. Noriko Senge) was held at Toshimagaoka Imperial Cemetery in Tokyo. As expected, those in attendance wore demure black brimless hats (Imperial Family Of Japan).

For the second day of her state visit to Ghana yesterday, Queen Margrethe repeated her white straw hat

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa helped Princess Stéphanie try on a cosy knitted hat (with gigantic pompom) yesterday when the two visited an international bazaar and the resulting photos are quite sweet

Respected Norwegian royal reporter Kjell Arne Totland‏ reported this week that Crown Princess Mette-Marit has returned to work after treatment for Benign Postional Vertigo. This condition, which leaves one feeling like feeling like their head is spinning from the inside, could explain Mette-Marit’s millinery choices (or lack thereof) in recent years. 

The new millinery designs that caught my eye this week included:

Natural straw saucer with striking twist ‘flames’ from Australian milliner Marilyn Van den Berg
Striking fuchsia percher with frayed navy tulle pouf by Bundle McLaren
Red straw boater with floral applique trim by Tasmania based Cessiah Alice
Emerald felt fedora with jewelled fuchsia hatband from Jess Collett
Sweet pink straw percher trimmed in a mass of pink crin calla lilies from Goldust Millinery
Large dotted saucer slice hat from British milliner Nerida Fraiman
Black felt boater with veil from Texas based Milli Starr Millinery
Rust velvet felt percher with orange and red origami trim from Sarah Cant
Sharp navy fedora with side bow custom made by The Saucy Milliner for Sophie Trudeau
Dramatic red garbo hat in Peachblossom felt from Philip Treacy

And from Jane Taylor, this purple velvet percher with dusty rose and purple ombre pleated crin ruffle. So luxe.

 Royal Hats

A thanksgiving scene from the lens of James Ogilvy. I hope all you American readers had a wonderful holiday!