Last Week’s Extras

During the last week of March, Princess Aiko made two shrine visits which included three hats.

Queen Mary repeated a Bonpoint navy felt fedora on Wednesday for the Home Guard anniversary parade.
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Flora Ogilvy wore a Lock & Co headpiece to a friend’s wedding in Oxfordshire yesterday

Today, Princess Akiko repeated a peach cloche at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.

Also today, Queen Mary wore a grey stitched brim fedora to open of a new part of Dyrehaven (Deer Park) in Naerum.
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Teresa Urquijo Moreno married José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, yesterday. She is the daughter of Beatriz Moreno y de Borbón and Lucas Urquijo y Fernandez-Araoz, granddaughter of Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and a great-granddaughter of Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria and Infanta Alicia, Duchess of Calabria (aunt of King Juan Carlos). The bride wore a reworked version of the same dress previously worn by her mother and grandmother. 

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Beatriz Moreno y de Borbón wore an orchid purple sinamay embellished saucer; Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies wore a white crin bow headpiece with quills.
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Princess Anne of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Dowager Duchess of Calabria wore a blue fascinator; her daughter-in-law Sofía Landaluce y Melgarejo (wife of Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, Grandee of Spain) wore an aqua sinamay saucer with feather trim
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Princess Carla of Bulgaria wore a butterfly headpiece
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And finally, immense thanks for the many kind words offered during this week’s return to blogging. I have missed this space and our conversation very much and I thank you all for your grace and patience during my extended break.

Images from Getty and social media as indicated 

 

Royal Hat Round Up

Numerous royal hats have been worn over the past month:
April 22: Princess Benedikte repeated her sky blue felt hat with pinched fedora crown and sharply upfolded brim on one side.

April 28: Empress Masako wore a short brimmed cream silk covered hat for the Midori Prize Ceremony.

April 30: King Carl Gustaf and Prince Carl Philip in uniform caps at the king’s birthday celebrations
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April 30: Crown Princess Mary in a new plaited bandeau by Tasmaian milliner Haidee Neall for the 75th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in Denmark.
May 4: Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko departed Japan to travel to London for the coronation, Princess Kiko wore a blue hat that’s recently undergone a design change.
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May 9: Queen Máxima repeated a blush silk abaca calot headpiece studded with tiny beads on the first day of a visit to Wadden Islands.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne.  Claes Iversen suit and Burberry raincoat.
Previously Worn: Jan 31, 2023; Sep 15, 2017Nov 3, 2016;  Oct 25, 2015 Apr 2, 2014 

May 10: Princess Hanako in a lovely pale pink brimmed hat for the Asia-Pacific Festival & Charity Bazaar.

May 10: For the second day of a visit to Wadden Islands, Queen Máxima repeated a headpiece of black silk rosettes studded with gold feathers and a small black birdcage net tulle veil.

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Designer: Laura Noetinger. Zara suit and Natan Coat.  
Previously Worn: Oct 8, 2015; April 13, 2011May 4, 2009

May 11: For the start of the Italian state visit to Norway, Queen Sonja repeated her taupe leather pillbox.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne.  
Previously Worn: May 25, 2022; Sep 6, 2016

Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a new brimmed hat in pale pink straw braid.

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Designer: unknown. Natan cape and Valentino dress.  
Previously Worn: This hat is new

May 11: Queen Máxima attended the B for Goods Leaders Summit conference in Amsterdam in a repeated pleated red turban.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan. 
Previously Worn: Sep 19, 2021; Oct 16, 2018; March 20, 2015.

May 12: Lady Louise Windsor took part in the Royal Windsor Horse Show in a repeated a dark blue felt fedora with leather hatband and feather trim.

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Designer:  Hayfield England. Stella McCartney Coat. 
Previously Worn: May 14, 2022 
Previously Worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh: July 3, 2021

May 14 : Lady Louise Windsor enjoying the Royal Windsor Horse Show in her mum’s camel felt fedora with feather hatband.

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Designer:  Suffolk Fedora in Camel from Hicks & Brown
Previously Worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh: Dec 22, 2019; Aug 25, 2019Dec 23, 2018May 14, 2018

May 15: Princess Akiko in a pale cloche with short brim for the Aoi Festival

May 16: Queen Máxima repeated a warm brown straw picture hat with high upswept slice brim to open the Van Gogh Village Museum in Nuenen.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Claes Iversen dress​
Previously Worn: Sep 15, 2021;  Jul 7, 2021;  Jul 2, 2019;  May 25, 2018;  Feb 18, 2017; Nov 28, 2016Nov 1, 2016; Sep 14, 2016; Jun 2, 2016; Apr 21, 2016Mar 10, 2016

May 16: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited Kalmar County as part of King Carl-Gustaf’s Jubilee celebrations. The king wore his Borsalino tan fedora to plant an Öland oak tree in the City Park.

May 17: Princess Anne was in uniform for the Passing Out Parade of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry

May 18: The Duchess of York in a green jeweled headband from The Party Papillon.

May 18: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia opened the “Jubilee exhibition in glass” exhibition at Solliden Castle, the king in his Borsalino tan fedora.

May 18: Empress Masako, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Hanako, Princess Nobuko and Princess Hisako all attended the annual Japanese Red Cross Society national convention.

May 18: National Day in Norway saw King Herald and Crown Prince Haakon in top hats, Queen Sonja in a white rounded pillbox and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in her gold Prada headband woven with a pink ribbon.

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May 22: Princess Benedikte repeated her navy straw hat with upfolded brim and floral trim for her namesake race at Klampenborg Gallop Track.

May 24: Empress Masako in a sharp navy and white hat for the 50th anniversary memorial service for WWII sailors.

Which hats here stand out most to you?

Images from social media as indicated 

January’s Extras

On  Friday, January 13, the funeral of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden saw numerous royal guests, mainly from German royal houses.

Row 1: Valerie Margravine of Baden, StephanieMargravine of Baden, Princess Caroline
Row 2: Princess Sibilla, Princess Ekaterina of Hanover, Princess Sarvath of Jordan, Princess Mahkameh zu Schaumburg-Lippe
Row 3: Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, Princess of Prussia, Countess Bettina Bernadotte & Philipp Haug
Row 4: Princess Katharina of Hohenzollern; Princess Ursula of Bavaria, Floria of Hesse, Sumaya bint al-Hassan

Zara and Mike Tindal attended the Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday, January 14. Zara wore a lovely mint straw beret percher with Swarovski crystal trimmed sinamay bow and quills by Australian milliner Meg Rafter. Her look was styled by Kimberly Gardner.



On Thursday January 19, Princess Hisako wore a new hat covered in ivory silk floral jacquard with jaunty upturned brim and an aqua hatband.

On Friday, Empress Masako repeated a pale greige hat with cafe au lait hatband for an annual Imperial Guard inspection

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Princess Anne in warm fur hats Wednesday on a visit to Estonia and yesterday for a walk to church at Sandringham.
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Princess Akiko attended a flower exhibition Friday in a grey hat with upfolded brim on one side. On Friday, Princess Hisako wore a jaunty purple felt hat with feather trim for a tableware festival.

On Saturday, Zara Tindall wore a bead embroidered peacock blue velvet headpiece by Jess Collett to Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.

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The following new millinery designs caught my eye recently (see the comments for more):


There was a glittering royal wedding recently in Brunei.

There are been other noteworthy royal events and beautiful hats to admire- please share your highlights in the comments.

 

Images from social media as indicated 

 

Imperial New Years Lectures and Poetry Reading

The 2023 New Year’s Lectures and Poetry Readings took place last week at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

January 13: Ceremony of the Kousho Hajime (New Year’s Lectures)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated an ink blue velvet covered wide bandeau trimmed with embroidered lace applique flowers on one side.  Princess Kako repeated a bandeau of the same shape draped in turquoise silk.

Princess Kiko’s bandeau was previously worn: Feb 23, 2022; Feb 23, 2020
Princes Kako’s bandeau was previously worn: Jan 18, 2022

Princess Akiko repeated a palest yellow silk covered saucer with raised brim around the back, trimmed with a draped hatband and bow. Princess Yoko wore a sleek new pillbox covered in vibrant cerise silk.

Princess Akiko’s hat was previously worn: Dec 5, 2021

Princess Hisako and Princess Tsuguko repeated silk covered hats. Princess Hisako’s bumper, in muted pink printed jacquard, features an indented crown and twist on one side. Princess Tsuguko’s pistachio green pillbox with triple layered sash across the top of the hat embroidered with the same vine pattern as on the collar of her gown. The lily-of-the-valley blooms that originally embellished this hat but were removed for its last outing have magically appeared again!

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Feb 23, 2020; Feb 24, 2019;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 23, 2021; Feb 23, 2020Oct 25, 2019May 4, 2019

January 18: Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated a blush silk jacquard printed bandeau with folded cuff across the front. The design is trimmed with organza flowers on one side.

Previously Worn: Nov 16, 2019

Princess Kako wore a new royal blue silk covered percher trimmed with a swirl of crin studded with silk roses. The updated neckline on her gown and new hat transform this ensemble into one much more sophisticated than its original form, a great evolution for a maturing princess. Kako suits the scale and placement of a percher so well.

Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Nobuko topped a plum velvet gown with a matching boater hat with brim raised on one side, anchored by a large silk flower.

Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Akiko repeated a cream silk covered hat with short brim and triple layered hatband.

Princess Hisako repeated a striking teal silk pillbox hat trimmed with intricate embroidery around the side of the design along with feathers and a silk ribbon cockade. It’s worth noting that the matching gown bodice and sleeves have been remade. Princess Tsuguko’s blue silk covered hat with trilby-style raised brim around the back has also been changed since it’s last outing. Gone is the previous hatband of silk leaves, replaced with a more streamlined and angular hatband and a swath of net veil.

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Jan 14, 2016;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 26, 2021

There are some striking looks here- which ones stand out to you most?

Images from social media as indicated 

This Week’s Extras

Queen Mathilde wore a black lace veil on Wednesday to Pope Benedict’s funeral at the Vatican.
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Princess Kako wore a black silk covered hat yesterday for a memorial on the anniversary of Emperor Showa’s death.

King Carl Gustaf attended a societal security conference today with his trusty brown fedora in tow.
Princess Akiko was in a black hat with vibrant blue hatband today for the Japanese University Rugby Football Championship Final.

 

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week (see the comments for more):