Tag Archives: Princess Alexandra of Kent

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

The Duke of Edinburgh attended the Rifles’ Sounding Retreat on Horse Guards Parade on June 2, 2016 in a dashing bowler hat.

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King Carl Gustaf and Prince Carl Philip looked handsome in military uniform at a national ceremony for Swedish veterans (The Swedish Royal Court)

Princess Alexandra in her turquoise Rachel Trevor Morgan hat to open a new hospital wing in Sutton Coldfield (Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer)

Queen Margrethe in her beige,flat-topped safari hat to open a new Viking Fortress near Køge (Billed Bladet).  She also braved a rainstorm in her navy hat with white trim to set sail on the first leg of her annual summer cruise (Billed Bladet)

Another complete fail at the Daily Mail describing the fedora worn by British designer Alice Temperly to pick up her MBE as a “squashed top hat“. Seriously? (thanks Barbara for forwarding this!)

The wee Duchess of Gotland visited Gotland for the first time yesterday with her parents. Her sweet blue hairbow is from Livly.

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Royal Hats

Former Formula 1 champion David Coulthard went for a spin with Prince Albert where they chatted about the Monte Carlo Grand Prix and life in Monaco

British Royals Attend Palace Garden Party

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Queen Elizabeth hosted her second garden party of this summer season yesterday in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. For this event, she was vibrantly attired in her mauve square crowned, rolled brim hat with wide mint green hat band and brim edging. While I have always wanted to like the fuschia, pink and green feathered blooms adorning this piece, it just reads too costumey for me to embrace.

Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: June 30, 2015; June 12, 2014; June 19, 2013

The Duke of Edinburgh was his dapper self in an antique silk top hat, shown off to full effect with a dotted tie.

The Duchess of Cornwall topped her neutral coat dress with her cream straw hat with up-swept brim. The gentle curve in this design is shown off so well with this delicate windowpane straw and while it’s huge in scale, Camilla pulls it off. I think, however, I prefer this hat paired with a more colourful ensemble.

Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: June 13, 2015;  June 19, 2013; June 14, 2011; April 29, 2011; June 16, 2009

Princess Anne repeated the ecru straw hat she first wore to Ascot last year. With a double crown wrap in chocolate straw and ruched duponi silk, a chocolate straw underbrim and a mass of feathers at the side, there is a lot happening visually with this piece. I think, however, the muted colour palate and pairing with Anne’s simple ecru bouclé suit balances the hat and maybe even makes it work.

Princess Anne, May 20, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 19, 2015; November 19, 2007; June 2006

The Duke of Kent wore a grey felt top hat while his sister, Princess Alexandra, surprised in a new design. In white straw, the picture hat features a wide, flat brim and domed crown with straight sides. Trimmed with Alexandra’s signature swath of tulle net, the hat is also decorated with what looks to be a striped green and white bloom on the side.

Duke of Kent, May 20, 2016 | Royal Hats

Princess Alexandra, May 20, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: likely Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

What hats stood out to you most at this event?

Photos from Getty as indicated and The British Monarchy

British Royals Celebrate Children’s Charity

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Several members of the British Royal Family attended a garden party today at Buckingham Palace in honour of the 150th anniversary of the children’s charity, Barnardo’s. The Duchess of Cornwall led the group in her massive pink straw picture hat with gently raised brim. The brim shape is the only gentle thing about this piece, which is lavishly trimmed in silk cabbage roses, feather ‘leaf’ sprays, spiralled feather spines and sweeping loops and waves of silk ribbon. While the hat is all about grand excess, Camilla manages (thanks, in part, to a spectacular necklace) to own the piece instead of being dwarfed by it. That’s no small millinery feat.

Princess Alexandra repeated her ice blue straw hat with tall crown wrapped in coordinating net tulle while the Duchess of Gloucester wore her raspberry straw hat with tulle trim sash and back bow. While both hats look a little plain compared to Camilla’s millinery extravaganza, they each worked with their wearers’ blue ensembles and were perfectly reasonable choices for a garden party.
Princess Alexandra, May 12, 2016 in Rachel Trevor Morgan | Royal Hats   The Duchess of Gloucester, May 12, 2016 | Royal Hats
Designer of Princess Alexandra’s hat: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: June 13, 2015; May 20, 2015; October 18, 2011; May 8, 2010
Designer of the Duchess of Gloucester’s hat: unknown
Previously Worn: June 17, 2015; June 13, 2015; June 17, 2014
Princess Alexandra, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Gloucester, May 12, 2016 | Royal Hats
I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Camilla’s hat is a lot.. but is it too much?
Photos from Getty as indicated; The British Monarchy and The British Monarchy

British Royals Host Garden Party

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Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted the second Buckingham Palace garden party of the season (see the first one here, hosted by Princess Alexandra). The Queen repeated a vibrant hat I am always happy to see make a return. In bright pink straw, this piece features a squared crown, upturned brim on one side and is trimmed with a trio of silk peonies. Such shades of pink can easily read as childish but the crisp lines and restrained trim of this design make it work. I have always thought it to be a marvellous hat on Her Majesty and I adore that she matched her lipstick to it.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: May 28, 2014; July 4, 2012; October 25, 2011

The Countess of Wessex repeated a hat we first saw at Ascot last year. Today’s photo gives a better view of the piece, showing a cream straw beret base with striped crin brim folded up into flutes at the back. With grey and cream crin curls and a pair of black feathers for trim, the hat is a lavish piece that remains incredibly sophisticated thanks to a streamlined colour palate. Sophie has become such a force when it comes to royal millinery and this piece illustrates why.

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Designer: Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: June 17, 2015

Princess Alexandra repeated the turquoise suit and matching hat she first wore at the Epsom races last summer. With a gently upswept brim on one side, a swath of net tulle resting on the brim, dark blue feather trim and a lower crown than most of her other hats, this remains a fantastic design for Alexandra and she wears it beautifully.

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Designer: Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: June 6, 2015

The Duchess of Gloucester joined in today’s rainy festivities in her much loved navy straw beret. While I would love to see a few new pieces make their way into Brigitte’s closet, the streamlined design of this piece looks great on her and allows her jewellery to take centre stage.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 16, 2015; March 26, 2015; June 29, 2013; June 17, 2013; June 4, 2013

Not to be outdone, the Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Gloucester looked most handsome in grey felt top hats while the Duke of York looked to be braving the bad weather in a black silk design.

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The start of Buckingham Palace garden parties not only showcases wonderful hats, but indicates how close we are to the biggest of all royal hat events in mid June. What did you think of these repeated hats in London today?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Princess Alexandra Opens Care Home

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Last Thursday, Princess Alexandra was in Salisbury to open the Avonbourne Care Centre. For this event, she topped a colourful woven jacket with a tall-crowned hat in heathered lilac straw. The gently sloping brim on this piece is wrapped in a swath of widely woven net tulle, also in lilac, which gives softness to the piece. On its own, I would prefer the hat in a slightly more saturated colour but its grey undertone does well to balance (and, dare I say tone down) the bright jacket.

Princess Alexandra, May 5, 2016 | Royal Hats

Princess Alexandra, May 5, 2016 | Royal Hats

Designer: unconfirmed but very likely Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new. While very close to this blue hat, the two are different. 

This is a bolder ensemble than we’re used to seeing Princess Alexandra wear. I’m curious, dearest readers – what do you think of this new hat?

Photos from The British Monarchy