More than 10,000 veterans gathered in London today to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. Members of the British Royal Family were in attendance to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph, led as usual by the Queen.
Her Majesty chose a new hat for this year’s ceremony with a tall, squared crown covered in the same silk wool crepe as her coat. The hat’s upturned straw brim was edged in a wide band of the same fabric and a slim silk band circled around the straight sides of the crown, anchored by two buttons.
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Previously Worn: This hat is new.
As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands after the end of World War II, the Dutch monarchs were invited to participate (the first to do so). King Willem-Alexander laid a memorial wreath at the Cenotaph while Queen Máxima watched the ceremony from the balcony of the Foreign Office with Vice Admiral Sir Laurence, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex.
Queen Máxima wore a new black velvet fur felt picture hat with a soaring, curving brim. The hat’s only embelishments were a slim black feather spine and a silk ribbon around the base of the crown. While this hat is very grand, Máxima carried it with an elegance that downplayed its drama and made it fit appropriately for this sombre event.
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Previously Worn: This hat is new
The Duchess of Cambridge wore a new percher hat in black fur felt. The half bumper half cocktail hat features a moulded brim that folds high above the top of her head, a net tulle veil, and cut work flowers trimmed centred with black pearl beads. While we have seen Kate in many percher hats, the use of a veil and the unique shape of this piece sets it slightly apart from the many others in her closet.
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Previously Worn: This hat is new
The Countess of Wessex also wore a new hat today. Described by the designer as an “intricate cocktail hat with rose patterned lace (and) veiling,” the the lavish trim on this piece was anchored by a moulded black felt beret base. We don’t see very many royal hats trimmed in lace and the rose patterned lace cut-outs on this piece are particularly striking.
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Princess Michael of Kent wore a simple black hat with raised halo brim and the Duchess of Gloucester wore a bumper hat in black velvet with silk ribbon trim on the side.
Previously Worn: I believe Princess Michael`s hat is new. The Duchess wore this hat November 10, 2014
The only repeated hat among the female royal spectators was that worn by Princess Alexandra of Kent. The simply shaped black wool piece is trimmed with a crushed velvet sash around the crown and piping round the edge of the brim which repeats on the collar on her coat for a unified ensemble.
The British royal princess and Princess Royal appeared in military uniform as they do each year, lending both a sense of formality and personal connection between the British Royal Family and the many service men and women who are remembered on this day.
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Further proof that genetics runs strong in the British Royal Family- Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent and a young Princess Alexandra of Kent with the Duke of Edinburgh at the closing ceremonies of the London Olympics on this day in 1948. I see multiple generations of strong family resemblance in this photo- first, between Princess Alexandra and her mother and second, between Princess Alexandra and both Princess Anne and Zara Phillips when they were the same age.
When Princess Alexandra appeared at the Epsom races this year in a turquoise blue hat and matching jacket, I had a strong sense that I had seen the asymmetrically brimmed piece before. The elegant princess has two hats, both in blue, both with a similar shape and both trimmed with a swath of net tulle.
Royal Hats 
