British Royals Visit Canada House

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Royal Hats

Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra of Kent attended a reception at Canada House in London today. The Queen repeated one of my favourite hats in cornflower blue straw with a squared crown and slightly raised brim on one side. I adore this hat- the colour is fantastic on Her Majesty, the black and white feather alstroemeria blossoms are so beautiful and the hat is a perfect compliment to the Queen’s well cut coat and floral dress.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: May 18, 2014; July 28, 2012; June 2, 2012

Princess Alexandra wore a dark green wool hat with triple twisted band around the base of the crown and a spray of feathers at the side. The hat was a subtle counterpoint to Alexandra’s dove grey ensemble and I thought she looked elegant in it. Earlier in the Day, Princess Alexandra was spotted in a dark green coat, meeting with members of the Canadian Scottish Regiment at the Canada Gate at Buckingham Palace.

View image | gettyimages.com

Designer: unconfirmed. My guess is Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: unknown. Perhaps the hat is new?

Those of you who follow the Queen’s hats with eagle eyes will notice she made the switch from felt winter hats to lighter weight straw hats this weekend. I think this change officially heralds the arrival of spring!

Photos from Getty as indicated

British Royal Wedding Ten Years On: Extended British Royal Family

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Royal Hats

Royal Hats The wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles ten years ago was attended by numerous members of the British Royal Family. After looking at the hats worn by the couple’s immediate families and Charles’ siblings,let’s look back at the millinery worn by members of the extended British Royal Family.

View image | gettyimages.com

Viscountess Linley followed the fascinator trend of the time with a statement headpiepiece of pink feathers. The piece curved around her head, down the side of her face, leaving her looking like her head was alight in pink flames. I adore the colour of this headpiece with her grey sill suit find the shape to be overly theatrical. Lady Sarah Chatto was characteristically streamlined in a large dove grey picture hat. Embellished only with a slim silk band around the base of the crown, the focus of the hat was found in the contrasting shapes of the flat crown and cartwheel brim. With Sarah’s coordinating dove grey dress and coat, the look was streamlined, clean and elegant (and the perfect backdrop for some of her late mother’s diamonds).

View image | gettyimages.com

The Duchess of Gloucester (center, below) topped her tailored powder blue coat with a wide picture hat in the same shade. The hat was wrapped in multiple strips of organdie ribbon braided in a wide plait.

View image | gettyimages.com

The Duchess of Kent wore a flirty mint green cocktail hat with silk base and cascade of side feathers. While I think more vibrant colours are much more flattering on Katharine, her hat was whimsical and unexpected and I liked it much more than her pale floral and mint green silk suit.

View image | gettyimages.com

Princess Alexandra of Kent topped her lilac jacket with a felt hat in the same shade. The higher-than-usual domed crown was balanced by a wide brim that slightly upturned on one side and a triple pleated band that knotted at the front of the hat. I adore this shade of purple on Alexandra but wonder how many sandwiches were hidden under the tall crown (what other purpose could warrant the height of that crown other than smuggling snacks?)

View image | gettyimages.com

Princess Michael of Kent chose an ensemble in classic navy and white. Her hat also featured a domed crown, anchored by an oval brim in cream straw. The hat’s only trim, a curving horizontally placed feather spine, was a little austere but emphasized the oval shape of the hat. The austerity of the hat balanced the fussiness of her suit and accessories (how many brooches does a royal really need?) and I think her hat translates more successfully today than the rest of her ensemble.

View image | gettyimages.com

Stay tuned for the final post covering this wedding which will look back at the hats worn by royal guests.

Photos From Getty as indicated

Hat From the Past

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Royal Hats

Royal Hats 55 years ago today, Princess Alexandra of Kent stepped out in this large, lemon chiffon yellow braided pillbox hat with matching coat. The event was a visit to the London Association for the Blind in Peckham on February 27, 1960 – don’t you think she looked the epitome of early 1960s style?

Princess Alexandra, February 27, 1960 | Royal Hats

Photo from Getty as indicated. Click on it to link with the original source.

Princess Alexandra of Kent at Service of Thanksgiving

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Royal Hats

Princess Alexandra and the Duke of Kent attended a Service of Thanksgiving celebrating the life of the late Sir Jocelyn Stevens at St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge yesterday (Sir Jocelyn Stevens, a magazine publisher and newspaper executive, passed away in October, 2014). For this memorial, Princess Alexandra wore a midnight blue felt hat with straight-sided, domed crown and slightly upturned brim. The hat was trimmed with a slim blue velvet bow tucked inside a pair of silk rings and a swath of navy net veil. I thought the colour was beautiful on Alexandra and while the shape of this hat is quite strong, she carries it very well.

At first glance, I thought this was a new hat as the shape seems quite current and this shade of navy blue dominated several hat collections this year. Imagine my surprise when I realized it dates back until at least 1997 (although the net veil appears to be a more recent addition). Very few royal hats stand the test of time as well as this one. I have long admired Princess Alexandra’s classic taste and this hat further proves the timelessness of her millinery style.

Designer: unknown
Previously worn: November 20, 1997

Photos from Getty as indicated. Click on each photo to link with the original source.

Royal Hats this Year: Great Britain Part 1

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Royal Hats

Royal Hats Year In Review 2014 The most prolific hat-wearing royal house (by far!) are the British Royals. As such, we need to break our review of their hats into three posts. First up are members of the extended British royal family. As with other 2014 Review posts, please click on each photo to link to the original post on each hat, complete with additional views, larger photos and detailed information. Here are all the hats worn by members of the extended British royal family in 2014: