Tag Archives: Princess Anne

Cheltenham Festival: Day 1

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The royal hat annual calendar leads each year to the pinnacle middle of June, where, after enjoying Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter, we gorge ourselves in the millinery fantasies and flops worn to Royal Ascot. One highlight on our yearly journey toward this zenith is the Cheltenham Festival, a five day racing event that ushers us from the end doldrums of winter toward spring. Today, the 2018 Cheltenham Festival began.

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Princess Anne, who rarely misses these races, attended today in her repeated grey felt cloche with square crown  trimmed with an overlapping triple pleated black hatband, side spray of feathers and overlapping feather overlay over the downward facing brim. It’s not my favourite hat in Anne’s wardrobe (it’s certainly into feather overload territory) but somehow, it works. And that’s not just because it looks wonderful in comparison to the utterly battered fedora worn by Andrew Parker-Bowles.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Dec 25, 2017

Zara Tindall, who is expecting her second child, wore a sleek grey fedora embellished simply with layered turquoise and dark teal Petersham ribbon hatbands. It’s not the statement hat we often see Zara wear at this event but the hat makes a chic statement for this first day of racing. The two toned hatband is a particularly wonderful detail.

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Designer: Goldust Milliner. It is the “Emma” design from the winter fedora collection
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Thoughts about these first two hats at this year’s Cheltenham Festival?
If there are any non-royal hats worn at this racing event that you’d like to share, by all means, share them in the comments!
Photos from Getty as indicated

British Royals Celebrate Commonwealth

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Members of the British Royal family attended the annual interfaith Commonwealth Day service today at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth led her family in a new hat with crown overlaid in the same oxblood wool silk crepe as her coat and a straw brim. The square crown and upturned brim with gentle upsweep on one side is a familiar shape on Her Majesty and the colour scheme, while dark, is uplifted with the silk cherry blossom and feather trim which links to the Queen’s silk printed dress.

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The ensemble’s success is thanks to a few factors: the scale suits Queen Elizabeth so well and the coat’s v-neck allows the light print of the dress into easy view, tying beautifully with the cherry blossom trim on the hat. Angela Kelly millinery designs often show a heavy hand applied to trimming, something that works here to lift and liven the dark hued design. I also love the use of velvet on the coat lapel, a small touch that gives textural contrast against the hat, allowing it to stand more on its own.

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Designer: Angela Kelly. Made by Stella MacLaren
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The rest of the family followed in a consistent palate of navy, cream and blue (something that can’t have been a coincidence). The Duchess of Cornwall topped her beautiful navy and cream embellished coat with her much worn scream straw hat with upswept brim, wide navy folded straw hatband and knotted silk side detail.  When she debuted this coat last fall, Camilla wore it with a new, more angular cream straw hat; while today’s hat has been repeated many times, I prefer it’s gentler, rounder lines with this coat. A side note to Camilla’s dresser: PLEASE steam the collar on this coat.

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The Duchess of Cambridge repeated her classically shaped navy rabbit fur felt hat with wide mushroom brim and tapered, square crown simply trimmed in a wide Petersham ribbon hatband and neatly folded bow at the back. I suspect some of you will notice that the hat is a slightly different shade of navy than Kate’s Beulah London coat and dress- something that bothered me until a closer look convinced me that the hatband matches the coat and dress quite well. While I might have preferred some colour contrast on the hat, the all blue ensemble works.

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Designer: Lock and Co.
Previously Worn: Aug 20, 2017; Mar 1, 2017

Meghan Markle attended this event for the first time, debuting her second royal working hat. A simple beret in cream felt, the hat is trimmed only with a classic beret ‘stem’ on top. It’s not the most exciting of designs but an excellent choice for an almost-but-not-quite member of the family I suspect is trying not to claim any more media spotlight. The hat looks great on Meghan- the scale is wonderful and she carries the colour so well. And the placement! The beret’s perch, placed perfectly over Meghan’s right eyebrow, is SO GOOD. That is exactly how a percher hat is supposed to be worn.

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Designer: Stephen Jones
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Countess of Wessex repeated her navy moulded percher hat with swirling cream and gold feather trim.  I need to repeat myself for this hat- great scale, great colour, great placement. This hat has become a workhorse for Sophie and no wonder- it’s a great piece on her.

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Designer: Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: Nov 14, 2017; Nov 24, 2016;  Aug 16, 2015; Sep 15, 2012; Jun 5, 2012

Princess Anne repeated a picture hat with navy straw crown and cream straw brim edged in navy piping and trimmed in navy feathers, straw bow loops and long curved quills. Anne, who often wears smaller brims, carries the larger scale design well and this piece does well to substantially update this decades old coat.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 21, 2017; Jun 11, 2015; May 28, 2014

The Duchess of Gloucester repeated a hat we’ve not had a chance to review yet here on Royal Hats. In pale, ice blue, the design features a squared felt crown and straw upturned brim with upsweep one side. The brim is bound in a stripe of felt and the hat is trimmed with a triple layered silk hatband and spray of blue and taupe striped feathers at the side. It’s difficult to assess the hat without a good front view (a small photo at its first outing can be seen here) but I think it has good potential.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 10, 2015

Princess Alexandra repeated her ice blue straw hat with tall crown, ruched silk hatband and net tulle overlay. The classically shaped hat has an Edwardian feel that suits Alexandra so well.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: Sep 18, 2017; June 13, 2015; May 20, 2015; October 18, 2011; May 8, 2010
The Commonwealth Day service, which is reportedly one of Queen Elizabeth’s favourite events, always brings us a parade of British royal hats and this year is no exception. Which hats here stand out most to you?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats to this day in 1974 when, on a visit to the South Pacific, Princess Anne wore a light picture hat. Likely a design of John Boyd, the hat looks to be made of textured straw (or roughly pleated voile?) casually wrapped in a folded silk scarf as a hatband that trails down the back. Effortless and chic.

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This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Queen Elizabeth in a very familiar (and much worn) blue hat for church last weekend at Sandringham. Princess Anne repeated a brown fur brimless hat.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrapped up their visit to Norway yesterday with some more winter recreation with Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. William sported the Navy Snow Star Bobble Hat from Gandys London while Kate wore the cream chunky knit Jasmine Beanie from Barts.  Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore the black Caid deluxe cashmere knit hat from Zadig & Voltaire.

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Lady Amelia Windsor styled for editorial shots in a bead trimmed beret

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

 Unexpected addition of brim studs on trilby hats from UK milliner Jess Collett
Simply elegant winter white saucer with crystal detail from Scottish milliner Maggie Mowbray
Royal blue oversize fedora with emerald hatband from Oxfordshire based Nicola de Selincourt
Fascinating 3D printed red halo hat (finished with real ribbon ties) from Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Interesting shape on this blue straw hat with peaked crown and oval brim from German milliner Nicki Marquardt
Wonderfully luxe updated take on a newsboy cap in green felt by UK based Mind Your Bonce
Orange straw show stopping sculptural cocktail hat from British milliner Tracy Chaplin
Stunning denim blue saucer with dark feather trim from London based Bundle McLaren

And the loveliest red straw picture hat with dancing bow from Australian milliner Louise MacDonald

 Royal Hats

Lovely new portraits released for Princess Beatrix’s 80th birthday, including a spectacular set with her grandchildren. Click on the photo sets below to enlarge.


King Felipe of Spain celebrated his 50th birthday by awarding the Princess of Asturias with the Order of the Golden Fleece in a ceremony at the Royal Palace

The Prince of Wales showed his excellent timing (and impressive ribbon cutting skills) opening the restored Cotswold Canals in Stroud

Princess Charlene shared this sweet first moment of Princess Gabriella learning to ski.

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Last Sunday’s outing to church saw repeated royal hats worn by Queen Elizabeth (in Angela Kelly), The Princess Royal (in a John Boyd cloche that dates back to at least 1984!) and the Countess of Wessex (in Philip Treacy).


Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik wore eye-catching matching harlequin outfits to a costume party on New Year’s Day. Prince Henrik accessorised his suit with a black knit hat and mask.

New millinery designs that caught my eye this week:

Textured black calot/bandeau with feathers from Rachel Trevor Morgan
Ivory and ice blue percher with amazing ‘snowflake’ feathers from UK milliner Rachel Black
Forest green trilby with vintage ribbon flower from Vermont based Silverhill Creative Millinery
Ice blue felt percher with stunning quatrefoil patterned bow and feather from UK milliner Sally Ann Provan
Whimsical straw watermelon bumper hat by Milan milliners Gallia and Peter
Eye catching bright pink straw fedora with oversized metallic brim from Awon Golding
Statement cocktail hat from Jane Taylor with studded base, silk roses, straw twists and net veil

And this classic black straw hat with pork pie crown and gently sloped wide brim trimmed with overlapping ginea fowl feather hatband and pearls from Australian milliner Meg Rafter. There are several royal heads I can see looking fabulous in this hat.

 Royal Hats

Several lovely photo reviews of 2017 shared by Clarence House, Kensington Palace, and UK royal photographer Chris Jackson

Interesting documentary next Sunday on the British crown jewels including thoughts from the monarch herself (BBC)

Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg celebrated his 97th birthday and a new photo, with Grand Duke Henri, was released for the occasion (Luxarazzi)

Wonderful photo shared by the King of Bhutan

Spanish royals released a partial family photo taken at King Juan Carlos’ 80th birthday lunch this week

New years greetings from the King and Queen of Jordan

Stunning looks on the Danish royals for the annual New Years and Diplomatic Corps receptions. Princess Mary’s ruby tiara has recently been tweaked into a shape with a slight peak at center and it looks great on her.



And a beautiful final sunset of 2017 paired with the first sunrise of 2018 shared by Prince Nikaloas of Greece. Happy New Year everyone!