May Garden Parties

We have four garden parties, three in London and one in Ireland, to review!

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The first one on May 9, 2023 at Buckingham Palace was attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The Prince of Wales wore his black antique silk top hat.

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The Princess of Wales repeated her pale blue sinamay saucer sidesweeping oval saucer hat trimmed with silk flowers beneath the raised side of the brim.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Blouse and skirt by Elie Saab
Previously Worn: June 18, 2019

The Duke of Edinburgh wore his gleaming black antique silk top hat.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh repeated her denim blue sinamay saucer hat with matching inverted crin binding, crin ruffle and silk flowers.

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Designer: bespoke version of “Karya” design by Jane Taylor. Dress by Suzannah London.
Previously Worn: June 15, 2022

Princess Anne repeated an almond sinamay cloche hat with diagonal crown. The brim features a contrasting chocolate straw underbrim and and tall wrap around the crown over which sits a ruched chocolate raw silk hatband. A mass of cream and dotted pheasant feathers on the side complete the design.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 18, 2019Jul 10, 2018Jun 10, 2016May 20, 2016; Jun 19, 2015Nov 19, 2007Jun 2006

The Duke of Gloucester also wore a black top hat while the Duchess wore a warm brown sinamay hat with raised brim on one side. Based on the hat’s binding, it looks like an off-the-peg design.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Max Mara.
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

On May 16, the Duchess of Edinburgh attended the the Not Forgotten Association Annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

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For this event, she repeated a swirled saucer percher hat in pale blue-grey straw trimmed with crin flowers in the same colour.

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Designer: “Heliconia” by Jane Taylor. Coat dress by Suzanna London.
Previously Worn: Sep 29, 2017 

On Wednesday, May 24, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Michael of Kent attended the Royal Kennel Club Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

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The Duke of Gloucester wore a Panama hat while the Duchess topped her navy Max Mara dress with a new brimmed hat in navy sinamay with large fabric leaves.

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Also on May 24, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a garden party at Hillsborough Castle while on their visit to Northern Ireland. Queen Camilla repeated a cream straw with hat angular crown and gently sidesweeping brim. This design is simply trimmed with a monochrome cream silk padded hatband.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Dress and coat by Bruce Oldfield.
Previously Worn: Jun 15, 2022; May 11, 2021

Images from Getty as indicated 

Easter Sunday at Windsor

Members of the British Royal Family attended Easter matins service on Sunday at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

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Queen Camilla wore a new hat in vibrant blue very finely woven straw. The button beret percher is trimmed with a statement multi looped bow and, as usual, the piece is impeccably finished.

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The colour is so beautiful on Camilla, and links perfectly with the embroidery on her coat, making it ‘pop’! The hat’s scale is also great, the large bow giving it more gravitas and balancing with Camilla’s signature hairstyle. Camilla has added several new percher hats to her wardrobe over the past year and they are great additions.

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Designer: OC951 from SS 2022 by Philip Treacy. Coat dress by Anna Valentine. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

The Princess of Wales topped her royal blue coat with a matching velour felt pillbox hat. The design features an indented crown and ruched side trimmed with a bow.

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Again, the colour is magnificent as are the interplay of textures between the felt hat and velvet collared crepe coat. There is a lovely sense of subtle movement in this pillbox, thanks to the lower ruched side, which gives it lift and modernity. It’s a great update on a classic shape.

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Designer: bespoke Mayfair Pillbox by Awon Golding for Lock & Co. Coat by Catherine Walker. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Beatrice wore a finely woven black straw button trimmed with cream silk flower. The raw edged flower seems at odds with the otherwise tailored ensemble, leaving me wish Beatrice had repeated the more refined headpiece she first paired with this dress.

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Designer: Dress by Emilia Wickstead. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Eugenie wore a navy silk hand smocked bandeau headpiece. The scale suits her well and the hand smocked detail gives great interest and texture to the piece. And yes- we’ve seen this same design on her before!

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Designer: bespoke Cressida headpiece by Emily London. Dress by Whistles. 
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

The Duchess of Edinburgh brought back a hat that’s been in her closet for more than two decades, a camel felt design with tall, flared crown and wide, offset brim. Trimmed with a silk hatband and small bow, the hat’s unique shape firmly dates it in the early 2000s and it feels uncomfortably clunky now. Sophie has repeated many past worn hats recently, a practice I wholeheartedly applaud, but I suggest retirement for this one.

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Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Dec 30, 2012; Mar 23, 2008; Feb 2, 2002

Princess Anne repeated her navy straw hat with diagonal crown and upswept brim, trimmed with navy and white feathers and a looped straw bow at the side.

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Designer: unkknown
Previously Worn: Jul 13, 2017

Zara Tindall topped a vibrant pink dress with a hat described by the milliner as, “Gorgeous straw percher hat. Trimmed with large silk gladioli flowers and silk abaca bow.” It’s a familiar shape that Zara wears well, with a scale and presence that stands up to her bright dress. The styling of neutral accessories in this look is just so good.

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Designer: Gladiola Percher by Juliette Botterill. Dress by Jane Atelier. Styled by Annie Miall. 
Previously Worn: This hat is new. 

Mia and Lena Tindall wore sweet headpieces, Mia in a navy headband with button centered flower and Lena in a braided green satin Hucklebones headband.

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Lady Sarah Chatto repeated her ecru textured straw hat with rounded, Garbo style crown and extended brim. I so admire Sarah’s millinery approach, choosing classic shapes in neutral colours that go with a multitude of different outfits. In a world where sustainability is more and more important, this approach (opposed to one where hats are borrowed and worn only once), is one I think we should be supporting.

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Designer: Stephen Jones
Previously Worn: Jun 16, 2022; Jun 15, 2022; Jun 3, 2022Apr 17, 2021;  May 18, 2019;  Jun 18, 2012Jun 15, 2006Jun 4, 2002Jun 10, 2001Jul 11, 2000

Which hats stand out most to you here?

Images from Getty as indicated 

Cheltenham Festival 2023 Day 2 & 3

The second day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival yesterday was attended by Queen Camilla and Mike and Zara Tindall. Queen Camilla repeated repeated a tan wool hat with ruched crown and faux fur brim.

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Designer: Lock & Co. Coat by Anna Valentine.
Previously Worn: Mar 8, 2023; Jan 22, 2023Jan 15, 2023Dec 9, 2022May 17, 2022Apr 9, 2022Nov 20, 2021Oct 2, 2019Mar 13, 2019Nov 23, 2018;  Mar 14, 2018;  Nov 24, 2017;  Nov 26, 2016Mar 29, 2015Feb 13, 2015Dec 3, 2014Nov 30, 2014Mar 12, 2014

Zara wore a deep blue peachbloom felt percher hat trimmed with a knotted flying bow and large curled black quill.

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The colour is fantastic, as is the styling of her ensemble. I adore the saturated teal and royal blue paired together- it’s so striking on her.

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Designer: Juliette Botterill. Coat by Rebecca Vallance. Styled by Annie Miall.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The third day of racing today was attended by Princess Anne and Mike and Zara Tindall. Princess Anne repeated a black faux fur hat with rolled brim.

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Designer: Yvette Jelfs 
Previously Worn: Dec 28, 2014; March 15, 2013; January 18, 2010

Mike Tindall wore a natty mushroom grey tweed cap while Zara wore a deep plum felt beret percher trimmed with another single curled quill.

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Both looks are so great! Zara’s sleek hat is again so chic with her trouser suit, the deep plum colour giving just the right amount of pop. The lack of pattern on Mike’s streamlined cap pairs well with his jacket and matching his tie to his wife’s hat? Adorable.

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Designer: by Somerset Millinery. Suit by Veronica Beard. Styled by Annie Miall.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

I’m loving Zara’s hats so far this week. What do you think of these hats?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Cheltenham Festival 2023 Day 1

The Cheltenham Festival kicked off today with a pair of royal hats in attendance. Princess Anne repeated one of her brimless dark fur hats.

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Zara Tindall wore a new hat described by the designer as a “Peachbloom felt pillbox trimmed with a silk abaca bow (which) neatly sits towards the back of the head with loops and combs to secure.”

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It’s a sleek design that topped a streamlined ensemble for Zara. The trouser and hat combination is très chic.

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Designer: Bow Felt Pillbox by Juliette Botterill. Coat by Karen MIllen
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Thoughts about this pair of hats?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Commonwealth Day 2023

Members of the British royal family attended the annual Commonwealth Service today at Westminster Abbey.

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Queen Camilla repeated a striking royal blue beret trimmed with a crescent of royal blue and black feathers anchored with a knotted felt twist.

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Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Nov 22, 2022

The Princess of Wales wore a new hat in navy felt with rounded crown and wide brim, simply trimmed with a large bow on the side.

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It’s a classic shaped hat in a beautiful colour- what’s not to love?!

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Designer: Sean Barrett. Suit by Erdem.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The new Duchess of Edinburgh wore a new ivory felt pillbox hat with pork pie indented crown, trimmed with a looping black buntal bow around the back.

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The sleek lines of the hat and coat work so well together as do the black bow on the hat and the black buttons on the coat. The monochrome colour scheme creates such a sophisticated look for Sophie.

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Designer: Ilithyia hat In Felt by Jane Taylor. Coat by Proenza Schouler.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Princess Royal repeated her pale green brushed felt trilby trimmed with a grey hatband and side bow. The split crown shape gives great visual interest to this piece, although I’d love to see the wobbly brim smoothed.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Mar 13, 2020; Dec 25, 2016Nov 10, 2014;  March 16, 2012

Thoughts about this quartet of hats today at Westminster Abbey?

Images from Getty as indicated