Tag Archives: Princess Ariane

Koningsdag 2024

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The Dutch royal family were in Emmen today to celebrate the king’s birthday and eleventh anniversary on the throne.

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Queen Máxima wore a design described by the milliner as, “a custom headpiece made of silk and feather butterflies by Berry Rutjes during the royal family’s visit to the city of Emmen for King’s Day. The butterfly is a symbol of the city, because of the butterfly garden. Of course she knows how to wear it like no other.“

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The effervescence of this design suits both its wearer and the informal occasion while retaining an elegant sophistication that isn’t costumey. The overall look is balanced, the lace skirt on the dress a great counterpoint for a head full of swirling butterflies. Yes, a wide brimmed hat could have done the same, but the butterflies are fantastically fun.

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Milliner: Berry Rutjes. Dress by Natan. 
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new. 

Princess Amalia followed the butterfly brief, adapting a pair of her mother’s gold brooches by Argentinian jeweller Celedonio into hairclips.

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Princess Ariane tied her hair back with an ecru velvet ribbon.

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Thoughts about today’s butterflies in Emmen?!

Images from Getty as indicated 

Koningsdag 2023

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Annual King’s Day celebrations were held today in Rotterdam, this year celebrating King Willem-Alexander’s tenth anniversary as Dutch king (how time flies!). He was joined by his wife, two daughters (Princess Alexia is away at school in the UK) and members of the Dutch extended royal family.

Queen Máxima dressed in the bright green and white of Rotterdam’s flag, repeating a draped abaca calot headpiece.

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The halo face-framing shape is so pretty from the front, thanks to the lovely draping on this design. It’s the side view that still feels a bit clunky and less refined.

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Top and skirt by Natan.
Previously Worn: June 26, 2017

Princess Ariane wore a deep purple headband.

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This day is always so joyous and colourful!

Images from Getty as indicated and from the Dutch monarchy’s social media.

This Week’s Extras

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Have a lovely Sunday- I’ll be back first thing tomorrow for focused coverage and discussion on hats worn for the Romanian national holiday and look at two (one new!) designs worn by Queen Elizabeth over the weekend at the Windsor Horse Show.

On Tuesday, Empress Masako was spotted arriving at the Imperial Palace with the emperor to rehearse their first court ritual which took place on Wednesday. She repeated her unembellished almond bumper hat.
Also on Tuesday, the Duke of York was spotted in uniform as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards (with cap) for the morning’s Changing of the Queen’s Life Guard at Horse Guards riding new Cavalry Black horse ‘Darby’, apparently practicing for the upcoming Trooping the Colour.
On Wednesday, King Carl Gustaf donned his trusty brown fedora for the World Wildlife Fund’s annual meeting, held this year at Huvudskär and Utö in the Stockholm archipelago. The same day, King Harald commemorated Norwegian Armed Forces Day and Liberation Day at Akurshus Fortress, predictably in military uniform with cap.
Infanta Elena donned a neutral straw fedora to watch her daughter, Victoria de Marichalar, open the Seville Fair in a traditional Spanish mantilla with tall peineta comb (see more photos and video here). And 20 years after meeting at this event, the Dutch King and Queen returned this week along with their three daughters… and a quartet of wonderfully vibrant floral headpieces.


On Wednesday, Princess Alexandra visited a life boat station in Shoreham. She repeated her ice blue straw hat with tall crown wrapped in coordinating net tulle, designed by Rachel Trevor Morgan.
Queen Margrethe unveiled a new statue of Denmark’s longest reigning monarch King Christian IV (1577 – 1648) in Copenhagen yesterday. She repeated a hat with ecru straw crown and grey straw double brim for the event.


The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Emerald straw button percher with vibrant ribbon trim and soaring quills by NY milliner Jennifer Hoertz
Pink felt wide brimmed hat with rose gold diamanté hatband from LA based milliner Gladys Tamez
VA VA VOOM red straw percher with the most fantastic curving trim by Australian brand Jill and Jack Millinery
Exquisite curving cream disc with pink handmade blooms and curving quills by Rachel Trevor Morgan
Navy beret percher with hand-beaded bow by Irish milliner Michelle Gleeson
Classic ivory straw picture hat with monochrome leaf printed brim by British milliner Bee Smith
Colourful red and green embroidered lace headpiece from German milliner Nicki Marquardt
Black and white patterned straw pyramid with crin and tassel trim by Italian brand Giulia Mio Millinery

Another interesting article on the Empress of Japan, written by someone with personal connection (The Asahi Shimbun)
King Hamad Of Bahrain and sons Sheikh Nasser and Sheikh Khaled were spotted out for a ride at Windsor Castle in between days spent enjoying the Royal Windsor Horse Show this week
Did you see this delightfully sweet exchange between Queen Elizabeth and former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on Tuesday?

Princess Margriet presented the Duke of Sussex with an adorable gift during his quick visit to The Hague this week to official launch this year’s Invictus Games, to be held in The Netherlands.

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And finally- the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared this sweet photo of ten wee toes today, in honor of Mother’s Day (notice the background forget-me-not flowers, a favourite of the Duke’s late mother)

Photos from Getty and social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Royal Hats

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent took in the Salzburg Festival this week. It’s not technically a hat but Marie Christine’s getup has me scratching my head. WHY?

Princess Michael of Kent, August 18, 2016 | Royal Hats

 While it’s been a slow week of working royal hats, there have been numerous ones spotted at the Olympics. Third place goes to the synchro baseball hat wearing King and Queen of Sweden.

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Silver medal for Olympic royal hat wearing goes to adorable Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, in a floppy straw design (she gets extra points for her impressive collection of Olympic pins displayed on her lanyard):

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And the gold medal…. Queen Maxima’s straw fedora, which made multiple Olympic appearances. So chic.

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 Royal Hats

Great overview of recent celebrations for Liechtenstein’s National Day here and here (Luxarazzi)

Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and a Princess Aiko celebrated Japan’s first ‘Mountain Day’ national holiday with a hike in Matsumoto, Nagano last weekend. Imperial royals in plaid = happy claps.

Crown Prince Naruhito, August 11, 2016 | Royal Hats

I leave you this week with the hands-down winners for for royal cheerleading at the Olympics (with an honorable mention to young Nicolas of Sweden as posted here by his mum)

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Photo from Rex Features and Asahi Shimbun

Dutch Princesses Serve as Bridesmaid Trio

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Our favourite trio of petite princesses carried out an important job yesterday as the bridesmaids at their uncle’s wedding in Vienna. Princess Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane looked adorable in pink floral wreaths in their hair (matched to their adorable pink ballet flats) for the wedding of Queen Máxima’s brother, Juan Zorreguieta and Andrea Wolf. Princess Amalia certainly has grown up, hasn’t she?

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If you haven’t already seen it, you really should view the exquisite ball gown and cape Queen Máxima wore to this wedding. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

Photo from Getty as indicated