Royal Hat Round Up

Numerous royal hats have been worn over the past month:
April 22: Princess Benedikte repeated her sky blue felt hat with pinched fedora crown and sharply upfolded brim on one side.

April 28: Empress Masako wore a short brimmed cream silk covered hat for the Midori Prize Ceremony.

April 30: King Carl Gustaf and Prince Carl Philip in uniform caps at the king’s birthday celebrations
Embed from Getty Images
April 30: Crown Princess Mary in a new plaited bandeau by Tasmaian milliner Haidee Neall for the 75th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in Denmark.
May 4: Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko departed Japan to travel to London for the coronation, Princess Kiko wore a blue hat that’s recently undergone a design change.
Embed from Getty Images

May 9: Queen Mรกxima repeated a blush silk abaca calot headpiece studded with tiny beads on the first day of a visit to Wadden Islands.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne.ย  Claes Iversen suit and Burberry raincoat.
Previously Worn: Jan 31, 2023; Sep 15, 2017;ย Nov 3, 2016;ย ย Oct 25, 2015;ย ย Apr 2, 2014ย 

May 10: Princess Hanako in a lovely pale pink brimmed hat for the Asia-Pacific Festival & Charity Bazaar.

May 10: For the second day of a visit to Wadden Islands, Queen Mรกxima repeated a headpiece of black silk rosettes studded with gold feathers and a small black birdcage net tulle veil.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Laura Noetinger. Zara suit and Natan Coat.ย ย 
Previously Worn: Oct 8, 2015; April 13, 2011;ย May 4, 2009

May 11: For the start of the Italian state visit to Norway, Queen Sonja repeated her taupe leather pillbox.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne.ย ย 
Previously Worn: May 25, 2022; Sep 6, 2016

Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a new brimmed hat in pale pink straw braid.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown. Natan cape and Valentino dress.ย ย 
Previously Worn: This hat is new

May 11: Queen Mรกxima attended the B for Goods Leaders Summit conference in Amsterdam in a repeated pleated red turban.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan.ย 
Previously Worn: Sep 19, 2021; Oct 16, 2018; March 20, 2015.

May 12: Lady Louise Windsor took part in the Royal Windsor Horse Show in a repeated a dark blue felt fedora with leather hatband and feather trim.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer:ย  Hayfield England. Stella McCartney Coat.ย 
Previously Worn: May 14, 2022ย 
Previously Worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh: July 3, 2021

May 14 : Lady Louise Windsor enjoying the Royal Windsor Horse Show in her mum’s camel felt fedora with feather hatband.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: ย Suffolk Fedora in Camelย from Hicks & Brown
Previously Worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh: Dec 22, 2019; Aug 25, 2019;ย Dec 23, 2018;ย May 14, 2018

May 15: Princess Akiko in a pale cloche with short brim for the Aoi Festival

May 16: Queen Mรกxima repeated a warm brown straw picture hat with high upswept slice brim to open the Van Gogh Village Museum in Nuenen.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Claes Iversen dressโ€‹
Previously Worn: Sep 15, 2021; ย Jul 7, 2021; ย Jul 2, 2019; ย May 25, 2018; ย Feb 18, 2017;ย Nov 28, 2016;ย Nov 1, 2016;ย Sep 14, 2016;ย Jun 2, 2016;ย Apr 21, 2016;ย Mar 10, 2016

May 16: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited Kalmar County as part of King Carl-Gustafโ€™s Jubilee celebrations. The king wore his Borsalino tan fedora to plant an ร–land oak tree in the City Park.

May 17: Princess Anne was in uniform for the Passing Out Parade of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry

May 18: The Duchess of York in a green jeweled headband from The Party Papillon.

May 18: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia opened the โ€œJubilee exhibition in glassโ€ exhibition at Solliden Castle, the king in his Borsalino tan fedora.

May 18: Empress Masako, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Hanako, Princess Nobuko and Princess Hisako all attended the annual Japanese Red Cross Society national convention.

May 18:ย National Day in Norway saw King Herald and Crown Prince Haakon in top hats, Queen Sonja in a white rounded pillbox and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in her gold Prada headband woven with a pink ribbon.

Embed from Getty Images

May 22: Princess Benedikte repeated her navy straw hat with upfolded brim and floral trim for her namesake race at Klampenborg Gallop Track.

May 24: Empress Masako in a sharp navy and white hat for the 50th anniversary memorial service for WWII sailors.

Which hats here stand out most to you?

Images from social media as indicatedย 

This Week’s Extras

In Cape Town today, Queen Mathilde repeated a beige calot trimmed in overlapping crescents, all in abaca fibre. The slightly wobbly and bumpy finish lets the piece down for me.

Embed from Getty Images
On Thursday, Princess Hanako wore a striking variation of a top hat with tall navy crown, upturned cream brim and wide swath of cream net tulle.

On Thursday, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit visited ร˜vresetertjern for the 20th anniversary of the Norwegian Guide and Scout Associationโ€™s annual fundraising campaign. Cozy knitted winter hats were worn.

Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones was photographed in a fashion editorial for Tatler magazine in a lilac feather covered hat by William Chambers.

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week (see the comments for more):

Catching Up Imperial Family Milestones

In last weekend’s “Extra’s” post, we celebrated the December 5 official presentation of Princess Aiko following her 20th birthday, dazzling in a diamond tiara and necklace borrowed from her aunt, Sayako Kuroda.
Embed from Getty Images
It turns out that members of the Imperial royal family also gathered for this celebration, the ladies in hats as well! Princess Kako was seen arriving at the Imperial Palace in her pale sage green silk jacquard covered calot hat with cuffed bumper brim, trimmed with a spray of silk flowers on the side.

Previously Worn: Dec 23, 2019; Apr 10, 2019;ย 
Princess Hanako repeated her dark green velvet hat with clamshell-shaped bumper brim trimed with an ostrich plume and bow at the back. ย Princess Yuriko wore a turquoise printed silk draped pillbox (or maybe a toque shape?) with rolled rose and leaves made of the same fabric, placed on the side of the design.ย 

ย Princess Hanako’s hat Previously Worn: Feb 24, 2019; Jan 14, 2015;ย  Jan 10, 2014;ย Jan 4, 2011
Princess Nobuko looked to be wearing a new dusty pink silk covered pillbox high on the back of her head. Princess Yoko repeated her tall salmon pink silk covered pillbox wrapped in a double fringe of feathers in the same hue. Princess Akiko looked to be wearing a new cream hat with shallow crown and brim covered in a beautifully draped hatband that tied in a side bow.

Princess Yoko’s hat Previously Worn: Mar 23, 2021; ย Nov 8, 2020;ย Oct 25, 2019;ย Apr 10, 2019
Princess Hisako repeated a salmon pink velvet pillbox with indented pork pie crown, trimmed in pink, peach and burgundy velvet applique flowers that also embellish the neck and shoulder lines of her matching gown. An interesting note from Imperial family expert Prisma- while this ensemble dates back until at least 1992, it was worn, most recently, in January 2014 by Princess Noriko! Princess Tsuguko looked to be wearing a silvery blue silk covered pillbox that I believe is new.

Previously Worn: Jan 15, 2014 (by Princess Noriko); Jan 14, 1992
Sayako Kuroda was also in attendance in a pale green silk calot covered in a ruched dotted white veil.

On December 9th, Empress Masako celebrated her 58th birthday. She arrived at the home of her parents-in-law in a pale blue silk covered bumper hat.

Sayako Kuroda was also seen arriving at the Imperial Palace to greet the Empress on her birthday in a pleated ecru calot hat.

Which ones of these eleven hats stand out most to you?

Images from social media as indicatedย 

Hat From the Past

Royal Hats56 years back to October 28, 1965 when Princess Hanako wore a marvelous, textured pillbox for a visit to St. Thomas’s Hospital during a trip to London with Prince Hitachi

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Images from Getty as indicated

Imperial Crown Prince Proclaimed

Last Sunday, the Imperial royal family celebrated Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-Gi,ย the final ceremony in the Emperor’s enthronement that officially proclaims the new crown prince which had been postponed seven months due to the global pandemic.

Empress Masako arrived early in the morning to prepare for the day of ceremonies in her oyster silk covered bumper hat.

Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Kiko followed an hour later, Kiko in a pale lime silk jacquard floral gown with matching bumper hat. The cuffed bumper brim on this design is covered in wide bias stripes of smooth silk and silk smocked in the same fine pattern as the waist on Kiko’s dress. This smocking gives some textural dimension to the hat, especially when punctuated with the small shiny silk stripe between each section. While a subtle detail, it is impeccably executed and once again, shows incredible quality and millinery skill.

At eleven o’clock that morning, the Imperial royal family gathered for the Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-gi ceremony where the new Crown Prince was officially proclaimed. Emperor Naruhito and Crown Prince Akishino wore traditional sokutai robesand the distinctive black kanmuri hat. Empress Masako and Crown Princess Kiko wore junihitoe multi-layered kimonos with the triple pronged golden headpiece and elaborate sculpted sweeping ponytail that is worn with this costume.


Members of the extended Imperial Royal family were in attendance, the ladies in court dress (gowns and hats).

Princess Mako repeated a blush dotted silk jacquard gown and matching bumper brimmed calot hat. Princess Kako repeated a scarlet bandeau headpiece trimmed with silk flowers.
Princess Mako’s hat previously worn: Nov 16, 2019; Jan 13, 2017; December 23, 2015;
Princess Kako’s hat previously worn: Feb 23, 2020; Oct 25, 2019
Princess Hanako topped her apple silk gown with a matching saucer percher hat with pleated rim, embellished with ivory feathers and silk leaves. Princess Nobuko wore a bandeau headpiece covered in periwinkle blue silk, trimmed with feather flowers on the side.
Princess Nobuko’s hat previously worn: Feb 23, 2020
Princess Akiko of Mikasa wore a lemon yellow bumper hat wrapped in a swath of pleated crin and trimmed with a spray of silk flowers across the back. Princess Yoko repeated a pale coral textured pillbox.
Princess Akiko’s hat previously worn: Oct 25, 2019; Apr 10, 2019
Princess Yoko’s hat previously worn: Oct 25, 2019;ย Apr 10, 2019
Princess Hisako wore a standout hat with crown in the same vibrant green silk as the cuffs on her gown. The hat’s cartwheel brim appears to beย  covered in overlapping ombre leaves and an overlay of veil. Princess Tsuguko repeated her burgundy bumper hat with veil and side silk floral trim.
a
Princess Hisako’s hat: I believe this hat is new
Princess Tsuguko’s hat previously worn: Apr 30, 2019; Feb 26, 2019; Jan 10, 2018ย 
Following the ceremony, the Crown Prince and Princess worshipped at Kashiko-dokoro shrine which is located on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. They were joined by several of the Imperial princesses who wore pale gowns and repeated ivory hats.

That evening, the emperor, empress, crown prince and princess took part in the Choken-no-Gi (First Audience ceremony), the women in glittering diamond parures complete with impressive tiaras.

The vibrant hats worn by the Imperial princesses at the Rikkoshi-Senmei-no-giย stood out to me- weren’t they wonderful?!
Photos from social media as indicated; The Asahi Shimbun, The Asahi Shimbun, The Asahi Shimbunย via Getty;ย