Danish Golden Jubilee

We have lots of royal events to catch up on! On the second weekend of September, celebrations were held to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s accession to the throne. This included a service of thanksgiving held at Copenhagen Cathedral followed by a lunch on the royal yacht Dannebrog on Sunday, September 11.

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Queen Margrethe repeated a pink beret with with side twist trim. It remains a great hat for her, the vibrant colour placing her firmly in the spotlight (as she should be for the celebration of this milestone!) and the hat’s scale and placement allowing her to shine. It remains such a great hat for her.

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Designer: Mathilde Førster
Previously Worn: Jun 3, 2022; May 21, 2022Aug 29, 2021;  May 15, 2021

Crown Princess Mary repeated a design with deep navy straw button base is covered with large silk calla lily flowers and wired leaves that beautifully curve around her face.

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Designer: Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: May 15, 2021

Princess Isabella wore a headpiece spray of ivory silk wired leaves, feathers and tan straw bows. The spray has previously been used as one of several removeable trims on Crown Princess Mary’s natural straw hat.

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Designer: presumably Susanne Juul
Previously Worn: most recently by Crown Princess Mary Aug 17, 2017

Princess Josephine wore a white silk hair bow (and a series of very amusing expressions!).

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Princess Marie repeated a black headpiece with looped black silk organdie ribbons. This piece also does well for flatteringly framing the wearer’s face. Since we’ve seen Marie wear this primarily at memorial events, I would have preferred to see her in something a little more uplifting for this celebration. .

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Mar 21, 2017; May 18, 2016; Sep 5, 2015; April 16, 2015;  October 1, 2013September 5, 2013 

Princess Athena wore a headband with petite pink bow.

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Next up, we’ll look at hats worn by members of the extended Danish royal family and royal guests.

Images from Getty as indicated  

Confirmation of Princess Isabella

On Saturday, Princess Isabella celebrated her confirmation at Fredensborg Castle Church. She wore a pair of silver leaf embellished combs in her hair by Ellen Hunter, worn previously by Crown Princess Mary.

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Queen Margrethe wore a new hat for the occasion, a beret covered in the same cobalt blue crepe as her jacket. The hat is trimmed with two tall black feathers and a bow in the printed fabric as the ensemble’s dress.

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The colour is wonderful on the Danish queen, who wears saturated and jewel tones so well. The patterned dress provides great contrast to the matching hat and jacket, saving the two pieces from looking one note. I’d love, however, to remove the patterned bow on the hat (that is a step too matchy matchy!) and replace it, with something in the colours of the ensemble. 

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Designer: unconfirmed
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Crown Princess Mary wore a natural woven straw bandeau with tan tulle birdcage veil.

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While my initial reaction to this headpiece was a yawn, I think the colour was a brilliant choice to pair with Mary’s vibrant pink dress and turquoise accessories. Say whatever you want about the shape, it’s a very current, popular style that is easy to wear and works well for a less formal event such as this.

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Designer: unconfirmed. Dress by Andrew Gn.
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Marie repeated her pink sinamay fascinator with central bloom surrounded by a circle of pointed leaves. The slim feathers that originally trimmed this design have been entirely removed. Princess Marie has paired this headpiece with neutral outfits in past, something I think works a bit better for a working royal event. This, however, is a family event and whiile the coral suit here is not to my taste, it’s a light hearted, fun choice to celebrate her niece!

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Designer: unknown. Suit by Emporio Armani.
Previously Worn: Oct 4, 2016; March 18, 2014

Princess Athena wore a darling white headband trimmed with a silk flower and bow.

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Designer: Bonpoint
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Princess Isabella’s godmother, Queen Mathilde, was also in attendance. She repeated a royal blue draped toque hat.

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan. 
Previously Worn: June 28, 2018; July 3, 2016;  May 20, 2015

It’s so lovely to see larger scale royal family events coming back- what do you think of the hats and headpieces at this event on Saturday?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Hats From the Past: Christening of Princess Isabella

Thirteen years ago today, Princess Isabella of Denmark was christened in an intimate service held in the chapel of Fredensborg Palace, the Danish royal family’s summer home.

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Crown Princess Mary topped a dusky pink Birgit Hallstein dress with the same cream silk flower bandeau headpiece by Malene Birger she had worn for Prince Christian’s baptism in 2006 (and she would later repeat for the christening of Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine in 2011).

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Larger than a bandeau, the headpiece’s scale gives it enough presence to stand on its own without obscuring a view of the baby and the floral motif gives is a delicacy and charm that feels very right for the occasion. The colour is so wonderful against Princess Mary’s hair and easily pairs with different ensembles, although this dress fell flat for me. In this ensemble, I think the headpiece was one of the most successful elements.

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Queen Margrethe wore her recognizable pink and green ensemble with patterned floral silk dress and wide brimmed vibrant green straw picture hat, trimmed with pink straw loops. Ever the romantic, Prince Henrik tied in his ensemble with a pink shirt.

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Princess Benedikte topped her pink coat with the loveliest ecru straw brimmed hat (how elegant are the lines on the brim’s  cartwheel shape) trimmed with a pink spray of silk flowers on the side. Her daughter, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, wore a bandeau headpiece of deep purple flowers.  Carina Axelsson topped her pink dress with a pale almond straw brimmed hat with gently sidesweeping brim, trimmed with an ecru wide hatband and side ruffled bow. Queen Anne-Marie of Greece wore a wheat coloured straw hat with upturned, rimmed kettle brim and a textural, woven hatband.

Princess Isabella’s godmothers included Queen Mathilde and Prince Frederik’s first cousin, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark. Mathilde topped her lace coat with a matching wide padded bandeau headpiece, covered in the same lace and trimmed with a multi-looped black silk side bow. Princess Alexia wore a cream bandeau headpiece with spray of goose biot feathers on the side.

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Royal guests included Crown Princess Victoria who wore a bandeau headpiece with textured fabric base, trimmed with applique flowers and a pair of feather quills. Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore her gold Prada headband with blush silk bow on one side.

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Princess Mary’s stepmother, Susan Donaldson, wore a deep eggplant silk floral fascinator with dotted tulle bow.

Looking back, this event is a noticeably more informal and intimate affair than Prince Christian’s baptism was, just 18 months earlier.  The palate is so light and summery, although today’s current popularity of bandeau style headpieces makes me surprised to see so many here, 13 years ago! Perhaps these royal ladies were just ahead of fashion?!

What do you think of these royal hat looks? Which ones stand out most to you?

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Photos from Getty as indicated; Polfoto

This Week’s Extras

Cozy knit winter hats on Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, Marie Ducruet and Prince Achileas of Greece
Informal summer hats on Mike and Mia Tindall in Australia last week
Lovely to see Queen Elizabeth’s caramel felt hat with brightly coloured feathers step out for church yesterday.
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The Duchess of Cambridge celebrated her birthday last week and among the wishes was this fun animation that gives us a moment to enjoy some of her hats.
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
For our dear gents, this classic black rabbit felt fur trilby by Danish brand Hornskov København
Love the draped front on this violet felt bumper hat with felt floral trim by Czech milliner Jolanta Kotabova
Black felt formed beret with iridescent bow by British milliner Julian Garner
Wide brimmed peach straw pyramid saucer with trailing bow by Australian milliner Marilyn Van den Berg
Deep plum felt trilby with dramatic veil by British milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan
Emerald green straw brimmed picture hat with black crown and flying bow by Australian brand Millinery By Mel

And the most beautiful bandeau headpiece in ombre sinamay and silk roses by British milliner Dillon Wallwork

Much has been written and said about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s surprise announcement last week that they are stepping down as senior members of the British royal family to carve out an independent path. I appreciated this article by mental health advocate (and, it seems, friend of the couple) Bryony Gordon, published in the Telegraph (not one of the newspapers involved in the Sussex’s lawsuit). What articles have you found insightful and useful?
Lovely new family portrait released by the Luxembourg royal family to celebrate the new year.

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

Last  Monday, Queen Silvia donned local Lovö dress, including a lace trimmed cap, to host the 20th annual “Pensioners Day” at Drottningholm Palace

The Danish monarchy shared several wonderful personal photos taken during the Crown Princely family’s recent trip to the Faroe Islands including this shot, taken by Crown Princess Mary, which shows the beautiful embroidery on Princess Isabella and Princess Josephine’s bonnets.

Princess Tessy looked fantastic in a faux jeweled headpiece yesterday while attending the second day of African fashion week in Toronto

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended a memorial service for victims of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake yesterday in Tokyo. Princess Kiko repeated a black pillbox hat with small bow (Sankei)

Stephen Jones shared this amazing story yesterday about Aretha Franklin’s famous hat by Luke Song (the one she wore to President Obama’s inauguration)

The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:

Midnight blue silk bumper hat with stunning statement feathers from British brand Bundle McLaren
Love the shape and lines of this blush straw floral trimmed hat from Australian milliner Meg Rafter
Interesting shape on this blue and purple felt and straw design from Dutch milliner Myra van de Korput
Crimson silk bandeau with poppies and tulle veil by Australian milliner Louise MacDonald
Beautiful sheen on this green straw bow trimmed percher from Czech milliner Jolanta Kotabova
Black open weave, wide brimmed hat with red abaca flying bow from Aussie brand Millinery By Mel
Fascinating texture in this purple braided straw design by Dutch milliner Eugenie van Oirschot
Fuchsia straw teardrop percher with bow and veil from Madrid-based milliner Biliana Borissova
Headpiece of iridescent pansies with Swarovski crystal centers from Aussie brand Love Lotus Millinery
Dramatic black straw halo hat with hand stitched sequin & pearl trim from Australian Hats by Zarbella

 

 Royal Hats

Countess Camilla of Rosenborg married Ivan Ottesen in Lyngby last Sunday. Countess Camilla, who has four children from her first marriage, is the daughter of the late Count Christian of Rosenborg (he was a first cousin of Queen Margrethe). The marriage took place at Lyngby Church, the burial place of Camilla’s parents.

In other wedding themed news… the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding attire will go on display at Windsor Castle and Holyrood Palace this fall and it’s great to already see, via photos, greater detail of the tiara, dress and veil.

Sweet photo of Princess Elisabeth of Belgium and her siblings as she departs for two years of study in Wales

New portraits of Prince Nicolai released by the Danish monarchy on the occasion of his 19th birthday and the most adorable snaps of Prince Gabriel shared by the Swedish monarchy for his first birthday

Also off the cuteness scale were Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella yesterday in Monagasque traditional dress yesterday at Monaco’s annual picnic

Queen Sonja’s childhood home has been relocated, restored and opened as a museum earlier this week. She and King Harald used the opening as an opportunity to recreate one of their engagement photos, just in time for their 50th wedding anniversary