Tag Archives: Princess Léa

Belgian Royals Attend Laeken Mass

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Members of the Belgian royal family attended the annual mass in memory of the deceased members of their family at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken on Thursday, February 17, 2022

For the event, Queen Mathilde repeated a calot hat with domed, pointed crown wrapped with flying ribbon tails around the bottom curve. The textured black fabric covering it has small dimples that lend a subtle sparkle and welcome texture to the piece.


The hat tops another elegant ensemble for Mathilde. I wasn’t always a fan of the pointed crown’s shape but it’s a unique touch I’ve come around to appreciate, simply because it adds some interest. My issue here is with the puckers around the base, where the fabric has not been smoothly blocked (see what I mean more clearly here).


Designer: I believe it is Fabienne Delvigne. Coat by Meer Couture
Previously Worn: Dec 12, 2015; Dec 13, 2014; Nov11, 2011; Nov 15, 2008

Princess Astrid wore a simple padded black velvet headband.

Princess Claire wore a wide-brimmed black felt fedora. The hat is trimmed with a wide ribbon hatband topped with a slim leather one that ties into a double looped bow on the side. The scale is lovely on Claire as are those stacked hatbands, which give just enough contrast to the design.

Previously Worn:  This hat is new

Princess Delphine wore a slouchy black felt cloche with cuffed brim wrapped in a swath of dotted net tulle. It’s a chic look that suits the petite princess well.

Designer: Elvis Pompilio

Previously Worn:  This hat is new

Princess Léa wore a wide brimmed black felt fedora.

I think this quintet is a great example of the diversity of styles one can choose for more sombre events while still making a style statement. Which hats here speak to you most?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Imperial Royal Wedding: Guests

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Guests at today’s wedding of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Rebecca Bettarini included several from royal houses, beginning with the groom’s immediate family.

George’s mother, Grand Duchess Mariya Vladimirovna Romanova, wore a pleated blue silk Kokoshnik headpiece with brown sable trim. The headpiece has layered blue silk bows around the back.

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The Grand Duchess’ sister, Helene Kirby, Countess Dvinskaya, wore a hat in the same orange boucle as her suit with a wide brown fur bumper brim.

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The bride’s mother, Carla Virginia Cacciatore, topped her blue and green ruffle collared suit with in a brown hat. The hat features freeform sinamay ruffles atop a shallow pillbox base.

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Crown Princess Elia of Albania wore the loveliest pale gray-green beret percher trimmed with green silk flowers, leaves and a net veil.

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Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein wore a black velvet pyramid hat with wide faux fur cuffed brim.

Princess Lea of Belgium wore a brown fur Cossack style hat.
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The Duchess of Braganza wore a deep eggplant veiled pillbox placed on the back of her head.

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Princess Marie-Marguerite, Duchess of Anjou, wore a statement oversize saucer in peachy-tan sinamay with steep sidesweep. The hat is trimmed with feathers studded in raw-edge crin and sinamay ruffles en masse beneath the brim on its raised side.

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What do you think of the hats that stepped out today in St. Petersburg for this event?

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Images from Getty and social media as indicated  

Funeral of Grand Duke Jean: Family

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The funeral for Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg was held Saturday at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City, attended by all members of the extended Grand Ducal Family and their Belgian royal cousins. Out of respect for this event and the Grand Duke’s memory, this post does not contain any commentary on the hats and it is not open for comments.

Grand Ducal Family:

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Extended Grand Ducal Family:

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Belgian Royal Family:

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To identify individuals, click on the photo and link to its original source, with explanation. You can see the many royal guests who attended at this post.

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Belgian Royals Attend Memorial Mass

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Members of the Belgian Royal family gathered at Notre Dame Church in Laeken yesterday to attended a mass held annually in memory of deceased family members. For this event, Queen Mathilde wore a new rounded headpiece covered in the same charcoal fabric as her high collared blouse. The textured fabric works surprisingly well on the design (and is well made- there’s not a pucker to be spotted here) but oh, how I wish it had a covered crown. I can’t get behind these doughnut designs.



Designer: Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new
Princess Marie-Esméralda, (younger half-sister of King Albert) wore a navy straw based headpiece trimmed with navy and cream feathers, placed on the back of her head. Her sister-in-law, Princess Léa, wore a simple navy bow, also placed on the back of her head (see the video clip below).

Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (King Philippe’s first cousin) wore a sequinned calot hat wrapped in a a swath of dotted tulle. She also placed the design WAAAY back on her head… perhaps to downplay its disco vibe? I thought it was a strange choice for a memorial event such as this.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Let’s face it- this isn’t the strongest group of hats we’ve reviewed. What elements here do you like?
Photos from Getty as indicated; Photonews, Photonews, Photonews and Photonews via Getty

Belgian Royals Attend Annual Memorial Mass

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Members of Belgium’s royal family attended an annual mass to commemorate deceased relatives and ancestors yesterday at the Church of Our Lady in Brussels. Queen Mathilde used the occasion to debut a new black calot hat trimmed in overlaid stripes and a large twisted circle of textured black roughly woven fabric.

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It’s difficult to weigh in on this hat without a better look. At close range, the overlay on the hat looked a bit messy to me but from further away, it gives great textural contrast to Mathilde’s smoothly tailored flared coat.

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Designer: likely Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Princess Marie-Esméralda, King Albert’s half sister, wore an oversize chocolate felt fedora with relaxed brim piped in lighter cafe-au-lait hued ribbon. A patterned hatband in the same two shades finished the piece with a sharp bit of contrast that made the relaxed design look a bit more formal.

Feb 20, 2018 | Royal Hats

Feb 20, 2018 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I suspect this hat is new
Princess Léa, widow of King Albert’s late half brother Prince Alexandre, repeated a chic navy fedora with Petersham ribbon hatband and side bow (not visible here). Worn at a slight angle, the hat is wonderfully chic
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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Feb 19, 2013

Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, who is cousin-in-law to King Philippe and his siblings, wore a simple black pillbox hat on the back of her head. It’s a classic millinery choice very fitting for such an event as this.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: Dec 12, 2014 and likely others
This annual event always brings us a number of sedately styled hats- any thoughts about the ones worn yesterday?

Photos from Getty as indicated; Place Royal TV and The Belgian Monarchy