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 Øvresetertjern for the 20th anniversary of the Norwegian Guide and Scout Association’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 With European Royals

November 8: Queen Máxima repeated a plum felt hat with brim pleated on one side for the National Coalition Financial Health Action Meeting in Eindhoven.

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. It is the “Flavia” design.
Previously Worn: Nov 21, 2018;  February 5, 2018October 13, 2015October 30, 2014October 15, 2014March 19, 2014November 12, 2013

November 22: Crown Princess Victoria and Crown Prince Haakon donned colourful hats on a visit to a mangrove reforestation development program in Kenya.

November 24: Queen Máxima attended the jubilee of the multicultural network for government officials at the ministry of Interior affairs in her muted burgundy melusine felt fedora. The combination of hat with sienna dress, cranberry coat and oxblood leather gloves and boots is a close-tonal one that works unexpectedly well.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. It is the “Borsamalia.” Natan dress, Valentino cape.
Previously Worn: Oct 9, 2019; Oct 2, 2019Jan 31, 2019 

November 24: Queen Mathilde welcomed Mr. Ignazio Cassis and Mrs Paola Rodoni Cassis, the President and the first Lady of the Swiss Confederation, on state visit to Belgium in a repeated a cranberry felt brimmed hat with high, angular crown simply trimmed with a slim hatband knotted on the right side.

Designer: Dior (my guess is Stephen Jones for Dior). Outfit, bag and shoes all by Dior.
Previously Worn: Dec 16, 2019

November 30: Queen Máxima opened an exhibition on royal embroidery, stories and craftsmanship in the Tilburg Textile Museum in a repeated toque hat of safron and navy printed ikat silk.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown. Dress and skirt by Natan.
Previously Worn: Dec 6, 2018

December 1: Queen Máxima repeated an emerald braided straw pillbox to attend the 70th anniversary of an organization supporting international education.

Designer: unknown. Dress and coat by Oscar de la Renta.
Previously Worn: May 27, 2021 

December 6, 2022: Queen Margrethe repeated her red and aubergine boater hat for a visit to the Danish Church of St Katharine’s in Camden for a celebration service for her Golden Jubilee.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Mathilde Førster
Previously Worn: Nov 11, 2021; Oct 5, 2021Apr 23, 2021Nov 27, 2020

December 6: Prince Alexander was christened in Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Princess Victoria wore a pale grey disc percher hat trimmed with feathers. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia wore one of her signature kokoshnik halo headpieces, this one in black with a white floral spray on the side.

December 10: For the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Queen Sonja repeated a teal felt pillbox with ribbon trim and back bow.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: 
Previously Worn: Dec 10, 2015; May 9, 2015

Crown Princess Mette Marit wore a red double crepe covered bandeau headpiece with bow across the back.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Jane Taylor Small Bow Band. Coatdress by Catherine Walker. 
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new. 

Which hats here catch your eye?

Images from Getty as indicated 

Inventory: Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Blue Hats

We’re diving into Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s wardrobe today for a look at all of the blue hats and headpieces. Here they are in the order of introduction:

1.  2.   3.
Designer: all are unknown
Introduced: May 31, 2001; Apr 9, 2005; May 10, 2005

4.  5.  6.Embed from Getty Images
Designer: Philip Treacy; Philip Treacy; unknown
Introduced: Oct 27, 2005; Jun 6, 2006; Jun 20, 2006

7.  8.   9.
Designer: Philip Treacy; unknown; Stephen Jones for Jil Sander
Introduced: Feb 7, 2007; Sep 13, 2007; May 17, 2012

10. 11.
Designer: Prada headband; unknown
Introduced: May 31, 2012; April 30, 2013

12. 13. 14.
Designer: Mona Strand; unknown (Prada brooches) Jennifer Behr
Introduced: Sep 2, 2014; Jan 17, 2016; Jun 23, 2016

These design deserves mention as well:

Embed from Getty Images

It’s quite a collection of navy! I’m not complaining- I adore this classic colour and the Norwegian Crown Princess wears it well. The standout for me here is #7 with its beautifully sweeping brim and presence that just isn’t possible with the smaller headpieces Mette-Marit usually chooses. The #11 beaded headpiece has also grown on me over the years while I’m happy to leave a few of the odder shapes in the past.

What stands out to you in this group of blue hats?

Images from Getty as indicated; Tim Graham, Julian Parker, Ragnar Singsaas/WireImage, Mark Cuthbert/UK Press,  Julian Parker/UK Press, Solum, Stian Lysberg/AFP, Larsen, Hakon Mosvold/AFP, Ragnar Singsaas, Peter Dejong-Pool, Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images; Andreas Fadum; NRK; Ragnar Singsaas via Getty

Norwegian National Day 2022

The Norwegian royal family celebrated the country’s national holiday yesterday, first at a children’s parade at Skaugum

Embed from Getty Images

followed by the annual balcony appearance at the Royal Palace in Oslo. Queen Sonja wore a new red hat with short, curved brim and rounded bowler crown. The hat is trimmed with an interesting wrapped hatband in ombre dyed orange and dark pink.

Embed from Getty Images

King Herald and Crown Prince Haakon wore gleaming antique black silk top hats.

Embed from Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a new double layered circular headpiece in what looks like a textured tan fabric. The design looks to tie in a sort of bow around the back, at the nape of her neck.

Embed from Getty Images

Thoughts about the hats yesterday in Norway?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Multiples: Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Crown Princess Mette-Marit has paired her raisin-hued felt calot hat by Mona Strand with six different coats to create several contrasting looks:

Look #1: With a deep eggplant dress and pale periwinkle wool coat worn October 25, 2005 on a state visit to the UK

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #2: With a pale lilac wool coat worn December 10, 2008 for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #3: With an ecru buttoned coat with fur collar for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 2012 

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Look #4: With a mulberry dress and palest lilac-grey coat for National Day celebrations in May 2013

Embed from Getty Images

Look #5: With a black floral dress and ruffled coat, both by Valentino, for a Latvian state visit on March 18, 2015

Look #6: With a purple pleated Alberta Feretti bow necked dress and a gold embroidered lilac silk coat worn for an October 2016 state visit from Singapore

Which coat do you prefer most with this hat?

Photos from Getty as indicated; Vidar Ruud/ NTB Scanpix; NTB Scanpix