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

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

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 Máxima repeated a headpiece of black silk rosettes studded with gold feathers and a small black birdcage net tulle veil.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Designer: Fabienne Delvigne. Dress by Natan. 
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.

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Designer:  Hayfield England. Stella McCartney Coat. 
Previously Worn: May 14, 2022 
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.

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

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

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

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

May 16: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited Kalmar County as part of King Carl-Gustaf’s Jubilee celebrations. The king wore his Borsalino tan fedora to plant an Öland 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 “Jubilee exhibition in glass” 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: 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.

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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 indicated 

January’s Extras

On  Friday, January 13, the funeral of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden saw numerous royal guests, mainly from German royal houses.

Row 1: Valerie Margravine of Baden, StephanieMargravine of Baden, Princess Caroline
Row 2: Princess Sibilla, Princess Ekaterina of Hanover, Princess Sarvath of Jordan, Princess Mahkameh zu Schaumburg-Lippe
Row 3: Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, Princess of Prussia, Countess Bettina Bernadotte & Philipp Haug
Row 4: Princess Katharina of Hohenzollern; Princess Ursula of Bavaria, Floria of Hesse, Sumaya bint al-Hassan

Zara and Mike Tindal attended the Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday, January 14. Zara wore a lovely mint straw beret percher with Swarovski crystal trimmed sinamay bow and quills by Australian milliner Meg Rafter. Her look was styled by Kimberly Gardner.



On Thursday January 19, Princess Hisako wore a new hat covered in ivory silk floral jacquard with jaunty upturned brim and an aqua hatband.

On Friday, Empress Masako repeated a pale greige hat with cafe au lait hatband for an annual Imperial Guard inspection

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Princess Anne in warm fur hats Wednesday on a visit to Estonia and yesterday for a walk to church at Sandringham.
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Princess Akiko attended a flower exhibition Friday in a grey hat with upfolded brim on one side. On Friday, Princess Hisako wore a jaunty purple felt hat with feather trim for a tableware festival.

On Saturday, Zara Tindall wore a bead embroidered peacock blue velvet headpiece by Jess Collett to Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.

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


There was a glittering royal wedding recently in Brunei.

There are been other noteworthy royal events and beautiful hats to admire- please share your highlights in the comments.

 

Images from social media as indicated 

 

Imperial New Years Lectures and Poetry Reading

The 2023 New Year’s Lectures and Poetry Readings took place last week at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

January 13: Ceremony of the Kousho Hajime (New Year’s Lectures)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated an ink blue velvet covered wide bandeau trimmed with embroidered lace applique flowers on one side.  Princess Kako repeated a bandeau of the same shape draped in turquoise silk.

Princess Kiko’s bandeau was previously worn: Feb 23, 2022; Feb 23, 2020
Princes Kako’s bandeau was previously worn: Jan 18, 2022

Princess Akiko repeated a palest yellow silk covered saucer with raised brim around the back, trimmed with a draped hatband and bow. Princess Yoko wore a sleek new pillbox covered in vibrant cerise silk.

Princess Akiko’s hat was previously worn: Dec 5, 2021

Princess Hisako and Princess Tsuguko repeated silk covered hats. Princess Hisako’s bumper, in muted pink printed jacquard, features an indented crown and twist on one side. Princess Tsuguko’s pistachio green pillbox with triple layered sash across the top of the hat embroidered with the same vine pattern as on the collar of her gown. The lily-of-the-valley blooms that originally embellished this hat but were removed for its last outing have magically appeared again!

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Feb 23, 2020; Feb 24, 2019;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 23, 2021; Feb 23, 2020Oct 25, 2019May 4, 2019

January 18: Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading)

Crown Princess Kiko repeated a blush silk jacquard printed bandeau with folded cuff across the front. The design is trimmed with organza flowers on one side.

Previously Worn: Nov 16, 2019

Princess Kako wore a new royal blue silk covered percher trimmed with a swirl of crin studded with silk roses. The updated neckline on her gown and new hat transform this ensemble into one much more sophisticated than its original form, a great evolution for a maturing princess. Kako suits the scale and placement of a percher so well.

Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Nobuko topped a plum velvet gown with a matching boater hat with brim raised on one side, anchored by a large silk flower.

Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Princess Akiko repeated a cream silk covered hat with short brim and triple layered hatband.

Princess Hisako repeated a striking teal silk pillbox hat trimmed with intricate embroidery around the side of the design along with feathers and a silk ribbon cockade. It’s worth noting that the matching gown bodice and sleeves have been remade. Princess Tsuguko’s blue silk covered hat with trilby-style raised brim around the back has also been changed since it’s last outing. Gone is the previous hatband of silk leaves, replaced with a more streamlined and angular hatband and a swath of net veil.

Princess Hisako’s hat was previously worn: Jan 14, 2016;
Princess Tsuguko’s hat was previously worn: Mar 26, 2021

There are some striking looks here- which ones stand out to you most?

Images from social media as indicated 

Catching-Up with the Imperial Royals

October 9, 2022: Princess Tsuguko in a dark green hat with short saddle brim and side spray of feathers to visit the Sakura City Museum 

October 31, 2022: Princess Hisako toured a glamping site in Takanezawa in an ecru brimmed hat with side spray of burgundy feathers. 

November 2, 2022: Princess Nobuko attended a Red Cross convention in a streamlined ivory hat with upturned kettle brim. Later in November, she was diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer and began treatment- we all wish her the very best and a full restoration of health. 

November 4, 2022: Princess Akiko attended a university’ anniversary celebration in an oatmeal hued hat with brim and diagonally striped hatband.

November 8, 2022: Empress Masako repeated a white silk covered brim hat for the anniversary of a national recreation program

November 12, 2022: Crown Princess Kiko arrived in Oita Prefecture in a dark burgundy bowler shaped hat trimmed with a rose made up of the same fabrics as the hat and her tweed suit. 

November 12, 2022: Princess Akiko wore a deep grey flared brim cloche with mulberry hatband for a health and welfare festival in Kanagawa. 

November 13, 2022: Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the 41st National Sea Enrichment Festival in Hyogo Prefecture. Empress Masako wore a cream brimmed hat with royal blue hatband whimsically trimmed in a wave shape. Brilliant!

November 13, 2022: Crown Princess Kiko attended the 45th National Tree Growing Festival in Oita in an oatmeal fabric covered bowler-style hat with tall, horizontally stitched hatband. 

November 21, 2022: Members of the Takamado family attended a ceremony at Toshimagaoka Cemetery to mark the 20th anniversary of Prince Takamado’s death. Princess Ayako, now Ayako Moriya, attended with her husband and elder son Jo. Former Princesses Yasuko and Masako also were in attendance. 

November 22, 2022: Princess Hisako attended a Red Cross event in a repeated ivory brimmed hat with pale lilac slim hatbands and a net veil wrapped crown. 

November 26, 2022: Empress Masako repeated a deep green hat with black hatband and high, upturned brim edged in braid to mark the centenary anniversary of the Japanese Scout Association. 

December 3, 2022: Princess Tsuguko wore an ivory hat with jaunty stitched brim for to open a youth forum. 

December 5, 2022: Empress Masako repeated a dark burgundy felt brimmed hat with wide diagonal striped hatband for an award ceremony for persons with disabilities.

December 9, 2022: Empress Masako repeated a pale blue silk covered pillbox for a visit to Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emeritus Michiko on her 59th birthday.

December 23, 2022: Empress Masako repeated an ice blue silk jacquard covered hat to visit Emperor Emeritus Akihito on his 89th birthday.

December 29, 2022: Princess Kako wore a vibrant red hat with floral trim to visit the Emperor and Empress and her grandparents, the Emeritus couple, on her birthday. 

 

Empress Masako’s hat with wave-shaped blue hatband is the standout here for me! Which hats here catch your eye?

Images from Getty as indicated  

Imperial Royal Hats Last Week

The Imperial royals are the most frequent hat wearers these days. Here are the hats they wore last week.

On Monday, October 17, Princess Akiko wore a grey brimmed hat for a national convention.

 

On Tuesday, October 18, Crown Princess Kiko wore a streamlined black hat for a memorial service at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery while Princess Yoko wore an ivory hat with short brim for a visit to Yasukuni Shrine.

Princess Nobuko arrived in Fukui on Wednesday, October 19 in an ivory brimmed hat with navy hatband. Thanks, Prisma, for including a photo of the feather trim on the side of the hat!

For the National Summit on Agriculture on Thursday October 20, Princess Nobuko wore a vibrant green pillbox wrapped in net veil.

 

Also on October 20, Empress Masako repeated a hat covered in the palest blue silk jacquard to visit Empress Emerita Michiko on her birthday. Princess Akiko wore a textured white cloche hat trimmed with a fabric flower on the side for the World Tea Festival in Shizuoka.

 

On Saturday, October 22, Empress Masako wore a navy silk covered hat with upturned brim for a series of events in Okinawa Prefecture.

 

The same day, Princess Hisako repeated a pale ice blue bumper hat with side bow for an environmental convention in Tokyo.

On Sunday, October 23, Empress Masako attended a national Cultural Festival opening in an ivory short brimmed hat with double ochre hatband.

I love the fresh green of Princess Nobuko’s pillbox and Empress Masako’s ochre yellow ensemble above. Which hats here stand out most to you?

Images from social media as indicated