Trooping the Colour 2024

Trooping the Colour took place in London today, officially celebrating the birthday of King Charles III.  The event featured over 1,400 soldiers and officers, 200 horses and more than 400 musicians from ten different bands and Corps of Drums.

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Queen Camilla repeated her ecru straw hat with angular crown and wide, sidesweeping brim. The hat is trimmed with a finely pleated cream and the most delicate lace applique cutout flowers

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Milliner:  Philip Treacy. Dress and coat by Anna Valentine.
Previously Worn: Jun 3, 2022Jun 8, 2019June 20, 2018May 22, 2018

The Princess of Wales wore a wide brimmed saucer with central, shallow black straw crown and white sinamay extended brim, trimmed with a statement black feather. It’s a great hat made ever better by Kate looking so well.

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Milliner: OC155 from SS 2024 by Philip Treacy. Dress by Jenny Packham.
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a yellow crepe covered teardrop percher with bow and veil.

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Milliner: Persephone by Jane Taylor. Dress by Beulah London
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Lady Louise Windsor wore a hat her mum first wore to Royal Ascot last year, a blue parasisal straw saucer trimmed with feathers, jinsin loops, blue silk leaves and handmade silk pansies.

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Milliner: Jane Taylor with flowers made by Anne Tomlin. Dress by Susannah London and Rachel Levy
Previously Worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh: Jun 22, 2023

The Duchess of Gloucester debuted a circular, open crowned hat in pale oyster pinokpok with flat bow around the back.

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Milliner: Calypso Halo by Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Lady Frederick Windsor was photographed today in the Office of the Major-General, at the Horse Guards Building,  in a navy veiled bandeau headpiece.

Milliner: Emily London. Dress by Beulah London
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Lady Gabriella Kingston was also spotted watching the event in what looks like a pillbox percher with bow. I know many of you join me in wishing her well after the loss of her husband.

Thoughts about these hats toady in rainy London?

Images from Getty and social media as indicated 

Ascot 2023 Index

 Day 1: Tuesday, June 20, 2023

 

Day 2: Wednesday June 21, 2023
  

 

Day 3: Thursday June 22, 2023

 

Day 4: Friday June 23, 2023

Day 5: Saturday June 24, 2023

Ascot 2023 Day 4: The Waleses

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the fourth day of racing last Friday at Ascot Racecourse.

 

Prince William repeated his black antique silk top hat.

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The Princess of Wales wore a new saucer hat with extended brim in red sinamay. The design is trimmed with a large silk bloom and wired silk ribbon tails that swirl around on both the upper and lower sides of the brim. Those under the brim are knotted and shaped just as on Queen Camilla’s hat.

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It’s unlike anything we’ve seen Kate wear before which makes me inclined to love it.  Yes, there’s a lot of trim but I think it balances with the extended brim and the unembellished dress.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Dress by Alexander McQueen
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Thoughts about Kate’s new hat?

Images from Getty as indicated  

May Garden Parties

We have four garden parties, three in London and one in Ireland, to review!

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The first one on May 9, 2023 at Buckingham Palace was attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The Prince of Wales wore his black antique silk top hat.

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The Princess of Wales repeated her pale blue sinamay saucer sidesweeping oval saucer hat trimmed with silk flowers beneath the raised side of the brim.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Blouse and skirt by Elie Saab
Previously Worn: June 18, 2019

The Duke of Edinburgh wore his gleaming black antique silk top hat.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh repeated her denim blue sinamay saucer hat with matching inverted crin binding, crin ruffle and silk flowers.

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Designer: bespoke version of “Karya” design by Jane Taylor. Dress by Suzannah London.
Previously Worn: June 15, 2022

Princess Anne repeated an almond sinamay cloche hat with diagonal crown. The brim features a contrasting chocolate straw underbrim and and tall wrap around the crown over which sits a ruched chocolate raw silk hatband. A mass of cream and dotted pheasant feathers on the side complete the design.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 18, 2019Jul 10, 2018Jun 10, 2016May 20, 2016; Jun 19, 2015Nov 19, 2007Jun 2006

The Duke of Gloucester also wore a black top hat while the Duchess wore a warm brown sinamay hat with raised brim on one side. Based on the hat’s binding, it looks like an off-the-peg design.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Max Mara.
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

On May 16, the Duchess of Edinburgh attended the the Not Forgotten Association Annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

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For this event, she repeated a swirled saucer percher hat in pale blue-grey straw trimmed with crin flowers in the same colour.

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Designer: “Heliconia” by Jane Taylor. Coat dress by Suzanna London.
Previously Worn: Sep 29, 2017 

On Wednesday, May 24, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Michael of Kent attended the Royal Kennel Club Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

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The Duke of Gloucester wore a Panama hat while the Duchess topped her navy Max Mara dress with a new brimmed hat in navy sinamay with large fabric leaves.

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Also on May 24, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a garden party at Hillsborough Castle while on their visit to Northern Ireland. Queen Camilla repeated a cream straw with hat angular crown and gently sidesweeping brim. This design is simply trimmed with a monochrome cream silk padded hatband.

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Designer: Philip Treacy. Dress and coat by Bruce Oldfield.
Previously Worn: Jun 15, 2022; May 11, 2021

Images from Getty as indicated 

The Coronation: The Working British Royal Family

Full time working members of the British royal family featured prominently at Saturday’s coronation, no doubt in recognition for the considerable support they provide the monarchy.

 

 

The Prince of Wales wore the deep blue velvet mantle and gold collar of the Royal Order of the Garter over the ceremonial dress uniform of the Welsh guards, complete with cap.

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The Princess of Wales wore a bespoke white silk gown embroidered in roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks beneath the deep blue and scarlet robes and gold collar awarded her as Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). Her halo bandeau headpiece is made of silk flowers and leaves embroidered in silver bullion and crystal which, according to Vogue, is a “nod to… the Green Man. An ancient figure from British folklore, the Green Man symbolizes spring and rebirth. He wears a crown of oak, ivy, and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers.”

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It feels like a modern take on a tiara- the shape and scale certainly follows that of a traditional tiara while the embroidered leaves and flowers gives the piece the most intricate dimension and a decidedly contemporary feel. The collaboration of milliner and designer created a piece (and Charlotte’s mini version) that are exquisite and impeccably made,  and will undoubtedly, stand the test of time.

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Designer: Jess Collett and Alexander McQueen. Dress and cape Alexander McQueen.

As one of four Pages of Honour for the king, Prince George wore a knee-length scarlet coat with gold trimmings over an ivory satin waistcoat, and white silk shirt with jabot. Originally made by Ede and Ravenscroft during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, these items were tailored for this coronation. Instead of traditional breeches and stockings, the pages wore more modern black naval trousers.

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Princess Charlotte dazzled in a scaled down version of her mother’s ensemble, a white silk dress with pleated cape embroidered with the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock quartet of United Kingdom national flowers. Her headpiece featured the same beautifully delicate embroidered leaves and flowers as those on her mum’s, scaled down perfectly for her.

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Designer: Jess Collett and Alexander McQueen. Dress and cape Alexander McQueen.

Concluding the Wales children’s patriotic red, white and blue ensembles was Prince Louis in a navy Hainsworth Garter Blue Doeskin Tunic and black pants with Garter Blue Stripe.

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The Duke of Edinburgh wore the Order of the Garter regalia, including black velvet hat with white ostrich plume.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh wore Grand Cross Mantles of the Royal Victorian Order atop a spectacular gown embroidered with British meadow flowers. Her gown was inspired by the1953 coronation regalia and gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II and also the incredible work of ceramic artist Rachel Dein. Made by British label Suzannah London, the gown was embroidered by master embroiderer Jenny King.

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Sophie wore a headpiece of “Hand made satin leaves set on a headband and encrusted with Swarovski crystals, to match the lace by @jennykingembroidery on the gown made by @suzannahlondon Silver plated snowdrops cast in English silver especially made for this bespoke piece. Silver work by @eilyoconnelljewellery.” Credit is also due to British master flower maker Svetlana Faulkner, who made all of the white silk petal leaves on this design. The movement, circling around Sophie’s head, is so striking.

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Designer: Svetlana Faulkner (PresentPerfect Creations)  and Eily O Connell for Jane Taylor. Gown by Suzannah London with lace by Jenny King Embroidery.

Lady Louise Windsor wore a soft periwinkle saucer hat with windowpane brim, trimmed with curled bows. It is the first wide brimmed hat we have seen on her and together with her floral dress, it makes such a lovely ensemble.

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Designer: “Pomona” by Jane Taylor. Dress by Suzannah London
Previously Worn: This hat is new

The Earl of Wessex donned a black top hat for the first time for the carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace.

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The Princess Royal arrived at Westminster Abbey in the uniform of her rank of Colonel of the Blues and Royals, with black bicorn hat trimmed with a scarlet vertical feather. Atop this she wore the dark green Order of the Thistle Mantle and gold collar, and Garter Sash, Garter Star, Thistle Star, GCVO Star, KCVO Star and Companion of the Order of the Bath decorations.

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Princess Anne explained her role in the procession back to Buckingham Palace recently during an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Company“I have a role as the Colonel of the Blues and Royals in the Household Cavalry regiment as Gold Stick. And Gold Stick was the original close protection officer. So that is a role I was asked if I’d like to do for this coronation, so I said yes. Not least of all, it solves my dress problem.”  Indeed!

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Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence wore the uniform and cap of his naval rank.

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The Duke of Kent wore the mantle and collar of the Royal Order of the Garter while his sister, Princess Alexandra, wore the Grand Cross Mantles and collar of the Royal Victorian Order.

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The Duke of Gloucester wore the black velvet hat with white ostrich plume of the Order of the Garter (along with the Garter mantle and gold collar). Duchess of Gloucester wore a white silk bandeau headpiece trimmed in white cut feathers and a bow at the side. Like the Princess of Wales, Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra, she wore a white gown beneath the Grand Cross Mantles and collar of the Royal Victorian Order.

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Designer of the Duchess’ headpiece: unknown

There was clearly a communicated dress code for the royal women (excluding Princess Anne in her unique role) and the unity of white gowns and headpieces (again, with one exception) made a striking group.

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Images from Getty as indicated