After yesterday’s amazing day of wild hats for Ladies’ Day and the Queen’s unexpected win of the Gold cup, the hats and atmosphere at Ascot today was decidedly more sedate. I’m so happy to again welcome Katie Vale of Katie Vale Designs to share her opinions on today’s Royal Ascot hats.

Queen Elizabeth in an Angela Kelly design

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Katie Vale: I really like the textured sinamay, and think it goes well with the texture of her outfit.  I like the shape of the brim.  However I think both the flowers & the feathers are too much.  I think the flowers actually look a bit tatty and as though they are from the bargain bucket of a haberdashery!  It’s a shame as the blue ostrich feathers are gorgeous.

Royal Hats Blog: I nearly cried when I saw this… thing. I can’t bring myself to call it a hat. It’s a starched crocheted doily molded into a cartoon caricature of a hat, trimmed with dollar store flowers and plonked on the head of one of the loveliest women in the world. Of all the designers out there making beautiful hats, I cannot understand why she would choose this. I agree Katie- the blue feather is the only redeemable thing about this hat. The rest should be driven over by a large truck.

Countess of Wessex in a Jane Taylor design

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Katie Vale: I actually just gasped when I saw this picture!  Stunning!  Gorgeous shape!  Such a lovely flow to it.  And the delicate black cherry blossom on it is just lovely!  Hoorah for this hat!!!

 Royal Hats Blog: I am awed speechless by this hat. It is just beautiful! It is similar to the “Lady A” design, also by Jane Taylor, Sophie wore for the Luxembourg royal wedding last October and the hat she wore earlier this week for the Order of the Garter. It is a great shape on Sophie and works particularly well with her new hairstyle. I agree Katie- this is one of the best hats we’ve seen this week!

Princess Michael of Kent in a Philip Treacy design

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Katie Vale: Very nice.  Very unoffensive and nice subtle tones.  It doesn’t excite me, but I think that’s due to the colour than the design (I’m not a blue girl!).  the disc shape is lovely and very “in” at the moment.  And the grey flowers are lovely, but I’m not sure about the pale blue piece of chiffon in there, I don’t think it’s necessary if I’m honest!  But overall it works

Royal Hats Blog: Marie-Christine wore this hat to Ascot last year (and to Epsom in 2012) but I’m not complaining because it is a stunning hat. Since blue is one of my favourite colours, I’m going to shower love on this hat! It’s fun, dramatic and whimsical- exactly the kind of things you want an Ascot hat to be.

Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan

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Katie Vale: Very pretty and delicate colour.  But I think the feathers appear messy and unstructured.  Feathers can be used in many ways, but this looks as though there is no real shape to it at all and it’s just plonked on!  I’m not feeling the love for this one!  (Also note that if in the Royal Enclosure you must have a hat or fascinator with a base at least 10cm in diameter, or you won’t be allowed in.  So in theory this shouldn’t be allowed in the Royal Enclosure.  Therefore, I don’t think it’s grand enough to sit next to the Queen at Royal Ascot!)

Royal Hats Blog: I really like the look of an unstructured feather fascinator tucked into a neat chignon like this one. The teal feathers are a beautiful contrast against Princess Sarvath’s hair colour and skin tone and the overall effect is rather playful and fun. For arrival at Ascot with the Queen however, I agree with you Katie. This is not nearly enough hat. I wonder what they do when the Royals themselves don’t meet the dress standards of the Royal Enclosure….

Other notable hats today included those worn by: Pippa Middleton (I loved her whole outfit); Julia Bradbury; Lisa Scott-Lee; Brix Smith-Start and Dawn O’Porter.. Please join us here tomorrow for our final day of Ascot coverage. Thanks again to Katie Vale who has made our posts this week so very enjoyable!

UPDATE-  Photos of Princess Haya were finally released showing her at Day 4 of Royal Ascot in this absolutely divine white picture hat. Had we seen this earlier, I’m quite certain Katie Vale and I would have deemed this one of the most spectacular hats of the week. Magnificent!

Photos from Getty as indicated; Rex Features via AP; and Rex Features via AP.