The Swedish Royal Family arrived at the Swedish Parliament House in Stockholm this morning to take part in the opening of the new parliamentary session

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The family, led by the king and queen, dressed in the black and white dress code traditionally associated with this event (well, most of them did but we’ll get to that, shortly!). Queen Silvia repeated her white straw calot hat with back bow and net tulle veil. The beehive shaped hat is wrapped in stripes of straw, giving the design texture and dimension in addition to a distinctive shape. It’s not my favourite hat in Silvia’s wardrobe but integrates very well with her hairstyle.

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Designer: Mode Rosa
Previously Worn: Sep 4, 2017; Apr 24, 2016; Jun 6, 2014; Sep 8, 2013; May 10, 2013; Apr 16, 2013

Crown Princess Victoria wore an interesting headpiece put together from two previously worn separate designs. The white triple ringed bandeau previously had a large white bloom that was removed today and in its place, Victoria’s headpiece of black and white layered butterfly bows.  I’m all for mixing millinery pieces whenever possible but there’s something incongruous about this combination, which, I’m afraid, looks like a bit of a mash-up. I wish the ringed bandeau had been repeated in its original, flower trimmed form.

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Designer of the ringed headpiece: unknown (Philip Treacy made its pink twin)
Previously Worn: April 16, 2015
Designer of the Butterfly bow headpiece: Malinda Damgaard 
Previously Worn: September 13, 2016; October 19, 2015; September 15, 2015

Princess Sofia veered away from the black and white dress code with a two-piece headpiece – face framing bandeau and a separate bow worn at the base of her neck- in luxe wine velvet.  As far as bandeaus go, it’s a good one and frames Sofia’s face beautifully. The colour, however, has me scratching my own head here- yes, it’s a beautiful, painterly fall colour that looks fantastic in velvet but… I can’t believe I’m stating the obvious here… it’s not black or white. Is this the start of coloured accessories for this event? I hope so!

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Designer: Headpieces by M (Matthias Lavesson)
Previously Worn: this headpiece is new

This is one of very few annual hatted events in Sweden and leaves me curious, dearest readers- what do you think of this trio of off-the-face millinery designs?

The Swedish King and Queen welcomed Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura yesterday for the start of a state visit. For the official welcome at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Queen Silvia wore a new hat.

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With a blocked peacock blue felt wave-shaped base, the hat is trimmed with a grey diamond woven veil and a ruffled flower made of grey felt and grey and blue silk. The gentle curves of the base frame Silvia’s head so beautifully and the combination of trim adds another layer of softness. I particularly love the pop of blue to contrast against her exquisite silver grey suit- it’s a good look for her.

The Swedish royal family attended the opening of Swedish Parliament Riksdagen yesterday in Stockholm, dressed, as they are each year, in black and white.

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Queen Silvia used the occasion to debut a new hat. The teardrop shaped calot is covered in textured white silk crepe with seam lines finished in fine, double stitching, and trimmed with a pair of curling, trimmed black feathers and a black velvet flower. The graphic trim works well on the hat, given a modern and graphic element to the traditional shape. Queen Silvia carries these modified calot shapes so well and the scheme of this one gives it a more contemporary feel than some of her other hats in this shape.

We continue our look at the floral themed hats and headpieces worn at Princess Adrienne’s christening with those worn by her grandmothers, aunts and cousins. Queen Silvia topped her pale grey silk wool cloqué embossed floral dress with a padded headpiece in the same fabric. While the design looks like a pillbox or calot hat from the front, back and side views confirm it is an open ring with geometric shaped back.

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I’ve written before my thoughts on this style of headpiece- I’m not a particular fan. This one is not helped by the bland colour or the distinct pattern of the cloqué fabric, which ties it to the dress to a degree that a ‘matchy-matchy’ label feels inevitable. The dress is beautiful and I wonder how it might have paired with a smart straw hat instead.

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Designer: unknown. 
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Crown Princess Victoria topped her floral dress with a cream tri-ringed headpiece trimmed with large beige and cream silk cabbage roses. We’ve seen Victoria in two twins of this piece (see here and here), all which link to the headpiece Queen Silvia wore in August 1970 for Prince Carl Philip’s christening. While she wears the design well, it makes a lovely nostalgic nod and it fit the floral theme of yesterday’s event, three versions of such a distinctive style is enough for me –  I’d love to see something different on Victoria.

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Previously Worn: this hat is new

Princess Sofia wore a large ecrcu silk floral headpiece tucked behind her left ear. It’s a pretty design, albeit nondescript design that paired especially well with her drop pearl earrings, relaxed chignon and floral dress.

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Previously Worn: This design is new

In a non-hatted but very sweet touch, Prince Alexander wore the same blue outfit his father wore to the Te Deum following Princess Madeleine’s birth in 1982. The resemblance between father and son is striking.

Prince Alexander wearing an outfit previously seen on his father. Prince Carl Philip wore it for Princess Madeleine's Te Deum back in 1982 pic.twitter.com/yrvm8NahGo

— Princess Estelle Attire (@estelle_attire) June 8, 2018

Looking now at Princess Adrienne’s paternal relations, Eva O’Neill topped her green-gray dress with a matching bandeau headpiece of overlapping feathers in the same hue. The piece works especially well with her short haircut and the shape and movement of the design made a lovely complement to the dress.

   

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Chris’ sisters, Annalisa  and Karen O’Neill, both wore black crin headpieces trimmed with feathers.

Chris’ sister Tatjana d’Abo wore an embellished gold headband while her daughter, Anouska, who was named as one of Princess Adrienne’s godparents, wore a Philip Treacy designed pink straw percher with lace trimmed veil. Chris’ other sister, Countess Natascha Abensperg und Traun, also wore a Philip Treacy design (silk flowers made by Anfisa Korelova). Her domed grey straw percher is trimmed with pink and white handmade silk flowers, green silk leaves and grey feathers.

    

I always love to see non-royal relations hold their own in the millinery stakes at events such as this, and the O’Neill family did especially well, bringing some of the few hats we saw at this event. That being said, there is something sweetly pretty about the floral dress and headpiece uniform of sorts adopted by the Swedish royal relations. Which hats stand out here most to you?

Next up, hats and headpieces worn by members of the extended royal family.

Photos from Getty as indicated; Stella Pictures, TT