Tag Archives: Princess Victoria

Monaco Royal Wedding: Scandinavian Royals

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It’s not often that a monarch marries so it was no surprise that the religious ceremony of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock on July 2, 2011 included lots of royal guests.

We start our tour of royal hats worn to this wedding with the last bride to marry a reigning monarch- Queen Silvia, who wore a wide brimmed parasisal straw picture hat in lilac pink. The design featured a crossover shape on the front of the crown, a gently sideswept brim and was simply trimmed with a double looped straw bow on the side. With her silk jacquard cloqué dress in the same colour, the hat topped a very coordinated look.

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Designer: unknown

Crown Princess Victoria’s aqua calot hat was clearly designed to match her silk chiffon embellished dress with the same curved iridescent paillettes on the dress’ sleeves completely covering the hat. It’s a very textural look in a colour that’s great for Victoria but that was let down by her limply styled hair. Victoria was in her first trimester of pregnancy with Princess Estelle at the time of this wedding, making me wonder if she was feeling her best or if the heat of the day simply got the best of her. It’s a fussier look than we usually see on Victoria, which makes me like it for her, and I wish we could see it worn again with a more successful hairstyle.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Escada.

Princess Madeleine paired her almond silk dress with a large silk rose headpiece in a similar hue, with tall curving pheasant feather. As far as fascinators go, this one makes a statement… although the curve and height of that feather always felt a bit random to me.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Dolce & Gabbana

Princess Mette-Marit also chose a monochrome look in a pale, neutral pink with a crescent headpiece of layered hand cut lace that circled around the back of her head. The multiple layers of lace created a wonderfully dimensional piece that contrasted against the smooth lines and asymmetrical neckline of her dress and beautifully framed her face. I usually am a stickler for impeccable finishes on royal millinery but the the slightly raw lace on this design gave it an edgy, rough beauty.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Valentino.

Princess Mary wore one of my favourite looks at this wedding with a finely woven, wheat-hued straw saucer hat studded with tiny diamanté, trimmed with large ecru silk roses and flying coque feathers. While a neutral colour, the hat was anything but boring thanks to its dramatic shape and bold trim, elements that enabled it to stand up as the perfect counterpoint for Mary’s Mediterranean blue silk dress. With neutral shoes and a fun, patterned turquoise purse, this ensemble was perfectly styled and firmly got my vote for best dressed guest at this wedding. Nine years on, it’s still one of my favourites.

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Designer: Jane Taylor. Dress by Prada. 

Princess Marie went with a more monochrome approach, topping her pale peach silk wrap dress with a brimmed hat in the same shade. The hat’s brim was gently turned up around the front the hat was completed a spray of straw leaves in darker and lighter shades sweeping over the side.

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Designer: unknown. Dress by Rikke Gudnitz.

There’s no shortage of interesting milliner here- we’ve got colour, sparkle and drama! I’ve already tipped my hand as to my favourite, dearest readers but I’m curious- which looks here stand out most to you?

Jump to this post for an index of other royal hats that appeared at this wedding. 

Photos from Getty as indicated 

Hats From the Past: Christening of Princess Isabella

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Thirteen years ago today, Princess Isabella of Denmark was christened in an intimate service held in the chapel of Fredensborg Palace, the Danish royal family’s summer home.

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Crown Princess Mary topped a dusky pink Birgit Hallstein dress with the same cream silk flower bandeau headpiece by Malene Birger she had worn for Prince Christian’s baptism in 2006 (and she would later repeat for the christening of Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine in 2011).

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Larger than a bandeau, the headpiece’s scale gives it enough presence to stand on its own without obscuring a view of the baby and the floral motif gives is a delicacy and charm that feels very right for the occasion. The colour is so wonderful against Princess Mary’s hair and easily pairs with different ensembles, although this dress fell flat for me. In this ensemble, I think the headpiece was one of the most successful elements.

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Queen Margrethe wore her recognizable pink and green ensemble with patterned floral silk dress and wide brimmed vibrant green straw picture hat, trimmed with pink straw loops. Ever the romantic, Prince Henrik tied in his ensemble with a pink shirt.

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Princess Benedikte topped her pink coat with the loveliest ecru straw brimmed hat (how elegant are the lines on the brim’s  cartwheel shape) trimmed with a pink spray of silk flowers on the side. Her daughter, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, wore a bandeau headpiece of deep purple flowers.  Carina Axelsson topped her pink dress with a pale almond straw brimmed hat with gently sidesweeping brim, trimmed with an ecru wide hatband and side ruffled bow. Queen Anne-Marie of Greece wore a wheat coloured straw hat with upturned, rimmed kettle brim and a textural, woven hatband.

Princess Isabella’s godmothers included Queen Mathilde and Prince Frederik’s first cousin, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark. Mathilde topped her lace coat with a matching wide padded bandeau headpiece, covered in the same lace and trimmed with a multi-looped black silk side bow. Princess Alexia wore a cream bandeau headpiece with spray of goose biot feathers on the side.

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Royal guests included Crown Princess Victoria who wore a bandeau headpiece with textured fabric base, trimmed with applique flowers and a pair of feather quills. Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore her gold Prada headband with blush silk bow on one side.

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Princess Mary’s stepmother, Susan Donaldson, wore a deep eggplant silk floral fascinator with dotted tulle bow.

Looking back, this event is a noticeably more informal and intimate affair than Prince Christian’s baptism was, just 18 months earlier.  The palate is so light and summery, although today’s current popularity of bandeau style headpieces makes me surprised to see so many here, 13 years ago! Perhaps these royal ladies were just ahead of fashion?!

What do you think of these royal hat looks? Which ones stand out most to you?

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Photos from Getty as indicated; Polfoto

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Gabriella of Monaco adorable in a flower trimmed headband Tuesday for Fete de la Saint Jean
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The Earl of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor out for a ride last weekend
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Sweet photo of Princes Alexander and Gabriel of Sweden, enjoying summer
The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Grass green straw brimmed newsboy cap by Italian brand Gallia e Peter
Striking, angular black and white straw hat with dramatic cartwheel brim by Australian milliner Chris Mullane
Whimsical ruffled crin headpieces in rainbow and ruby red by UK milliner Alexandra Harper
Ivory straw picture hat with calla lilies and canteloupe raw edged straw trim by UK brand Hostie Hats
Show-stopper pink straw oversize Breton hat rimmed in giant pink silk roses by British milliner Edwina Ibbotsen

Tangerine sinamay straw hat with mushroom brim dotted with black flowers from Italian brand Modista Stybel. The effect of the layered orange and black straw on the crown is lovely.

Angular red straw statement hat with black and white striped hatband by Irish milliner Carol Kennelly
Coronet of emerald silk butterflies trimmed in black beaded lace and veil by British milliner Philip Rhodes
Printed velvet beret percher with orange feathers and black veil by Aussie brand Millinery By Mel
Aqua, chartreuse and ivory straw mushroom brimmed hat with lilies by French milliner Sylvia Martinez
Black straw button percher with quills, net and coral silk flowers from British milliner Piers Atkinson
Ivory straw wide brimmed boater with blue and green ombre pompm by British milliner Laura James

Also from Australian brand Millinery By Mel, this exquisite sweeping bucket hat in ivory, jade, yellow and pink straw striped trimmed with a single feather. Breathtaking!

Elegantly streamlined pewter parisisal straw button percher with ruffle by UK brand Mind Your Bonce
Fantastic headpiece of red silk abaca hibiscus flowers by Australian milliner Felicity Northeast
Oversize fedora sunhat made of natural straw braid with rickrack hatband from UK milliner Sally Ann Provan
Black button percher with leather flowers, crin twists and face loops by Irish milliner Edel Black
Pink straw boater with vibrantly patterned hatband and feather pompoms by US brand Lifted Millinery
Spectacular headpiece made from recycled packing strips by Australian milliner Belinda Osborne

Flawless pattern matching by Canadian milliner Truly Carmichael on this ‘newsgirl’ cap with pink and purple diamond print fabric cut to form a star on the crown.

Blush pink silk covered hugger percher with large silk rose by UK brand Catherine Walker
Spectacular red and black straw freeform hat made under the tutelage of British milliner Tracy Chaplin
Royal blue straw boater with flower, quills and wonderful 3D woven hatbands by Australian milliner Leteisha Knecht
Black straw disc percher with floating fuchsia feather by Irish milliner Aoife Harrison
Chic panama straw fedora with silk scarf hatband by British brand John Boyd Hats

And from Irish milliner Carol Kennelly, this wonderfully vibrant fuchsia straw slice picture hat trimmed with red, orange and pink handmade poppies. This hat makes me smile!

More sweet photos of wee Prince Charles of Luxembourg


Interesting review, in English, of the first year of the Heiwa era. The pace is a little slow but the look into the Imperial ceremonies is detailed and fascinating.
The Belgian royal family enjoying a trip to Limburg today
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Photos from Getty and social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Swedish royals in traditional costume for their nation’s holiday today. They also released a darling photo of Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, and Princess Madeleine weighed in with her children from Florida.


The following new millinery designs caught my eye this week:
Black windowpane straw wide brimmed hat with silk abaca, quills and rose by London-based Joaquina Pereira
Incredible texture on this ivory and aqua braided boater hat from British milliner Vivien Sheriff
Denim blue and black felt fedora with hand stitched detail from Australian milliner Jill Humphries
The prettiest grey swirling brim design with roses by British milliner Lucy Bowler
Casual (but impeccable!) natural straw trilby with rope hatband from Czech milliner Jolana Kotabova
From London-based milliner Merve Bayindir, this wide brimmed blue straw picture hat with rectangular sequins

Periwinkle and dark raspberry felt fedora from Russian milliner Lana Anisimova
Classic navy and cream Dior brimmed beauty by British milliner Rose Collins
Wonderful headpiece of blue silk flowers by Australian milliner Felicity Northeast
Blush pink parasisal pyramid with irredescent butterflies by British milliner Julian Garner
Charming blue bandeau with white bow, feathers and dotted blue veil by French milliner Béatrice de Beauvoir
Incredibly fine stitching detail on this silver silk pillox hat from British brand Fraser Annand Millinery

Lovely fedoras in neutral blush, grey and taupe with crisp eggshell hatbands by British brand SB Millinery
Black silk bandeau with silk and tulle pleated trim by Australian milliner Meg Rafter
Cream straw vertical saucer with pink hydrangeas by British brand Rebecca Couture
Grey felt trilby with wide, geometric printed hatband by London-based Sahar Millinery
Fuchsia lace headpiece with green quills by Australian milliner Neil Grigg
Striking black straw pyramid hat with feather trimmed brim by British milliner Awon Golding for Lock and Co.

Lovely photos of the Bhutan royal family with their newest member
Compelling statement from Princess Martha Louise.
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Being @shamandurek ‘s girlfriend has given me a crash course in how white supremacy is at play and the way I have consciously and subconsciously thought of and acted towards black people. How I have taken my rights for granted - never looked properly at what racism really is, because it has been comfortable for me that the system is in place. I am not proud of it, but I realize I need to grow into understanding this deeply rooted system to be able to be part of the dismantling of it. I, as a white person, need to grow, educate myself and become better and move from being against racism to being anti-racist. Racism is not just the obvious (which I thought it was), of the openly discrimination, mistreating and killing of black people which is easy and obvious to take a stand against. It is in the details (which I had no idea still existed). It is in the way people shy away from Durek. How friends assume he lies about everything. That he is evil for being kind. The words muttered under their breath, making it perfectly clear to him that he does not have a natural place at the table. People at high places saying “How dare you think I would touch your hand?” when he reached out his hand to say goodnight (pre Covid-19). People thinking they aren’t racist, but don’t know anyone with a different skin color than their own, apart from the people working for them. How it is assumed that Durek is not a good person who actually loves me, but has manipulated me into loving him and keeps manipulating me in our relationship. How he will exploit me financially. The press presents him as a liar, being violent and a threat to my family and myself, sharing scrupulously his X’s story without checking facts, because it supports the belief system already in place about him. THAT IS RACISM! We have both received death threats for being together and have weekly been told that we shame our people and families for choosing each other. The reality of it all is that I love how he holds space for me as a woman, listens to my wisdom and shows up for me and my girls. I love how he shares his wisdom with the world CONTINUES IN COMMENTS 👇

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And eloquent words from the Duchess of Sussex to young women graduating from her high school in Los Angeles.

Photos from social media as indicated

This Week’s Extras

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Princess Beatrice rang in Chinese New Year in a pearl trimmed Zara bandeau
Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Sofia in streamlined black hats (and headpiece) on Tuesday for the funeral of Dagmar von Arbin


On Wednesday, Queen Elizabeth wore a silk headscarf for an engagement- something we don’t often see her do. She officially opened the new Wolferton Pumping Station 72 years after father, King George VI, opened the original station on February 2, 1948.
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On Thursday, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia were in warm winter hats for the Jokkmokk Fair in northern Sweden
Queen Margrethe repeated her smart navy wool covered hat with tartan hatband by Mathilde Thoe Førster yesterday to open the new Copenhagen Museum
The following new millinery designs caught my (and my mum’s !) eyes this week:
Fantastical floral wire vine headpiece made of recycled plastic by Australian milliner Brea Moreland
Ochre straw retro mushroom brimmed hat with blue silk bowed hatband by UK brand Gillys MIllinery
Red straw beret percher with feather flowers and wired crin loops by British milliner Rosie Olivia

And two to highlight- the first, from British milliner Marissa Groom, is a cream straw button percher with pastel sinamay flames and rows of cream ruffles. The second, from Japanese brand Maxim, is a brown felt design with cut felt feather hatband and woven chain detail around the brim edge.


The Danish monarchy released new portraits of Crown Princess Mary and Princess Marie to celebrate their respective birthdays this week


Sweet new family portrait of Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and family (I think Princess Estelle’s hairbow is from Livly)

Photos from Getty Images and social media as indicated