British Royals Participate in Remembrance Service

Members of the British Royal Family attended the annual Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall yesterday morning. Queen Elizabeth led her family in a black cloche hat wrapped with a tall diagonal band around the crown. Her hat, one of several she has in this style, was trimmed with curling feather spines, a black side bow and wide satin piping around the brim and crown.

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Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: November 13, 2011

The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her large straw picture hat wrapped in ostrich feathers.

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Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: May 1, 2014; November 11, 2012; November 12, 2011; November 9, 2008 

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a petite black modified trilbey with square, indented crown and brim that curled up around the back. The hat was trimmed with a large knotted ribbon tail in the same wool felt as the hat, with beaded detail around the knot. While in the first picture, the hat and coordinating coat look navy, they were indeed black.

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Designer: Jane Corbett
Previously Worn: November 13, 2011

The Countess of Wessex wore a black velour felt percher hat trimmed with organdy ribbon curls.

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Designer: Jane Taylor (this hat looks like a bespoke version of the ‘Ruby’ design)
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

My commentary today is rather thin- with all of the events in Great Britain and around the world leading up to this year’s celebration of Remembrance Day, hat commentary doesn’t feel necessary. We have seen most of these hats before but I am curious, dear readers, what you thought of them yesterday? We will look at hats worn by other British Royal Family members later today.

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Photos from Getty as indicated

Duchess of Cornwall at Harvest Service

The Duchess of Cornwall attended the National Harvest Service at Birmingham Cathedral yesterday. Dressed in very trendy navy, Camilla topped her dress with a wool felt hat with square crown, slightly angled brim and a monochrome twisted rope. The twisted rope embellishment always reminds me of a sausage (not what one wants to be reminded of when looking at a royal hat) but I do like the elegantly refined shape of the hat. Camilla also looks marvelous in blue.

I suspect the snakey sausage trim on this hat will not be overwhelmingly popular with you again, dear readers so I welcome your renovation suggestions – what kind of embellishment would you replace it with?

Duchess of Cornwall, October 20, 2014 in Philip Treacy | Royal Hats

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Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: April 8, 2014; December 25, 2014; March 19, 2012

Photos from WPA Pool via Getty and Getty as indicated 

 

Seeing Double: Duchess of Cornwall

Royal HatsYesterday, we compared two leaf-trimmed Philip Treacy hats in our first October poll. Mr. Treacy has not only embellished tall crowned hats with these unique leaves, as you can see here from the Duchess of Cornwall’s hat closet:

Duchess of Cornwall, December 10, 2007 in Philip Treacy | Royal Hats Duchess of Cornwall, March 10, 2014 in Philip Treacy | Royal Hats

Launching ‘The Queen Victoria’, December 10, 2007; at the Commonwealth Observance Service, March 10, 2014

These hats, which appear to have a beret or cap style base, have noticeable differences (colour, base shape, placement of the leaf trim) but are undeniably related. This style of hat is quite a departure from what Camilla usually wears, which makes it even more curious that she chose two. It works perfectly with her hairstyle, so perhaps that’s the reason?

Photos from Getty as indicated

Farewell to the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were in Derbyshire today to attend the funeral of the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, a longtime friend of Prince Charles. Camilla wore her simple black straw hat with side bow for this event.

Duchess of Cornwall, October 2, 2014 in Lock & Co. | Royal Hats

The current Duchess of Devonshire wore a large scale cloche style hat in black wool with an upturned brim on one side.

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The Duke of Devonshire’s two sisters, Lady Emma Cavendish and Lady Sophia Cavendish, wore a black veil and black picture hat.

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Photos from Getty as indicated