Tag Archives: Queen Elizabeth

Queen And Duke of York Visit Lincoln’s Inn

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Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of York visited the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn yesterday in London. For this visit, she repeated her vibrant orchid purple hat with domed crown trimmed with a pair of large red feathers.

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We’ve seen this hat enough to quickly admire its punchy colour scheme and subtle brim shape (it’s shorter ’round the back). The photos today, however, give a closer look at the workmanship- there is not a pucker or stitch to be seen. Sometimes, beauty is in what is not seen and the perfectly sewn brim edging on this piece is testament to this.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: Dec 6, 2017; Mar 3, 2016; Nov 5, 2015; Mar 20, 2015; Dec 25, 2014
We don’t always see such detailed shots of hats- have your thoughts about this one changed at all thanks to these better views?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Hat From the Past

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Royal Hats to this day, 38 years ago today, when Queen Elizabeth re opened the John Power Hall in St James’s Square in this tasseled tam ‘o shanter with contrast stitching and itty-bitty cap brim.

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Queen Opens Children’s Charity Facility

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Queen Elizabeth opened a new facility at the ‘Coram’ children’s charity  in London this morning. Established in 1739 by Thomas Coram, the charity was the first home in London to care for abandoned babies and vulnerable children. For this visit, the queen repeated her teal blue wool hourglass shaped cloche hat trimmed with black velvet flowers and leaves.

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We saw this hat less than a month ago so there’s not much to say about it except that it’s great to see the teal, white, purple and black print of the dress of this ensemble (see gallery on the right, above). I also find the frequency of this repeat a bit unusual- usually, the Queen spaces out repeated wearings further.
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Designer: Angela Kelly. Coat by Stewart Parvin.
Previously Worn: Nov 7, 2018; Jan 31, 2017; Oct 23, 2017; Dec 3, 2015; Apr 2, 2015; Oct 16, 2014
Thoughts?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Marks Professional Anniversary

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Queen Elizabeth visited the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors yesterday to mark the organization’s 150th anniversary. For this event, she repeated a bright pink hat with straight sided, domed crown and cartwheel brim. The hat is covered in the same vibrant textured wool bouclé as the ensemble’s matching coat and finished with a double folded hatband and a gold and pink rope bow.

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The colour certainly makes Her Majesty stand out in a crowd! This hat was a surprise- it has only been seen in public once since its original debut in 2012 (likely commissioned for the Golden Jubilee) for a private church outing so, until yesterday, fell into the “only worn once for a working event” hat category. Also interesting is that this hat replaced an earlier, more traditionally shaped Breton, which originally accompanied this coat. Between the two designs, I like the more angular crown on this design and the creative use of decorative rope- certainly not something we see often on a royal hat. This isn’t my favourite design in the Queen’s millinery closet but it holds its own and it’s a welcome surprise to see it again.

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This morning, The Queen visited the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to mark their 150th anniversary. As Patron of the organisation, Her Majesty met staff at the headquarters and visited the, ‘Shaping the World, Building the Future’ exhibition. The exhibit includes a Lego model of the institution’s headquarters, made from 13,000 bricks and which took 150 hours to assemble! Her Majesty met the great-grandson of the RICS Founder and 1st President, John Clutton (picture 2) and representatives of the organisation’s charitable work, trainees, students and diversity champions of the RICS. The Queen concluded the visit by locking a letter box shaped time capsule that will be reopened in 50 years’ time and signing the visitors’ book.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: February 25, 2018; November 22, 2012 
Some of you might not have seen this hat before- what do you think of it?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Hat Mystery

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I recently came across a hat, designed by Simone Mirman and worn by Queen Elizabeth, that I do not recall seeing before. The fine quilted stitching, blue star and red tab make it a distinctive and beautifully executed piece. The photographer’s note says it was worn in Morocco – I suspect, on the same October 1980 tour as the red poppy hat we looked at a few weeks ago, but I can’t find any record of this. So, I turn to your photo archives and encyclopedic memories, dearest readers, for help. Do any of you recall when this hat was worn?

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Photos from Getty as indicated

British Queen and Norwegian King Celebrate Anglo-Norse Society Centenary

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Queen Elizabeth and King Harald of Norway met in London this morning to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Anglo-Norse Society. For this event, Queen Elizabeth repeated the raspberry felt hat she first wore in Scotland in September, giving us the closer look at the design that we have been waiting for!

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This view confirms that the felt design features a molded crown with domed top and gently sidesweeping brim bound in the same wool crepe as the Queen’s suit. The coat fabric is repeated on a hatband and the hat is completed with a bouquet of hand cut felt leaves on the side which lend wonderful texture and movement to the design. There are a few surprises here- first is the mix of felt and fabric and how, in some light conditions, the two different materials show slightly different shades, giving some welcome subtle contrast to the design. The second, even bigger surprise is the jacket this hat accompanies- it’s not a coat! I’m not entirely sure about the waist tie on it but it’s great fun to see the Queen wearing something other than her usual dress-and-coat uniform- especially in such a glorious colour as this.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: Sep 23, 2018
My fondness for this hat has grown immensely thanks to this closer view- what do you think of it today?
Photos from Getty as indicated

British Royals Attend Armistice Centenary Service

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Queen Elizabeth was joined by members of her family last night at Westminster Abbey for a service marking the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended WWI. For this service, she repeated I suspected might have headed into retirement- her purple felt stylised Homburg with layered purple and black hatbands and black velvet oak leaf trim.

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While the masculine hat shape isn’t my favourite, I’ve always loved this saturated purple on Her Majesty and admire how the black trim on the hat links with that splendid velvet coat collar. The brass buttons on the coat give a slight military nod, most fitting for this event,  and the overall look is good one. I had suspicions this hat had been sent into retirement but I’m very pleased to see it has not.

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: Dec 21, 2014; Nov 21, 2013; May 13, 2013; Feb 3, 2013; Nov 26, 2012; Oct 25, 2012; Nov 11, 2009 

The Duchess of Cornwall wore repeated a magnificent purple velvet felt boater hat with oblique crown and brim trimmed with double rows of raw-edged pleated silk and a spray of purple feathers. There’s so much to love here- colour, texture, sheen, presence, whimsy, shape, scale- I could go on and on. When a hat is done as well as this one, I’m happy to see it trotted out again.

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Designer: Philip Treacy
Previously Worn: Mar 13, 2017;  Oct 27, 2016; Mar 3, 2015; Mar 21, 2013; Dec 25, 2012; Mar 26, 2012; Mar 12, 2012; Oct 26, 2010;  Mar 8, 2010 

Duchess of Cambridge topped her green coat with a tall bandeau headpiece of black velvet.

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This is the third kokoshnik shaped bandeau we’ve seen on Kate in recent months and while I applaud her experimentation with new millinery styles, I think this is a difficult shape to wear. Yes, it frames the wearer’s features in a lovely way but it also exaggerates elongated oval-shaped faces like Kate’s and I’m just not sure it flatters. I think a royal hat should look good from all angles- some views of this bandeau (like the one below) are great but others (some of the side views above) show it to be a bit clunky and awkward. Far away views are lovely but close up…. I need help seeing it as something other than an oversize black banana.

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Designer: Jane Taylor. It is the “Velvet Headband” from AW 2018
Previously Worn: This headpiece is new

Duchess of Sussex wore a black felt blocked beret hat with center ‘stem’. The connection between berets and the military make this hat style a fitting choice for this event; its pairing here with a navy suit makes for a fittingly solemn ensemble that’s a welcome step away from head-to-toe black. This hat is a simple and streamlined one that I might consider boring at another event but here, works well.

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Designer: My guess is Stephen Jones
Previously Worn: This hat is new
I’ve often commented about the challenges that memorial events such as these pose to royal fashion and thought the use of deep, jewel tones seen here hit a brilliantly appropriate balance. What do you think of this quartet of hats yesterday at Westminster Abbey?
Photos from Getty as indicated