Tag Archives: Queen Elizabeth

British Royals Host Garden Party

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted the second Buckingham Palace garden party of the season (see the first one here, hosted by Princess Alexandra). The Queen repeated a vibrant hat I am always happy to see make a return. In bright pink straw, this piece features a squared crown, upturned brim on one side and is trimmed with a trio of silk peonies. Such shades of pink can easily read as childish but the crisp lines and restrained trim of this design make it work. I have always thought it to be a marvellous hat on Her Majesty and I adore that she matched her lipstick to it.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: May 28, 2014; July 4, 2012; October 25, 2011

The Countess of Wessex repeated a hat we first saw at Ascot last year. Today’s photo gives a better view of the piece, showing a cream straw beret base with striped crin brim folded up into flutes at the back. With grey and cream crin curls and a pair of black feathers for trim, the hat is a lavish piece that remains incredibly sophisticated thanks to a streamlined colour palate. Sophie has become such a force when it comes to royal millinery and this piece illustrates why.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Jane Taylor
Previously Worn: June 17, 2015

Princess Alexandra repeated the turquoise suit and matching hat she first wore at the Epsom races last summer. With a gently upswept brim on one side, a swath of net tulle resting on the brim, dark blue feather trim and a lower crown than most of her other hats, this remains a fantastic design for Alexandra and she wears it beautifully.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: June 6, 2015

The Duchess of Gloucester joined in today’s rainy festivities in her much loved navy straw beret. While I would love to see a few new pieces make their way into Brigitte’s closet, the streamlined design of this piece looks great on her and allows her jewellery to take centre stage.

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: June 16, 2015; March 26, 2015; June 29, 2013; June 17, 2013; June 4, 2013

Not to be outdone, the Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Gloucester looked most handsome in grey felt top hats while the Duke of York looked to be braving the bad weather in a black silk design.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The start of Buckingham Palace garden parties not only showcases wonderful hats, but indicates how close we are to the biggest of all royal hat events in mid June. What did you think of these repeated hats in London today?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Celebrates School Annivesary

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth was in Berkhamsted this morning to take part in the 475th anniversary of Berkhamsted School of which she is Patron. For this event, she repeated a magenta straw hat that we have not seen in several years.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The piece an upturned brim on one side which follows the same agle as its sloped crown. White and pink straw bands encircle the base of the crown, lending further graphic effect, and the piece is trimmed with white and magenta straw loops on the side and a pair of magenta feathers. The piece is all about contrast and balance (both, executed to perfection) and after fearing it had been retired, I’m tickled to see it on Her Majesty again today as it is fantastic on her.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: June 4, 2011; June 17, 2009
An interesting note about this ensemble- when the Queen first wore the coat and dress during a tour of Turkey in 2008, it was paired with a different hat. In lighter pink straw, the design featured a tall, flat crown and mushroom brim, both wrapped in dark pink silk. Wispy white feathers and a dark fuchsia flower finished it off.
 Embed from Getty Images
The earlier hat has many markers of an Angela Kelly design (although its origin is unconfirmed). Between the two pieces, I much prefer the punchier lines of the Rachel Trevor Morgan design Queen Elizabeth wore today. What do you think?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Seen It Before: Queen Elizabeth’s Somerville Swirls

Posted on by

Royal HatsLast year, Queen Elizabeth surprised us by repeating a black and white hat by Philip Somerville with distinctive crown in white swirled silk.

Embed from Getty Images

Many of you will remember a similar hat with swirled crown the Queen wore several years ago, also by Somerville, in softest petal pink.

Embed from Getty Images

These, however, are not the only two swirled crown hats that Philip Somerville made for Her Majesty. If you go back a decade, you’ll see an even earlier version

Visit of Queen Elizabeth II in France

On a visit to France, June 9, 1992

I find it fascinating to see Somerville’s experiments with this shape from the earlier hat to the later ones. I suspect most of us will prefer the later hats but I have great appreciation for the earlier one as well. Looking at this group I’m left with admiration for Queen Elizabeth’s millinery bravery- while some royals find a particular hat style and stick to it for decades (or more!), she has has continued experimenting with different shapes and styles of hats. Thanks to the immense creativity of her milliners, hers is truly an evolution of style. 
Photos from Getty as indicated and Bisson-Le Segretain-Orban/Sygma/Corbis

 

 

Queen Elizabeth Celebrates 90th Birthday

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh took part in an extended royal walkabout in Windsor today to greet thousands of well wishes on the occasion of the Queen’s 90th birthday. Not surprisingly, she chose a new hat and coat for today’s celebration, designed by trusted personal dresser Angela Kelly and described by Buckingham Palace as a “spring grass green wool and silk weave coat and dress with hat to match adorned with flowers”.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The white straw hat follows a very similar shape to Kelly’s split crown design used on several other pieces with the silk wool fabric from the Queen’s coat used to wrap half of the hat’s tall crown and edge the short brim. The hat is trimmed simply with a spray of silk orchids anchored with a slim green bow at the side. The white hat balances the green outfit well and the fresh colour is youthful and very pretty. I just can’t help feeling that the the execution on this piece feels a little clunky and awkward and I wish that today, of all days, it was more refined.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Angela Kelly made by Stella MacLaren
Previously Worn: This hat is new
Despite my foibles about this piece, the Queen and Duke both look to be happily and thoroughly enjoying this special day. What do you, dearest readers, think about this birthday hat?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Visits Windsor on Eve of Historic Birthday

Posted on by

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were in Windsor today to visit the Royal Maily Delivery Office and open a bandstand in the town’s Alexandra Gardens. The Queen, who turns 90 tomorrow, was all smiles in a new vibrant pink hat for this event.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

With a tall, domed crown (the same base shape as this hat and this hat if I’m not mistaken), this design is edged in contrasting pale green piping around the cartwheel brim and trimmed with a lavish posy of flowers and a pale green straw looped bow. I really like how the floral trim pulls in the floral print of Her Majesty’s floral frock and adds lightness to the punchy hat. The result is a bright, light and well balanced ensemble that sings spring.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan. Coat by Stewart Parvin.
Previously Worn: This hat is new
I suspect you will all have thoughts on this new piece and can’t wait to hear them!
I have been reading through your comments on the open posts while I was away and want to sincerely thank you all for keeping the royal hat conversation going while I was away. Stay tuned later today for our March polls and tomorrow for the Queen’s birthday walk about in Windsor. I have a hunch we might see another new hat!
Photos from Getty as indicated