Tag Archives: Queen Elizabeth

British Royals Celebrate Commonwealth

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Members of the British Royal Family gathered at Westminster Abbey this morning for the annual Commonwealth Observance Day Service. For this event, the Queen repeated her sky blue felt hat trimmed with chrysanthemum feather flowers. We’ve seen this piece so many times, there’s not much new to say about it.

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Designer: Angela Kelly, made by Stella McLaren. Coat designed by Stewart Parvin
Previously Worn: November 12, 2015; June 11, 2015; April 5, 2015; October 24, 2014; April 8, 2014; October 23, 2013

There is, however, much to discuss about the Duchess of Cambridge’s new hat! In luxurious grey velvet felt, this piece features a squared crown, an upturned slice brim and a charcoal silk sash around the base of the crown. We have seldom seen Kate in brimmed hats and the scale of this design is really lovely on her. The simple lines of the hat are a perfect compliment to the lace-trimmed coat and the two pieces create an ensemble that is beautifully elegant.

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Designer: John Boyd Coat by Erdem
Previously Worn: This hat is new
I suspect many of you will have much to say about Kate’s new hat- I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen And Prince of Wales Celebrate Prince’s Trust

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Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales marked the the 40th anniversary of The Prince’s Trust this morning with a visit to The Prince’s Trust Centre in the Kennington neighbourhood of London. For this celebration, the Queen repeated her teardrop shaped hat in royal blue with feather trim around the brim. Today’s outing provided the best look we have seen of this piece- a look, unfortunately, that only deepens my dislike of it. The colour is beautiful on Her Majesty but I’m afraid that the odd hourglass teardrop shape of the too-tall crown is both awkward and unflattering, two things that a royal hat should never be.

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Designer: Angela Kelly
Previously Worn: February 3, 2014; November 29, 2013; March 28, 2013
So what do you think of this piece, dearest readers? Is my critique overly harsh or do you join me in wishing for this hat’s retirement?
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Meets Recipients of Queen’s Trust

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Queen Elizabeth visited Lister Community School yesterday to meet with some recipients of The Queen’s Trust, of which she is patron. For this visit, she repeated her orchid purple hat with tall, domed crown and fuchsia arrow feather trim. I thought this vibrant hat was a great choice for a spring day’s visit to a charity that’s all about helping young people gain education and personal development- Her Majesty looks great in it and it certainly gives off a positive and uplifting vibe. This ensemble is clearly become a favourite one for the Queen (this is its fourth outing in fourteen months) and I’m curious, dear readers, if you agree?

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Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: November 5, 2015; March 20, 2015; December 25, 2014
Photos from Getty as indicated

Queen Elizabeth Opens Namesake Rail Line

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Queen Elizabeth visited the Bond Street station this morning where she she formally unveiled the new roundel for the Crossrail line, to be named after her when it opens in December 2018. For her tour around the construction site, she repeated a hat we’ve not seen in some time. Made of the same lavender crepe as her coat, the hat features a tall, hourglass crown and a short mushroom brim. Trimmed simply with parallel pintucks that are echoed on her coat, the hat’s impact comes entirely from its unusual shape. It’s not my favourite of the Queen’s hats although I admire the restrained trim and she looks lovely in this shade of purple. What do you think?

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Photos from Getty as indicated

Inventory: Queen Elizabeth’s Red Hats

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I thought I’d send love to all of you dear readers today by sharing a peek into Queen Elizabeth’s hat closet. We’re going to look at Her Majesty’s red hats and by your request, we’re going to include all pieces worn this millennium. Here they are, in the order they were introduced into service:

1.Queen Elizabeth, February 16, 2000 | Royal Hats   2.Queen Elizabeth, November 29, 2000 | Royal Hats   3.Queen Elizabeth, November 7, 1997 | Royal Hats

Designers: unknown; unknown; I suspect Frederick Fox;
Introduced: all in the mid-late 1990s

4.Queen Elizabeth, March 9, 1998 in Philip Somerville| Royal Hats    5.Queen Elizabeth, June 4, 2002 in Philip Somerville | Royal Hats   6.2002-10-22 1

Designers: Philip Somerville; Philip Somerville; unknown (see side view here)
Introduced: November 19, 1997; June 4, 2002; October 22, 2002

7.Queen Elizabeth, April 20, 2003 | Royal Hats  8. Queen Elizabeth, March 13, 2008 | Royal Hats  9. Queen Elizabeth, December 15, 2006 | Royal Hats

Designers: all unknown
Introduced: April 20, 2003; November 8, 2005; December 15, 2006

10.Queen Elizabeth, September 5, 2015 in Rachel Trevor Morgan | Royal Hats 11.Queen Elizabeth, December 25, 2009 in Angela Kelly | Royal Hats 12.Queen Elizabeth, April 25, 2012 | Royal Hats

Designers: Rachel Trevor Morgan; Angela Kelly; likely Angela Kelly
Introduced: April 20, 2003; December 25, 2009; January 17, 2010

13.  14. Queen Elizabeth, February 7, 2016 in | Royal Hats
Designers: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren; likely Angela Kelly
Introduced: December 25, 2015; February 7, 2016

UPDATE: Since this post was published, Queen Elizabeth has added the following red hats:

15.  16.
Designers: Angela Kelly made by Stella McLaren; Rachel Trevor Morgan
Introduced: December 25, 2019; May 22, 2021

While it is a lovely coincidence to have fourteen red hats on February 14, I was surprised at the low number. Since 2000, the Queen has worn more than 60 blue hats and while you can argue that there are far more shades of blue than red, seeing just fourteen red hats over the past sixteen years does seem surprising.

Of the group of hats above, #1 through #7 and #12 all seem to be retired. My favourite is the lone Rachel Trevor Morgan design of #10, a workhorse hat of sorts with more outings than any other hat in the Queen’s current rotation. The beautiful crown shape on this design along with impeccable trimmings makes it a stellar piece. On this Valentine’s Day, which one of these royal red hats stands out to you?

Photos from Anwar Hussein via Getty;  REX/Shutterstock;  Anwar Hussein, Tim Graham, Pool/Tim Graham, Max Nash, Tim Graham, Tim Graham,  Anwar Hussein, Max Mumby/Indigo, Chris Jackson, Max Mumby/Indigo, Chris Jackson and Max Mumby/Indigo, Mark Cuthbert/UK Press and Steve Parsons/WPA Pool via Getty