Tag Archives: Queen Margrethe

Danish Summer Cruise Day 2

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Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark continued the first leg of their annual summer cruise with a visit to Odense last Thursday. She repeated her textured red straw hat with slim bow at the crown.

Queen Margrethe, June 19, 2014 | Royal Hats

Queen Margrethe, June 19, 2014 | Royal Hats  Queen Margrethe, June 19, 2014 | Royal Hats

This closeup photo gives us a better view of this hat than we have seen before. Originally, I thought the hat was made of two different straw textures. This view shows this is a simple straw hat simply covered, in part, with an open-weave fabric (similar to a knit or crochet blanket). This textured fabric also was used on the edging around the brim. It creates marvelous texture on this hat that, at a distance, looks like a roughly woven straw. I am less partial to the closeup view of this hat but continue to like it from more of a distance where the texture looks less homespun. What do you think?

Queen Margrethe, June 19, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 26, 2014; August 31, 2013; July 1, 2013;  May 29, 2013, May 14, 2013; September 11, 2009; June 30, 2008; February 20, 2008; September  12, 2007; June 7, 2007;  May 10, 2007

Photos from Peter Leth-Larsen, Michael Bager via Fyens.dk and Michael Bager via Fyens

Danish Summer Cruise Day 1

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Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark began the first leg of their annual summer cruise aboard the royal yacht “Dannebrog” on June 18. For this busy day of visits to a care facility, music school, City Hall, a cultural centre and a wind farm, Queen Margrethe repeated her pale blue brimless pork pie hat. While this felt hat feels much more like a winter hat to me than a summer one, I suppose it is breezy on the water in Northern Europe so won’t quibble about it. The detail on this hat is so pretty, it remains one of my favourites in Queen Margrethe’s hat closet.

 Queen Margrethe, June 18, 2014 | Royal Hats Queen Margrethe, June 18, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 19, 2014, April 25, 2014

Prince Henrik was also in a nautical mood with his naval uniform and cap for the yacht’s arrival in harbour. They cast a dashing pair, don’t they?!Queen Margrethe, June 18, 2014 | Royal Hats

Photos from Henning Bagger and Henning Bagger via Berlingske; and Henning Bagger/Scanpix via DR.dk

European Monarchs Commemorate D-Day Landings at Normandy

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On June 6, 1944, 156,000 British, Canadian and American allied troops joined forces and landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast in France’s Normandy region.  The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and the Battle of Normandy, which lasted through August that year, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe. Today marks the 70th day of this momentous event. To commemorate today’s anniversary of the D-Day landings, many heads of state gathered at the famous beaches to pay their respects to those who lost their lives.

Queen Elizabeth, the only current monarch who served in World War II, wore a bright, citrusy green straw hat with a sharply upturned brim on one side balanced by a large fabric flower on the other. It’s a lot of bright green but she wore it very well. As expected, the Duke of Edinburgh was in military dress.

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

Designer: Rachel Trevor Morgan
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Queen Margrethe of Denmark repeated her electric blue hat with pork pie crown, downward curved brim and striped band around the crown. While I love this hat on her, I was secretly hoping she would unveil a new chapeau today.

    Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 5, 2013; April 27, 2014; October 6, 2013; September 3, 2013; July 4, 2013; June 2, 2013; May 6, 2013; June 14, 2012; September 2, 2012; September 20, 2011; September 6, 2011; and May 23, 2011

King Herald of Norway wore military uniform (I believe this is the uniform of Admiral of the Royal Norwegian Navy).

 Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

While Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg opted for a suit instead of military dress (as did King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Prince Albert of Monaco and King Philippe of Belgium), Grand Duchess Maria Teresa unveiled a sleek new pillbox trimmed with what looked to be a flat white bow at the back. I loved the lack of frou frou on this hat and thought Maria Teresa looked great in this classic black and white scheme.

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Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this is a new hat

It was also wonderful to see Grand Duke Jean at this commemoration (seated to the left of Queen Elizabeth below). The Grand Duke landed at Normandy in the days after D-Day as a member of a reinforcement until. Luxarazzi has an excellent detail of his role in World War II in this article that I encourage you to read.

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As previously mentioned, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands did not wear military uniform and therefore, was without a hat. Queen Máxima made up for this with a super bright yellow ruched fabric toque hat that coordinated with her jacket.

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

My general dislike of bright yellow aside, this ensemble just didn’t work for me (I think it was the boxy, ill fitting Big Bird-esque jacket). The whole look seemed imbalanced and odd… and that was before I realized the toque was not a toque, but another one of Máxima’s millinery doughnuts.

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Designer:  I suspect Fabienne Delvigne
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Queen Mathilde of Belgium wore a pale blue calot hat with wide cuff (you can see the cuff here). I thought she looked exceedingly refined and elegant, especially when seated next to certain other yellow hat disasters.

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

Designer: Christian Dior. Suit by Dior as well
Previously Worn: This hat is new

Seldom do we see such a gathering of heads of state at one event- today’s attendance by so many royal families shows how significant D-Day was in the history of each of their nations. It’s one of those occasions where the importance of history eclipses even the marvelous hats.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Historical significance aside, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the hats worn by European monarchs today. Which one was your favourite?

Photos from Getty as indicated

Danish and Norwegian Queens Celebrate Norwegian Constitution

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On Saturday, Queen Sonja of Norway and Queen Margrethe of Denmark attended a seminar on the bicentenary of the Norwegian Constitution and unveiled the sculpture “Dobbeltlegeme” by Morten Stræde. For these final events held in Copenhagen, the two queens repeated navy ensembles with coordinating hats. Queen Margrethe wore her much loved red straw picture hat featuring a textured open weave straw detail on one side of the hat. 

Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja, May 24, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: August 31, 2013; July 1, 2013;  May 29, 2013, May 14, 2013; September 11, 2009; June 30, 2008; February 20, 2008; September  12, 2007; June 7, 2007;  May 10, 2007; 

Queen Sonja repeated the white straw hat with cloche-style crown wrapped in a ruched navy and white sash that she wore for her Stortinget visit last week. The photos released today show this hat to much greater effect and remove my previous misgivings about it. The side view of this hat below, which includes the lovely large folded bow, is particularly pretty. 

Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja, May 24, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer of Queen Sonja’s hat: unknown
Previously Worn: May 15, 2014; September 1, 2005; June 17, 2002

I always love seeing members of different royal houses at joint engagements and thought these two queens looked quite smashing today. What do you think of their hats?

Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja, May 24, 2014 | Royal Hats

Photos from Bax Lindhardt / Scanpix via Kongehuset

Scandinavian Royals in Norway

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The Swedish and Danish monarchs traveled to Norway last weekend to take part in the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution. One of the weekend’s events was unveiling a statue of King Christian Frederik (an interesting fellow who was King of both Norway and Denmark). Queen Margrethe of Denmark did the honors in her pale blue suit and matching brimless hat with pork pie style crown, horizontally pleated sides and flower pinwheel on the side.

Queen Margrethe, May 19, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn:April 25, 2014

Queen Margrethe, May 19, 2014 | Royal Hats

 

Queen Sonja repeated a cream picture hat with side flower (not visible here) and pink feathers. Sonja often chooses small hats and I love to see her in a larger picture hat such as this one.

Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja, May 19, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: May 31, 2012; June 2007 

Photos from NTB Scanpix via BT.dk