110 years to this week in December 1911 when the last of three Delhi Durbars took place and King George V and Queen Mary were crowned Emperor and Empress of India. While the coronation took place on December 12, the king in the Imperial State crown and Queen Mary in the tiara we now refer to as the Delhi Durbar as it was assembled from several other pieces specifically for this event, the celebration lasted a week. The third photo below shows the new Emperor and Empress at another parade, both in hats.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Images from Getty and social media as indicated
to April 1944 and a wonderful snap caught at an 18th birthday celebration featuring a fascinating pair of hats. Queen Mary’s usual toque is replaced here by a jaunty design with upfolded brim trimmed with large flowers on the side. Princess Elizabeth’s pleated cap with visor brim has such a ‘military uniform’ vibe that one must look twice to see it’s not such.