Additional Royals enjoying the races today included Zenouska Mowatt in a wheat coloured open weave straw waved disc (on a straw base) with black silk ribbon and gold feathers by Jane Taylor, paired beautifully with a Carolina Herrera dress
and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, again without Princess Haya.
While no photos have been released of the second, third and fourth carriages in this morning’s parade, a view of the Queen’s carriage shows a trio of gleaming antique silk top hats on the Duke of York, the Queen’s racing manager John Warren and William Vestey, son of the former Master of the Horse.
Before we close with the non-royal hats that caught our eyes today, I want to take this opportunity to chat a little with our guest milliner, Rafa Peinador about his Ascot experience yesterday:
Royal Hats: Rafa-one of your beautiful hats was worn at the races yesterday by Rosie Tapner. Can you tell us how this came about?
Rafa Peinador: I am currently finishing my Higher National Certificate in Millinery at KCC (Kensington and Chelsea College). For the second year running Longines has organised a millinery competition for the students. They selected a well known personality and the students had the opportunity to design and create a bespoke hat for this person to wear at Ascot. This year’s personality was model and presenter Rosie Tapner. She came to college to talk to us about herself and her preferences so that we could create something that was really personal to her. Once we had the designs and mood board she came back to give us her feed back. The next step was to make the hats and present them at the private view party for our final collection. During this event she chose the winner which happened to be me! As a winner I was invited to Longines private box in the Royal enclosure on Friday. Throughout the whole process I was lucky to have the support and precious advice of Rachel Trevor Morgan and of course all the teachers at KCC
Royal Hats: Tell us more about this special hat. What inspired its design?
Rafa Peinador: When Rosie came to college she mentioned that she wanted something special and close to her heart. Her love for horses had to be taken into account. So the first layers of petals in the flower I created were shaped using the outline of the white mark on her horse’s forehead. The rest of the flower is a deconstructed watch. The ribbons going up represent the straps, the base circle represents the cage, the stems represent the minutes and the hour hands. The twelve outside petals represent the dials. The pattern has been modified in order to have a total of 60 elements to represent the 60 seconds in one minute.
Royal Hats: Wow- what incredible thoughtfulness is behind the design. I think the black flowers are exquisite. What are they made of?
Rafa Peinador: I used PETG plastic, hand shaped with heat and spray painted later
Royal Hats: Yesterday was your first time attending Royal Ascot, I believe? What are your impressions of the day?
Rafa Peinador: Yes it was my first experience and what an experience it was! First time and in the Royal Enclosure was an amazing treat. I was surrounded by top milliners that I admire and respect very much like Rachel Trevor Morgan and Edwina Ibbotson. The atmosphere was incredible and for someone who loves hats there is no better event in the world. However I was constantly checking the finish, taste and position of the hats. Once you become a Milliner you will never look at the hats in the same way!
Royal Hats: Congratulations, Rafa, and thank you so much for sharing this experience with Royal Hats!
We end this year’s Royal Ascot coverage with a handful of final non-royal hats that caught my eye on this, the last day of this year’s races:
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Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey in an ecru straw calot with flying bow by Rachel Black Millinery
Equestrienne Lauren Hough in a grey straw beret percher with yellow flowers by Rosie Olivia
Presenter Charlotte Hawkins in a black straw percher with curling bows by Edwina Ibbotsen
Presenter Rosie Tapner in a blush Rachel Trevor Morgan disc with handmade flowers
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Kate Tikhomirova in a fuchsia Awon Golding straw button percher with yellow pouf
Valerie Stark in a fantastical white and yellow maribou pouf hat, also by Awon Golding
Kara Goodley in a Prudence for Lock & Co Pink brocade bow hat with pale green veil
Racing Journalist Liz Price in a pale pink bandeau headpiece
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Great looks from several unidentified race goers (milliners unknown as well)
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Presenter Francesca Cumani in a black percher with crin and purple flowers by Guilia Mio
Unnamed racegoer in a black mini percher pillbox with soaring rings
Nicky Malone in a stunning deep magenta Juliette Botterill floral headpiece
Cream straw hat by Bundle MacLaren with beautiful ombre blush, pink and purple feathers
Milliner Merve Bayindir in a curving pink straw hat with floral trim
Cavan Mahony in a Jane Taylor hat with pink ombre dyed pleated crin
Olivia Daisy Hills’ lace trimmed red saucer hat by Jenny Roberts
8th Sign co-owner Melissa Barton in a pink flower trimmed hat from Millinery By Mel
Mary Davin’s black curving headpiece by American milliner Aurturo Rios
My immense thanks to Rafa Pienador for joining me today, not only to share his thoughts about on this day’s royal hats, but to share in his Ascot millinery adventure. Muchas gracias por acompañarnos, Rafa!
Photos from Getty as indicated
Today’s wedding at Windsor Castle of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston was clearly a family affair, with numerous members of Ella’s Kent family in attendance. Her mother, Princess Michael of Kent, topped her lilac ensemble with her repeated bumper hat covered in pearlescent light grey silk. The hat, which until this outing appeared to be a pillbox, is dramatically trimmed with a streaming ostrich feather plume around the back.
