On the eve of HM The Queens’s amazing achievement of 70 years on the throne and as we all look forward to a wonderful Platinum Jubilee Weekend, it is impossible to think of the Queen without thinking about the amazing collection of hats that she has worn throughout the decades.
So I thought it would be interesting to pick out a couple of the Queen’s hats that are particular favourites of mine.
I first saw a replica of this hat at an exhibition of the Queen’s vintage clothing at Holyrood Palace some years ago and was enthralled by how attractive it was, so resolved to find out a little more about its history.
This beautiful hat was quite unusual at the time (1977). With its rather daring “moving bell” decoration it was perhaps considered a little frivolous given the serious nature of the occasion – the service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
Designed by the Queen’s long time milliner Simone Mirman, for the Jubilee, it’s a rounded beret or the tam o shanter inspired style hat, that Simone covered in the pink silk crepe to match the Queen’s dress and coat.
The pink silk crepe fabric was stitched in parallel lines emphasising the shape of the hat base itself and finished with twenty-five bell-shaped flowers that swung freely from soutache cord. These bell-like flowers were attached to the top of the hat and as can be seen from contemporary recordings of the times – they swished freely across the back of the hat, as the Queen moved.
Another beautiful hat is the one known as the “Wedgwood Hat”. The Queen first wore this in 2012 on a visit to Northern Ireland.
This hat features an upswept brim with a wide topped crown. Covered in Wedgwood blue silk crepe the hat features a delicate castellated lace hatband. It was designed by the Queens’s dresser Angela Kelly and was made by Ian Bennett and Stella Mclaren.
It’s a fairy tale hat in fact.
I wonder what the Queen will wear this weekend for her Platinum Jubilee?
Link to image https://pin.it/5BX8mAA
Credit Reuters