Why Hats are so important at British Royal events?
Various World Leaders at King Charles’ Coronation Cover Photo: Andrew Matthews via: WWD
Many outfits in the coronation featured various styles of hats and fascinators from guests ranging from world leaders to celebrities. According to royal protocol, women have to wear hats to all official occasions. At various British formal events, especially for weddings, coronations, horse races, etc., hats and fascinators are an important staple for women to wear. This is considered proper etiquette for these events and is a form of tradition when it comes to British royal events. Hats and fascinators are different styles of headwear. Hats are headwear that have a brim and a base and fascinators are head pieces that are attached to the hair via a clip or headband. This type of headwear usually has accents such as feathers, bows and ribbons and can vary in size.
Queen Anne - Marie of Greece with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Photo: Jeff J Mitchell via: WWD
British headwear or millinery has a rich history and has been a part of British royal etiquette for decades. They were symbols of a woman’s status and social standing in British society. Before the 1950s, women wore them outside everywhere they went. Wealthy and royal women were not allowed to show their hair in public. In the 1940s, women often wore doll hats which was an early rendition of the modern fascinator. They were popular not only in Britain, but also in America. These hats were also a form of protest because they were used as a symbol to defy the nazi party.
Lady Louise Windsor at the Coronation Photo: Getty Images via WWD
As the years went on, hats that were not for everyday wear. They catered to specific events and were not for everyday wear. A senior tutor at The English Manner Diana Mather, “Up until the 1950s ladies were very seldom seen without a hat as it was not considered ‘the thing’ for ladies to show their hair in public,” she said. “All that has changed and hats are now reserved for more formal occasions.” In the 1950s and 1960s, women wore cocktail hats that wear an added accessory that women wore that did not have any brims. In the 1970s and 1980s, women began to wear the fascinators we see today thanks to designers like Stephen Jones having them on their runway shows.
Samantha Jones and her husband David Cameron at the coronation Photo: Getty Images via WWD
The rise of millinery in British royal events saw a resurgence during the wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate of Wales. This wedding was highly publicized and many invitees wore various styles of hats and fascinators. Now, these are seen at every British event and many fashion experts look out for the various types of hats that women wear at these events.
