Queen Elizabeth II's reign was marked not only by her tenure on the throne for seven decades, but also by her impeccable sense of style, particularly when it comes to her iconic hats. England's longest-reigning monarch is renowned for her collection of hats, which symbolise her reign. Since Her Majesty's halo hats were colourful and bright, capturing attention wherever she went, we have assembled a selection of her most iconic headwear.
Royal Fashion: Inside Queen Elizabeth II's vibrant hat collection
June 1968: A full bloom wearing a floral cap
Embracing the spirit of spring, Queen Elizabeth II reflected elegance and charm in her full bloom, wearing a floral cap. The hat added a touch of refinement to her ensemble.
1969: A sunny pale-yellow hat
On 1 July 1969, when the 20-year-old Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, the Queen wore a sunny pale-yellow hat. She chose to wear the same colour once again at the 2011 wedding of her grandson Prince William and Kate Middleton.
February 1979: A blue hat adorned with faux cherry blossoms
Her Majesty added a pop of colour to the day with her robin egg blue sun hat adorned with faux cherry blossoms.
January 1980: A green tam-o'-shanter
On January 1, 1980, the monarch adorned a green tam-o'-shanter for a change. The type of bonnet was popular in Scotland in the 1800s and has been adopted by the British royal family since 1920.
October 1982: A blue polka dot feathered hat
On October 18, 1982, in perfect coordination with her lively polka dot dress, the Queen of England chose to wear her blue-feathered hat adorned with playful dots.
August 1989: A colourful hat with a paisley design at the top
During her visit to the Isle of Man on August 8, 1989, Queen Elizabeth II opted for a colourful hat adorned with an intricate paisley design atop.
June 1992: a rose pink, classic pillbox hat
In Leicester Square, London on June 2, 1992, the longest-reigning monarch in British history was spotted wearing her rose pink, classic pillbox as a symbol of her timeless fashion.
September 1998: A ribbon-decorated grey and cream hat
When Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II visited Malaysia on September 22, 1998, she sported a hat embellished with grey and cream ribbons that twirled along the rim.
May 2002: A pale blue hat
Elizabeth II, queen of the United Kingdom, wore a pale blue, broad-rimmed hat on May 14, 2002, designed to complement her suit.
July 2004: A green sun hat with a blue polka dot ribbon
During her visit to the Royal Welsh Show on July 21, 2004, the Queen embraced a stylish look with a green sun hat, accentuated by a vibrant blue polka dot ribbon, as she explored a variety of cheeses.
2007: A light green hat
Wearing a light green hat, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland On Tuesday, May 8, 2007.
2009: A bright turquoise with a red flower
With a turquoise hat adorning her ensemble, Her Majesty left Buckingham Palace to grace the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on 13 June 2009. The hat's eye-catching red flower created a perfect contrast with the vivid turquoise hue.
October 2015: An orange knit top hat
Queen Elizabeth II's fashion choice on October 17, 2015, took us by surprise, as she showcased an orange knit top hat embellished with feathers in a complementary orange hue.
November 2016: A vivid-hued hat
On November 24, 2016, the Queen was seen in her architectural vivid-hued hat that perfectly complemented her purple ensemble.
March 2017: A pale yellow top hat with a navy-blue rim
Instead of her floral and bird-feather hats, Queen Elizabeth II donned an elegant top hat in soft yellow, featuring a navy-blue rim and a stylish feather ball in blue and yellow tones on March 13, 2017.
2017: A lapis-blue hat by Angela Kelly and Stella McLaren
In 2017, during the opening of the House of Parliament, the Queen chose to wear a lapis-blue hat designed by royal dressmaker Angela Kelly and milliner Stella McLaren. Although the Queen must remain non-partial, there was a heated debate afterwards about whether this hat was a deliberate nod to the EU, due to its uncanny resemblance to the EU flag.
2018: A blue hat embellished with a peacock feather
At the Royal Airforce Centenary in 2018, Her Majesty dressed in an elegant blue and teal coat paired with a hat featuring a peacock’s feather, designed by Angela Kelly.
2019: A grey pleated hat
Royal Ascot witnessed Queen Elizabeth II’s elegance because Her Majesty elevated her grey outfit with floral and feather details gracing both her pleated hat and jacket.
2022: A bright green hat
In the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, Her Majesty honoured the memory of her late husband Prince Philip by wearing a bright green hat accentuated with a black pin.