With their every move feverishly documented, members of the royal family are always dressed to perfection. And when an event calls for formalwear, female members of the royal family don hats for the occasion.
Over the years, royals have tapped talented milliners from Rachel Trevor-Morgan to Philip Treacy to create pieces that look more like wearable art than traditional headgear. Click through for some of the best hats, fascinators, and caps throughout the modern history of the royal family.
1920
Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon (later, the Queen Mother) wearing a bucket-shaped hat with a chin strap.
1939
Marina, Duchess of Kent, at the Epsom Races wearing a tilted hat with dangling pom-poms.
1944
Then-Princess Elizabeth wearing a scallop hat while addressing the Governors Court at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children.
1956
Princess Margaret in a layered, circular hat during a visit to Kenya.
1970s
The Queen Mother wears a pastel hat with triangle cutouts to match her chiffon suit.
1973
Queen Elizabeth wears a green fabric hat with white flowers by milliner Simone Mirman.
1973
Princess Margaret in a structured peacock feather hat at the Royal Ascot
1975
Princess Anne attends a garden party in a floppy green hat with a fabric band to match her dress.
1977
The Queen wearing a blue turban-style hat in New Zealand.
1980
Queen Elizabeth at a horse show in a green-and-white floral hat to match her dress.
1981
Queen Elizabeth wearing a rosy velvet hat with white piping in New Zealand.
1983
Princess Diana in a baby blue cap with net veil and bow while touring Canada.
1983
Princess Diana in a traditional Klondike-style outfit on a visit to Canada.
1985
Princess Diana in a baby pink John Boyd hat during a trip to Sicily.
1988
Princess Diana matches with Prince William during the Trooping the Colour in a bright green hat with white trim.
1989
Princess Diana in a Phillip Somerville blue turban hat with white brim while in Dubai.
1991
Princess Margaret in an extravagant feathered headpiece.
1993
Princess Diana wears a periwinkle-and-white hat with an exaggerated brim to attend a wedding.
1998
Queen Elizabeth wears a blue linen hat with curled ribbon embellishments while on a trip to Malaysia.
2005
Queen Elizabeth attends a memorial service in a black linen hat with black-and-white pointed ribbon details.
2005
Princess Beatrice attends Christmas Day service in a show-stopping rounded cap.
2006
Kate Middleton wears a cream-and-brown feathered cap.
2007
Queen Elizabeth wears a textured hat with flower and leaf embellishments.
2007
Princess Beatrice wears a white feather-burst cap for the Trooping the Colour.
2008
Princess Beatrice wears a colorful butterfly fascinator.
2009
Princess Anne arrives to the royal Ascot in a cream veiled fascinator with feather embellishments.
2011
Zara Phillips wears a leaning black linen hat with intricate curled details for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
2011
The Duchess of Cambridge, now Princess of Wales, wears a silver feathered fascinator at the Order of the Garter.
2012
Zara Phillips wears a gray felt cap with bow decorations for the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival
2012
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, now Duchess of Edinburgh wears an off-white lace fascinator with a linen bow at the Royal Ascot.
2014
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Consort wears a cream fascinator with fabric leaf embellishments.
2015
Princess Anne arrives at the Royal Ascot in a cream-and-feather top hat with an asymmetrical flipped-up pattern.
2015
The Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Consort arrives at a church service in a baby blue-and-white wide-brim hat.
2016
Duchess Kate, now Princess of Wales, with Princess Charlotte in a blush hat with an oversized, under-brim flower.
2016
Duchess Kate, now Princess of Wales, in a woven cream fascinator with rose and ribbon embellishments.
2017
Meghan Markle, now Duchess of Sussex attends Christmas Day services with the royal family in a camel, structured Philip Treacy cap.
2018
Duchess Meghan arrives for her first Trouping the Colour in a blush cap.
2018
Queen Elizabeth shines in a bright yellow top hat adorned with a blue flower at the Royal Ascot.
2018
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, now Duchess of Edinburgh wears a white-and-cream feather fascinator.
2018
The Duchess of Sussex attends the Royal Ascot in a whimsical black-and-white Philip Treacy hat.
2019
Princess Eugenie at the Royal Ascot wearing a gorgeous iridescent feather fascinator.
2020
Zara Tindall wears a tilted garnet fascinator to the Cheltenham Festival.
2021
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, now Duchess of Edinburgh, wearing a fun feathered hat to the Royal Ascot.
2022
Catherine, Princess of Wales in her signature look: a tilted hat with an under-brim flower.
2023
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh wears a magical pink and blue fascinator to the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle.
2024
Anne, Princess Royal wears a large, tilted blue hat with curling feathers and a striped brim to the Royal Ascot.
2024
Princess Kate wears a black and white tilted hat on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
2025
Zara Tindall wears a peacock blue velvet feather cap to the Gold Cup Day of the Cheltenham Festival.
2025
Princess Eugenie wears a bright red feather cap to the Royal Ascot.
2025
Zara Tindall dons a baby pink fascinator with a whimsical ribbon at the Royal Ascot.
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