Kate Middleton's dazzling hats: a close-up of Catherine, Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales looked fresh at Trooping the Colour 2024, celebrating the birthday of King Charles III. She looked radiant in a tilted Philip Treacy hat (one of her go-to designers) that was topped off with a striped feather. The hat matched perfectly to her outfit - but this isn't the first time Kate Middleton has dazzled with her headpiece...

Kate Middleton has risen over the years to become one of the most photographed and influential people in the world. Lately, she's been in the news due to health problems, but the Princess of Wales never fails to look pristine. Let's have a look at the finishing touch at royal events - the hat!

A rule made in the 1950s: royal women must wear hats on all formal royal occasions. At the time, it was considered inappropriate for the ladies to show their hair in public. Now, we get the best of both worlds - hats and fabulous hair-dos all rolled into one!

We take a look at the head-toppers of the wife of the future King. The matching, the daring, the artistic and the eye-catching. Got a British wedding coming up and need inspiration for a good hat? The Princess of Wales could certainly give you some good ideas...

Let's start with one of the most recent outings from the Princess of Wales - this is back in 2023 as, due to health issues, she did not take on any royal duties at the beginning of 2024. She stepped out in Sandringham in December in matching royal blue - whilst channeling a little Robin Hood.

The hat is great and matches with her outfit for the ceremonial welcome of Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, who came on a state visit in November 2023. Yet, we think it is the combination of the hair style, the pulled back ruffled bun, that adds an extra layer of elegance to the Princess' headpiece.

It seems this hat was made for showing off the hair-do beneath it. It worked and Catherine didn't have a hair out of place as she and her husband attended a service to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at St Davids Cathedral in September 2023.

The princess herself doesn't look too impressed with the reception coverage. It seems the antenna on her head isn't actually connected to a satellite.

Royal Ascot is the place to go big or go home. Kate donned a wide brimmed and shallow hat that fit the bill. Just worried about what a gust of wind would do though...

The perfect combination - the Princess' ability to perfectly match the polkadots from her dress in her hat. It is original and eye catching - in the right way... which, next to the Duchess of Edinburgh's odd fishtail-inspired headpiece, looks incredibly elegant.

Keeping the headpiece firmly on her head, the Princess of Wales attended Royal Ascot in 2022, looking fresh from Spring with the lightly detailed hat. Simple and successful.

Yellow, fun and bright - a celebratory look for the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.

Stunning headpiece with a surprise at the back. Sadly the time The Princess wore this, at the Commonwealth Day Service in 2020, her outfit was overshadowed by the pending Megxit and Meghan Markle's 'revenge dress'.

Returning to Royal Ascot, this time in 2019, the then-Duchess of Cambridge mixed lines, curves with soft lace and florals. A lot going on - but the colour makes this combination a winner.

Kate Middleton opted for subtlety at Princes Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank. Unlike the other way round - when Kate married William, Eugenie and her sister, Beatrice, made such an entrance with their attention-grabbing hates, the moment has been dubbed as 'pretzelgate'!

A visit to Norway in 2018, brings us one of the most memorable hats the Princess has ever worn. Furry brown complimented the blue overcoat, with the brown furry gloves to match.

Princess Charlotte joined her mother on a trip to Victoria, Canada and the two looked a perfect pairing in shades of blue. Catherine's asymmetrical headpiece fits the brief of understated, yet formal.

Also in 2016, Catherine was snapped wearing a colour that hasn't been seen worn a lot by the royal. The grey hat and rim frames her face beautifully and the soft ash tone does wonderful for her skin colour.

Yes to the colour! The simple design works very well for the family occasion, as does the colour. The green brings out Catherine's eyes and matched perfectly with the tartan dress.

In 2010, the younger Kate Middleton did well with an asymmetrical hat (although she doesn't seem too convinced herself!). She still wasn't quite the style Queen as she is now, with the colours not exactly matching, but at least she was on her way out of the young feathery fascinator phase.

As we head further back in time, the young Middleton's hat choices were a little more questionable. This feather fluff sat on her head at the wedding of Lady Rose Windsor and George Gilman in 2008.

Or what about this feathery explosion that erupted at Laura Parker Bowles wedding in 2006. The Princess of Wales has come far.

To this day, the Princess continues to shine and we wish the Princess well in her recovery, looking forward to future Royal engagements where we can see more of her fabulous head-toppers.

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