35 of Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

Famous for her 70-year reign and 70 years of bold, unforgettable and distinct fashion choices, we revisit 35 of the late Queen Elizabeth's most memorable hats...

The late Queen Elizabeth II was famous for her choice of hats and headwear over her 70 year reign - we choose some of the most flamboyant and memorable
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The late Queen Elizabeth II lived the sort of life destined for history books - just take a look at 70 facts celebrating her 70 years on the throne

Not only was she the first British monarch to celebrate a milestone Platinum Jubilee in 2022, but she was undeniably a style icon for her entire time spent as one of the most famous women in the world. 

Indeed, before her death in September 2022, she was still being named as one of the most influential people by the likes of Vogue. 

Reigning for 70 years, Her Majesty had plenty of opportunity to showcase her style secrets and fashion credentials - and that nearly always included a memorable hat, headpiece or fascinator.

 Let's look at some of the most flamboyant and fun... 

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Focusing on the inspirational style of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex style journalist Elizabeth Holmes celebrates their style. The gorgeous photos and research come together to make this a must-read for royal fashion lovers.

35 of Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant hats

1. The baby bonnet, Her Majesty's first memorable millinery moment

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Proving that she really did start as she meant to go on, a two-year old Princess Elizabeth was sporting memorable headwear from the beginning of her time in the public eye. 

2. A Princess' plume of feathers

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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This stunning feather headpiece has something of a flapper vibe to it, and showed a then-Princess Elizabeth opting for a more au courant and fashion-forward. 

3. A blooming bonnet, 1968

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Spring must have been in the air when Her Majesty wore this gorgeous floral themed hat, complete with soft green fabric and petal appliques for the dedication of a Knights Bachelor temple in 1968.

4. Her Majesty's colourful, tropical turban, 1996

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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The late Queen's favourite tipple might have been something more classic, but in this exotic headwrap, we can just picture Her Majesty sipping a Pina Colada. She wore this while boarding the Royal Yacht at Portsmouth in 1996.

5. The Queen's blue and feathery Royal Ascot hat, 1982

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Her Majesty was never one to shy away from a bold choice - and this hat, worn for the Royal Ascot - combined a bright blue, polka dots, AND cascading feathers. Yet, somehow, it totally works. 

6. The furry, Doctor Zhivago beige hat

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Perhaps this surprising Doctor Zhivago-esque furry hat is what inspired the likes of Pippa Middleton to wear similar (and we've seen Kate sport cosy looking hats, too). Either way, it's a fascinating departure from the late Queen's more traditional headwear. 

7. Her colourful, polka dot pillbox hat, 1993

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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For a 1993 visit to Budapest, Her Majesty wore this quirky Marie O'regan polka dot hat which definitely gives off Skittles or Smarties vibes. 

8. A Paisley, pale blue Philip Somerville, 1989

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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In 1989, Her Majesty visited the Isle of Man wearing this aquamarine inspired Philip Somerville hat featuring a different type of structure and shape than usual. We've seen the likes of Meghan Markle wear similar sloped hats in recent years, proving that Queen Elizabeth was a stealthy trend-setter. 

9. A green and white patterned sun hat, 1977

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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For a visit to New Zealand in 1977, Queen Elizabeth matched a lively green and white print suit with a complementary hat. It's part jungle inspired, part table place mat - but fully memorable. 

10. A scarlet, straw bucket-style hat, 2007

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Queen Elizabeth II attended the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in 2007 wearing this scarlet, rose-adorned straw hat. 

11. Lime green and blue polka dots, 2002

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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On paper, a fluorescent lime green hat with blue polka dots sounds like a major fashion faux pas... yet Queen Elizabeth looked cheerful and delightful when she wore this creation for a visit to Jamaica in 2002. 

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£20 at Amazon

Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait by Gyles Brandreth | £20 at Amazon 

This Sunday Times bestseller offers insights into the extraordinary life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth. Reflecting upon her childhood to her later years, Gyles Brandreth met the late monarch multiple times throughout her reign, making this account all the more personal.

12. A purple and white striped Boater style hat, 1991

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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The Boater hat - thought to derive from the flat-topped caps of French sailors - was given a fun twist by the late Queen in this bright, playful colour palette. Think Cadbury's colours meets retro hat shape.

13. The Queen's green Tam O'Shanter, 1980

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Her Majesty sported a traditional tam o'shanter - a flat bonnet, originally made of wool hand-knitted in one piece, stretched on a wooden disc to give the distinctive flat shape. It's a classic Scottish piece, and perhaps a nod to her beloved Balmoral. 

14. Queen Bee hat, 1988

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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One report states that the bee detailing on this cream hat were actually enamel pins added on - and it has us buzzing with excitement. Fun, playful and creative. Queen Elizabeth II wore this hat to the Maundy Service in Lichfield.

15. A purple and pink double-layered hat, 1989

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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It's not totally clear if the pink detailing is part of the hat or a scarf/headwrap Her Majesty wore alongside a flattering hat. The finished effect is stunning, though. 

16. A textured hat with bow effects, 1960

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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This one is hard to describe. Textured, ruffled and with a sleek bow, it just narrowly avoids looking like a shower cap. Her Majesty wore this for a visit to Cardiff in 1960. 

17. Pretty in pink, 1989

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Queen Elizabeth wore this vibrant pink hat with a stylish oversized bow in 1989. It was designed by Frederick Fox and exudes old-school romance. 

18. An iced cake style hat, 1987

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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Is it a hat or is it a dessert? This interesting pillbox style hat almost looks like the tier of a wedding cake with its solid white effect and red rose adornment. 

19. Green and white frills, 1977

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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For her tour of New Zealand marking Her Majesty's Silver Jubilee, she brought along an olive green hat finished off with an abundance of white flowers for a full, voluminous finish.

20. A blue and white vase-effect hat, 2012

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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The Queen's choice for a 2012 Garden Party at Balmoral was simple and elegant, with a slight nod to the classic porcelain vase.

21. A yellow and white structured hat, 1991

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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We love the unusual structuring of this 1960s-style colour-block hat. The retro hat was designed by Marie O'Regan for Ian Thomas, and Her Majesty wore it for an official visit to Washington in 1991.

22. A velvet tiered hat, 2007

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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We love this pink and purple velvet hat which the late Queen wore to a review and presentation of soldiers of The Royal Welsh to mark St David's Day at Lucknow Barracks in 2007. The tiered shape almost channels a wedding cake, and the colours chosen are perfect for springy occasions.

23. The 'European Union' hat, 2017

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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This blue and yellow hat worn to address Parliament in 2017 made headlines - but not just for fashionable reasons. After Brexit had been voted for by the public, the colour palette matching the EU flag struck many as perhaps more than a coincidence and might've been Her Majesty's way of sending a subtle statement. 

24. Blue blooms and leaves, 2019

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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The Queen looked in full bloom on day one of Royal Ascot in 2019, wearing a delightful blue hat to coordinate with her coat and floral dress.

25. A bouquet of roses, 1980

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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A rose by any other name... Her Majesty wasn't afraid to take floral fashion to new extremes when she visited Morocco in 1980 with more than a dozen red roses on her hat. 

26. A bubble-wrap bonnet, 1961

Queen Elizabeth II's most flamboyant and memorable hats

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When we saw this photo of a young Queen Elizabeth, we couldn't quite work out what the hat material was. Is it mesh? Is it bubble wrap? Very unlikely, but it's most definitely a conversation-starting accessory. 

27. Pink and yellow confectionary colours, 2010

Some of our favourite hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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There's something about this hot pink and bright yellow hat that's just so sweet. Almost literally. The colours are evocative of the traditional fruit salad or rhubarb and custard sweets. 

28. Autumnal feathers, 2013

Our pick of Queen Elizabeth's most flamboyant hats

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We love the autumnal feeling of this hat, worn by Her Majesty when she watched her horse win a race at Newbury in 2013.

29. The Queen's pom pom moment, 1990

Our pick of the most flamboyant hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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The Queen's lime green fluffy pom pom on this hat elevates it and perfectly complements her bold choice of jacket. However, there is the argument that the lime green detail looks a bit like a loofah sponge. 

30. A colour clash cap, 1982

Our pick of the most flamboyant hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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This hat feels like two different styles brought together - and we love that Her Majesty chose such an unusual design. The green element resembles a turban or a Peach Hat effect, while the navy blue flower feels closer to a fascinator.

31. Daisy chains, 2004

Our pick of the most flamboyant hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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This hat features a chain of Easter Daisies and flatters Her Majesty's choice of floral jacket. We love the subtle nod to her sister, Princess Margaret, who also famously wore a daisy inspired hat for a Royal Ascot appearance in 1969. 

32. Bow through the Brim, 1988

Our pick of the most flamboyant hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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We've seen bows on the front of hats, and bows on the back of hats, but the Queen proved she could still pull off a surprise with this avant garde Philip Somerville design where the bow appeared to be coming through the brim.

33. Peachy keen Queen, 2014

Our pick of the most flamboyant hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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A gloriously enticing peach colour makes this one of the Queen's most delightful hats. Her Majesty wore the colourful creation for a church service in Sandringham in 2014. 

34. A very on theme Easter bonnet, 2019

Our pick of the most flamboyant hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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Her Majesty was famous for her love of bright colours - though it wasn't just a preference, she wore vibrant hues so more people could see her. This Easter hat took big and bright to new extremes, pairing all the traditional colours of Easter parade in one, with pops of yellow, purple and shades of blue. 

35. A royal blue admiral hat, 2003

Our pick of the most flamboyant hats of the late Queen Elizabeth II

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Using one of the Royal Family's most popular colours, this naval themed oversized hat wins extra style points thanks to the subtle black feather poking through.

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.

Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.