Queen Elizabeth's Orange Hats, An Inventory

Worn recently at the races Oct 2015.

When Queen Elizabeth was spotted at Ascot last week in a peach textured hat and coat, it brought up repeated questions about why she seldom wears this colour. Orange is one of the most infrequently worn colours in the world of royal hats; with autumn in full swing (and Halloween around the corner), I thought it was a good time to look closer at the few royal hats in this hue. There's no millinery closet better to start our tour than that of Queen Elizabeth.

1. The Queen has just two orange hued hats in rotation these days, both in shades of soft peach.

1 & 2 - Designers: Rachel Trevor Morgan. Previous Appearances: November 19, 2009 and June 12, 2012. Recently at the races Oct 2015.

3. For her infamous début as a Bond girl at the opening of the London 2012 Olympics, Queen Elizabeth chose a peach ostrich feather fascinator. As she seldom wears such headpieces, I doubt we'll see this piece worn publicly again.

3. Designer: Angela Kelly. First Appeared: July 28, 2012

4-6. Queen Elizabeth has worn just five other orange hats over the past decade. While I suspect these have all been retired from service, they show some interesting diversity of style. The small number of hats here further proves that orange is certainly not Her Majesty's favourite.

4, 5 & 6 - Designers: unknown. Last Appeared: November 13, 2008; June 17, 2007; October 20, 2006

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7-9 - More orange hats worn in 2002, 2003 and 2006.

7, 8 & 9 - Designers: unknown. Last Appeared:  March 16, 2006; July 17, 2003; July 11, 2002

10 & 11. Orange hats worn by Queen Elizabeth II as far back as 1968 and then in 2015.

10 & 11 - Designers: unknown. Last Appeared: 1968 and May 2015.