We are back with a number of updates, as well as our poll asking for your vote on your favorite hat worn by the Duchess in 2017.
The first tidbit involves next week’s tour. We have had a few more minor details released, but no event timings yet, at least none I have been able to find. When they are released I will update our detailed tour calendar. One fun fact involves the viewing of the Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture Park in Oslo on the grounds of the Royal Palace, officially opened last fall by 14-year-old Princess Ingrid. It has been announced that the Princess, second in line to the throne, will personally show Kate and William the Park on Thursday.
Princess Ingrid turned 14 last week. This is the official photo released for her birthday, taken by her father, Crown Prince Haakon.
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Also tour-related: Kate’s wardrobe. There are several recent articles considering possible styles and designers for the tour. In a December Telegraph story, Georgina Lucas reported on several in How the Duchess of Cambridge can master Scandi chic on her visit to Norway and Sweden. From the piece:
Much preparation always goes into planning her wardrobe, but never more so, we imagine, than on this tour, which has two vital considerations. Firstly, the bump (with the Duchess expected to give birth to her third child in April, she will be between six and seven months pregnant) and secondly, the chilly Scandinavian weather, as average temperatures in both countries in late January see sub-zero highs.
One of the brands Ms. Lucas covers is Newhouse Sweden. An interesting tip from the story:
In a Vogue interview earlier this year Christina Exsteen, creative director at By Malene Birger, pointed out that although the style DNA is similar across all Nordic countries, there are notable variations on the theme – where Swedish dressers are very minimal, Norwegians are likely to up the glamour. Cue Veronica B Vallenes for the Oslo chapter of the Duchess’s tour – a Norwegian designer with a decidedly Parisian flavour.
Four looks from Veronica B Vallenes.
The piece covers several other designers I think you will enjoy reading about.
The Telegraph also carried an article yesterday by Olivia Buxton Smith, Scandinavian style tips for the Duchess of Cambridge ahead of the royal tour to Norway and Sweden next week. Here is one tip:
Jeanette Madsen, fashion editor of Danish magazine Costume, agrees: ”A jacket from Swedish brand Totême would be essential.
Below, the Rione double-breasted wool-blend felt coat by Totême and a wool/cashmere scarf from the label.
In this Daily Mirror story, Danielle Stacey looks at items already in Kate’s closet that she could wear, including styles worn during her previous pregnancies. Additionally, Danielle covers a few brands Kate might have considered when planning her wardrobe, including Norway’s Holzweiler and Stockholm-based Filippa K. Below, four designs from Filippa K, described in the story as “the eco-conscious label has simplicity at the heart of its values.”
Both Georgina Lucas and Danielle Stacey suggest we may see the Duchess bring back the Malene Birger coat worn in March 2013 when Kate was expecting Prince George. (A style that was also worn by Denmark’s Princess Mary.) From the Daily Telegraph story:
It would be worth the Duchess casting her eye outside of the two countries she’s visiting for wider options to inject Scandi flavour into her tour wardrobe. Denmark, and most specifically, Copenhagen is full of brands that come with serious style credentials. By Malene Birger is a label the Duchess has worn before during her pregnancy with Prince George and the house creates sleek coat dresses, perfect for both icy weather and a burgeoning bump.
The Telegraph story on mastering Scandinavian style is here; yesterday’s style tips story in The Telegraph may be read here, and the Daily Mirror piece is here.
Of course, there is always the possibility Kate snagged something from the coveted collaboration between Swedish retailer H&M and Erdem. Crown Princess Victoria has been seen in multiple pieces from the collection; below, she wears one of the dresses at a business awards ceremony in November.
Another royal Kate will be seeing next week also has worn Erdem for H&M. It is difficult to see the piece, but Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a dress from the collection at this year’s Nobel Peace Prize concert in December.
This should be a very fun tour in terms of fashion; I’m excited to see what Kate, as well as the Swedish and Norwegian royals, wear next week.
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Now to our poll on your favorite dress hat. We begin in March when Kate paired the Breakfast at Tiffany’s hat by Lock & Co. with a Michael Kors coat for the unveiling of the Iraq Afghanistan Memorial in London.
Kate re-worked a previously worn Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Co. design for St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards.
For the April Service of Hope following the terror attack in Westminster, Kate chose a hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Co., a variation on the ‘Salsa’ style.
At Easter services at St. George’s, Windsor, Kate wore a pillbox style from Lock and Company, the Jacqueline style.
When attending one of the Queen’s garden parties in May the Duchess brought back the “Sweet Delight” hat by Lock and Co., a design worn to Order of the Garter in 2014.
For the May wedding of her sister Pippa, Kate selected a new design from Jane Taylor. 
We saw another Jane Taylor creation for Trooping the Colour in June.
The hat worn by Kate to Royal Ascot remains a UFO; it is a cocktail style with floral embellishment.
At the first of two days of ceremonies in Belgium commemorating the Battle of Passchendaele centenary the Duchess brought back the Marisabel hat from John Lock and Company. Designed by Sylvia Fletcher, the hat was first seen at Trooping the Colour 2015.
For the second day of Passchendaele commemorations, the Duchess repeated a Jane Taylor design, the ‘Fleur, first worn in Belgium in 2014.
We saw Kate in a Philip Treacy classic at Remembrance Sunday events. The piece was first noted in 2006 when Kate wore it for Prince William’s passing out ceremony at Sandhurst.
Also in November, the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service honoring those killed and injured in the catastrophic June fire. Kate’s hat still hasn’t been identified.
There were some outstanding designs this year, more than I remembered until I put the post together.
Dianne Stretch-Strang
Monday 29th of January 2018
Again I was surprised by my response to seeing all Kate's hats side by side, so to speak. Hats which I had liked well enough with their respective outfits and for the event, no longer had the same appeal. Some of the hats didn't grab me at all. Surprisingly I liked the hat she wore to Pippa's wedding (given that the dress was one of the least flattering that Kate has ever worn!!!), thought the Breakfast at Tiffany's brim was too curved downward, and although I liked the black Rembrance Sunday hat, I didn't like the heart shaped trim thingy. I like her fur hats that she wore at Christmas, but they weren't included here, so I ended up voting for the unidentified hat that she wore at the Grenfell Tower Memorial Service. I think Kate looks best in a larger hat with a brim. And perhaps because she has been putting her hair in a chignon/bun when wearing the smaller hats, I'm not finding them as appealing as time goes by.
I think it will be fun to see Kate and William with the Swedish and Norwegian royals. The younger Swedish royals all have small children so they will certainly have lots in common and lots to talk about. And wouldn't it be nice to see Crown Princess Victoria, Crown Princess Mette Marit and Kate all in Erdem? Of course it's unlikely as Erdem doesn't make maternity wear, but one can dream!!
Faith
Monday 29th of January 2018
The hat choices this year are leaving me cold, unfortunately. So, I warmed up by voting "other" for the Vallnord Alpaca Fur she wore at Christmas. I think it framed and softened her face beautifully and is much prettier than most hats she wore this year. Plus, its something I would wear.
Becky
Monday 29th of January 2018
I don't like any of the hats really. I think Kate is usually off the mark with hats for some reason. Sometimes she hits it out of the park, but I feel like 2017 was a tough year for her lol.
That said, looking at the hats objectively, I was surprised that my favorite is the UFO from Ascot. I didn't like the whole outfit but looking at just the hat, it was very pretty and elegant but not heavy or stiff.
SaraF
Monday 29th of January 2018
Am I allowed to say that I can't look at the Veronica Vallenes styles because the emaciated model turns my stomach?
I wasn't wild about any of the hats this year, although there were three or four that I mildly liked. I ended up voting for the Philip Treacy because I found Kate looking better in that one than in the others.
LauraT
Sunday 28th of January 2018
I don't have particular favorites among the hats. What I was struck by is how stiff and helmet like these updos and buns are. Theses are styles from generations older than Catherine. How much better previous wears were with half up do or loose hair. All I can say is "why?"
Madeleine
Monday 29th of January 2018
I 100% agree. I think these styles appeal to an older generation. I’d like to see her with a less uptight style.
Jessica
Monday 29th of January 2018
I agree that some of these hats would have looked nice with the hair down or half up, but I disagree that the updos she is favoring lately are helmet-like or aging. They look to me like very flattering formal updos, the kind a modern but traditional woman would wear on the red carpet or for a wedding. Look at the back view of the style for the Service of Hope--that's just lovely.
The exception is the one instance (Passchendaele) where it was worn over her ears--that one, I grant you, was ill-judged.
The hairnets, as others have observed, are probably an unfortunate necessity: she has a lot of heavy hair, and of course she can't take the risk that it will fall out of its updo mid-event.