The British Royal Family may be crumbling before our very eyes. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has found herself at the center of a web of conspiracy theories about her wellness, whereabouts, and Photoshop capabilities; King Charles was recently diagnosed with cancer; and The Crown stirred up more intrigue than ever about the living royals’ lives. But if there’s one thing about the royals that never changes—even in the face of mismanaged PR and health crises—it’s their love of a zany hat.
The royals have recently deployed several of their lower-ranking members to keep business as usual while they wait for things to blow over. With the Cheltenham Festival underway in Gloucestershire, several members of the family turned out for the horse race in some spectacular, and, in some cases, gravity-defying headwear.
Both Princess Anne and Princess Eugenie opted for a fedora for the occasion. Anne’s was an asymmetrical, layered hat with a 3D appliqué on the side. Eugenie, on the other hand, opted for a more classic silhouette that matched her white coat. She accessorized her fedora with a silver hatpin. Zara Tindall, Princess Anne’s daughter, donned a more traditional British fascinator. The cranberry hued base sat atop her head, affixed with a very large burgundy bow. One can only imagine the mechanics that kept it in place.