14 of the Best — And Bravest — Royal Wedding Hats

Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice

As mother and sister of the bride, the pair didn't disappoint with their wedding attire choices. Although Beatrice decided to go for a more modest headpiece, Fergie went bolder with her matching hat.

Queen Elizabeth

Unlike the bright hues we're used to seeing on Her Majesty, this subtle blue ensemble is elegantly understated. 

Kate Middleton

The Duchess of Cambridge embraced the fall air with her lovely fuchsia dress and matching hat. 

Pippa Middleton

Even at nine months pregnant, Kate's sister was stunning in her green dress and hat that just so happened to match the bride's tiara. 

Meghan Markle

Just five months after her own royal wedding, Meghan looked beautiful in her navy blue outfit without stealing any of the spotlight from the bride.

Zara Tindall

Eugenie's cousin Zara mixed things up with a gray color for her fascinator rather than matching her blue dress.

Pixie Geldof

As one of the first guests to arrive at the chapel, this floral fascinator set things off for the whole event.

Demi Moore

Of course, what's a royal wedding without a few Hollywood celebs? In this photo of Demi Moore, you can see how the ladies at Eugenie's wedding struggled against strong winds trying to knock their hats and fascinators off their heads.

Liv Tyler

The actress and daughter of rock star Steven Tyler went for a classy black ensemble with a matching hat.

Naomi Campbell

The supermodel also chose black for her royal wedding outfit, but paired it with a much more ornate hat to top things off.

Cara Delevingne

The actress and model decided to switch things up with this feminine take on the classic tuxedo.

Poppy Delevingne

Cara's sister, on the other hand, accentuated her blue dress with long feathers sticking up from her hat.

Ellie Goulding

The singer looked beautiful in her pale blue dress (which seems to be a trend for this particular royal wedding) and matching hat.

What types of royal hats and fascinators are worn at weddings?

If you’ve been keeping up with the royals over the years as much as we have, then you already know that there are tons of unique hats worn at royal weddings and events. Even so, you’ve probably wondered whether there is a certain type or specific style that’s more appropriate for a wedding — and the short answer is no, not really; it's a matter of taste. But one thing's for sure: A hat should be worn by all female guests. 

While men are required to wear a dress uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit, women are typically encouraged to accessorize with a hat. (If you ever get the chance to go to a British wedding, just look at the bottom right-hand corner of the invitation for the dress code.)

"For a royal wedding, especially in England, it has to be the hat," Louise Green, a British milliner who has been making hats for 30 years in the United States, told ET. "Whether you start with the hat and then buy the outfit, or buy the outfit and then buy the hat, you have to have a hat. You can't go to the royal wedding without a hat."

How do royal hats stay on?

If you’ve ever wondered how the royals keep their hats from flying across the courtyard, you’re not alone. Believe it or not, this is a burning question for many people. well, according to an oh-so-talented millinery designer, Jill Courtemanche, most royals work from the “inside out.” 

“Probably the most common way to attach a fascinator is with a headband,” Courtemanche told the blogging site Royal Hats. “One of the advantages for the designer of using a headband is one can be sure the hat is perched just so. A headband can only be worn one way, ensuring perfect positioning every time.”

Other tricks include elastic, combs, and the ever-traditional hat pin. 

Where should you wear a fascinator?

Fascinators are a stylish alternative to the traditional hat. (They’re also a great conversation starter!) If you’re looking for an excuse to wear a fancy fascinator yourself, you’re in luck: Fascinators can be worn to formal cocktail parties, art openings, or tea parties, as well as at the Kentucky Derby.

Why do British women wear hats to weddings?

From over-the-top fascinator hats to bowlers, there’s no denying the British have a love for hats. But why? Apparently, there’s quite a bit of history behind the hats of the royal wedding. In fact, English people have been wearing hats for centuries and it's part of royal family etiquette. 

"When it comes to a special occasion in British society, the special occasion is not complete without a hat," Hilary Alexander, former fashion director at the Daily Telegraph said in an interview with ABC News. "There has to be a hat, it's part of the social fabric. For most people, the hat is quite serious and frivolous at the same time. It completes the outfit and it's a finishing touch."

What makes a fascinator so fascinating?

Fascinators, unlike hats, do not have a brim, have large decorations, and have a smaller base than a traditional hat. And while unique, attention-grabbing fascinators do get noticed, according to the London-based milliner Janie Lawson, bigger doesn’t always mean better.

“Princess Beatrice was perhaps ill-advised to wear, I think people called it, ‘the twiglet hat,’” Lawson said in an interview with Slate. If you’re going to wear a statement hat, you really need to keep it demure and simple and elegant with the rest of your outfit. Because you really can’t have the hat screaming for attention, the outfit screaming for attention, and the bag and the shoes screaming for attention. If you’re going to go for a statement piece like that — and Philip Treacy does amazing statement pieces like that one — you need to choose your outfit accordingly and go for something a bit more elegant.”

Sounds like style matters more than size when it comes to these funny — and yes, fascinating — headpieces!