The Queen's Hat (The Queen Collection)

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The Queen was notoriously uninterested in clothes, but recognised how much of an important propaganda tool they could be, so ensured that she took careful notice of what she wore. The illustrator has used a limited range of colours in the illustrations. Can you suggest why this is? Could you try a similar technique in your own pictures? Retell the story from the point of view of the Queen. You could write her narration for the story or write a diary entry for her. You could also retell the story from the point of view of the corgi or one of the soldiers. Freddie Fox – Australian– often worked with Hardy Amies (Made hats for the Queen from 1968 – 2002. Obtained his Royal Warrant in 1971). Known for his feathers and underbrim styles. Royal Warrant Holder. And obviously I wasn’t going to let you miss out. So, thanks to the talk (and a few bits of additional knowledge!) I’ve put together a list of 26 facts you may not have known about the Queen’s hats: Her Royal Style Evolution

As children, the Queen and her sister dressed relatively informally, as demonstrated by the fact they didn't often wear hats – which was tradition at the time.

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Since his 2014 debut, multi award-winning author-illustrator Steve Antony has so far written and illustrated 18 picture books and sold over one million copies worldwide, and 7 of his titles have been nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her Majesty lived her life to its full every day, recognising and respecting the privilege, importance and influence of her position, wielding it in the most dignified way. And as a female monarch, she offered continuous inspiration and hope to women of all ages, bringing integrity, grace, intellect and immeasurable value to society - all whilst privately balancing being a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, and a friend - every day her life. The Queen and Princess Margaret initially dressed very much alike, mirroring their mother’s style. As they matured they began to wear berets on a jaunty angle, both for official occasions and when they became part of the Girls Guides of the Palace. Another very famous look, though perhaps more divisive, is the hat that Her Majesty wore for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle in 1969. You don’t have to be a huge fan of this look to appreciate its place in history. It’s another Simone Mirman creation, made of primrose yellow silk, and it features a huge amount of embellishment which adds texture to the whole look. However, the most striking part of this design is the sides of the hat which almost completely enclose the head. It is said to have been partly inspired by Tudor times and there’s certainly an element of the hoods worn by royal women of the time. For others, it was a bit of a helmet hat. Either way, this one hat is hugely emblematic, another of the most famous looks in the long reign of Elizabeth II.

There was a real sense of 'genealogy' of hat makers, with many of them training with similar people – often the German born, but London based, Otto Lucas. Whilst uncommon for official occasions, the Queen often wears scarves wrapped around her head, especially when pursuing her hobbies as a photographer and horse rider. As babies, the Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, often wore little caps with lace. The fashion at the time was to dress babies in wool, but the Queen’s Mother – the Duchess of York – reportedly preferred ‘frilly babies’ instead.Marie O’Reagan – of the London College of Fashion - replaced Valerie Lee to work with Ian Thomas. Made hats for the Queen until 1993. At George VI’s coronation in 1937, the Queen and Princess Margaret wore little ‘Coronettes’ made by Garrard & Co. Inside the rims, there were little ‘sausages’ made of silk and wadding to make them more comfortable for the little girls - but they still weren’t easy to wear for many hours!