I don't know about you guys, but Máx is definitely the princess I'd most like to have a beer with.  Look at her go!

But, I think we need a verdict on a pressing question about our favorite Argentine/Dutch princess today: is she or is she not wearing a Beatrix training hat?  Exhibit B:

This certainly looks like a cupcake hat, if not yet a full blown layer cake!

But, whatever.  The lady who wears cake hats gets to spend the day playing Wii with random kids out on the street, so it's really not a half-bad gig...

Maybe she and Lilibet could get together for a tournament during the next state visit?  

Arrgh, materys -- that's the biggest eye patch I've ever seen!

Yes!  It's officially the most fun day of the Dutch royal year -- the country's national day, when the Dutch people and their royals celebrate the late Queen Juliana's birthday in all sorts of wacky ways.

For instance, one of Princess Margriet's sons, Prince Pieter-Christiaan, decided to climb a rock wall while dressed for a business luncheon:

...and then Prince Friso's wife, Princess Mabel, walloped a group of children in a game of street hockey while wearing a jumpsuit from a Beyonce video:

... and then things got really crazy -- too much Heineken, methinks -- and Princess Margriet and her hubs decided to get a little amorous:

(Get a room, kids.)

... and the brewskis were definitely flowing in our favorite cake-hatter's corner, where it appeared that her team might not be winning whatever drinking game they were playing:

Drink up, Your Maj!  You can't wimp out now that everyone's watching!  I'm sure that dude on your left will hold your flowers...

(Seriously, I cannot stop laughing at this picture! Can we get more photo-ops with queens frowning at huge steins of beer?  Please, world?)

On the bright side, the cake hat that Beatrix chose for the festivities was not only decorative (and I'm sure flavorful -- blueberry, probably?) but also helpful when it started to rain:

Much as I love the traditional royal clear plastic umbrella, this one is totally superfluous.

...

Oh, my God, you guys.  The original Paddington is back!

I hate to post a photo of Máxima crying, but I literally couldn't find any photos from this event where she wasn't.  Both Máx and Alex have reportedly been keeping in close touch with the families of the seven people who died in last year's attack, and it's evident that both of them feel the loss as keenly as if one of their own family members had died (and isn't that just about right?  A royal family is supposed to be the nation's family, too).  I just want to reach through the internet and give everyone at this event a giant hug.

As far as the headpiece goes, I'm not sure it's the most flattering thing I've seen Máxima wear, but no matter, really.  I've been trying to decide what material this is made of -- feathers, I think? -- but looking at these photos for long stretches is a bit tough.  If it is black feathers, it's made of the same material as the hat that Máx had on for Queen's Day last year.  I wonder if that's a deliberate tribute on her part.

Let's hope that tomorrow's national celebrations provide a nice happy way to celebrate the Dutch spirit and those who were lost last year -- and some really nutso hattery would be nice, too!

I wish Beatrix had worn this hat on a happy day, because there's so much I could say about it.  But for this occasion, somehow, that doesn't really even seem appropriate! 

I will say that I do like the idea of using dark colors other than black for mourning clothing ... perhaps HM is trying to bring just a little bit of hope and joy to an overwhelmingly sad day?

Like her sister-in-law Máxima, Princess Laurentien sometimes really puts the mad in Mad Hattery.  But for today's memorial unveiling, I think she's struck just the right note with her choice of chapeau.  The fascinator is still edgy and unusual enough that we know it's a Laurentien hat, but it's also subdued and simple in a way, too.

I just hope that, after the appropriately somber mood today, the Queen's Day street party bash comes back in full form tomorrow -- and that we get Laurentien rocking Xena the Warrior Princess style hattery again!

There's no doubt about it: this is just about the saddest way to introduce a new princess to the blog.  The Dutch royal family is gathered today in Apeldoorn for the unveiling of a memorial to the victims of last year's tragic Queen's Day attack.  Seven Dutch citizens were killed and several more wounded when a car plowed into a crowd of people gathered to watch the royals parade through the streets.  The attack was aimed at the royal family, but all of them escaped physically unharmed, though they witnessed the attack along with the rest of the crowd.

The entire family gathered today to mourn with the families of the victims, even the more minor royals of The Netherlands.  This is Princess Aimée; she's the wife of Prince Floris, who is the son of Princess Margriet (and, by extension, the nephew of Queen Beatrix).  She's chosen a small headband fascinator for the event -- appropriate, attractive, and just right for a youthful princess.  I just hope we can meet her again soon in happier hattery circumstances!

Queen Bea's at the Anne Frank House today to celebrate the fifty-year anniversary of its opening.  I am rather shocked at how non-cake-like this little topper is that she's chosen for her visit.  I mean, it has a brim!  To quote the immortal Miss Bingley, "I am all astonishment!"

Thanks to the lovely readers who sent in information about this event!

The Queen's in Welshpool today, and she's chosen a repeated hat for the occasion.  I think I've finally identified my specific issue with this one -- I think it's more the busy collar of the coat than anything about the hat.  It just all adds up to too much stuff around the face.

Too much stuff around the face or not, one thing's for sure: this lady is a corgi magnet!

Awwww.  I want to take him home with me!  (I bet HM does, too!)

Thanks to all of the lovely readers who sent me information about this event!