The gold-coated lady in the middle of this photo is Archduchess Katharina, the bride's sister.  We've not seen her on the blog before, but we're quite familiar with her brother-in-law and his wife.  Katharina's husband, Archduke Martin (that's him beside her), is Prince Lorenz of Belgium's younger brother.  Small royal world, eh?

As far as Katharina's hattery goes, I like the general idea, but would prefer it with fewer feathers and an updo.  Big hats need upswept hair.

PHOTO CREDITS: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Time for another royal (or imperial, even) wedding, hatters!  Today, Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, who would be the emperor of Germany today if Germany still had emperors, married Princess Sophie of Isenburg.  Lots of royals, mostly members of deposed houses or minor German princely families, showed up to today's shindig in Potsdam.  Let's get the fashion parade started, shall we?

First up: the Habsburgs!  I know, I know, they look gloomy, but I swear, they're actually at a wedding.  The man in the middle is Archduke Georg; his wife Eilika is on his right, and his sister, Archduchess Gabriela, is on his left.  (Georg and Gabriela are children of the late Archduke Otto, the last crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian empire.)

Eilika looks to have gone for the headband option when it comes to today's hattery, but Gabriela at least brought out a feathery fascinator for the occasion.  I really wish we could see her look in a different color -- imagine how much more fabulous (and wedding-appropriate) this would be if the dress were navy and the fascinator were, say, gold.  As is, it looks like they're mourning either this wedding or the loss of imperial monarchy in general, and that's no good either way.

PHOTO CREDITS: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark and Miss Mary Donaldson
May 14, 2004

Our last major tiara wedding before Crown Princess Vic's big day was the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Tasmanian-born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson.  The two met during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, fell in love, and got hitched four years later.

Frederik and his Aussie bride have two children: Prince Christian (who will one day be king) and Princess Isabella, the first Danish princess born in a generation.  Mary has transformed from an everyday girl to a glamorous crown princess, and this wedding was definitely high on the glamour factor as well: we've got more than thirty tiaras on parade here, many of which are brand-new to the blog.  A good trial run for Victoria's wedding, no doubt!  Enjoy!

Wedding Hatters

These two mourners at Regina's funeral are her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Anna Gabriele.  Rudolf is one of the three surviving children of the last emperor of Austria, Karl I; Archduke Otto and Archduke Felix are the other two.  The emperor had a total of eight children, all of whom married members of other royal and noble houses.  Occasionally you'll see some of his descendants popping up in other royal families.  We've already glimpsed one on the blog before -- Archduke Lorenz, the husband of Princess Astrid of Belgium, is a grandson of Karl I and the nephew of Archdukes Otto, Rudolf, and Felix.

Anna Gabriele, who is of royal descent herself, born Princess Anna Gabriele of Wrede, has chosen the suitably royal headwear option for the day -- a black mourning veil.

Here's another of the late Archduchess Regina's daughters-in-law: Archduchess Eilika, who is married to Otto and Regina's younger son and youngest child, Archduke Georg.  Eilika was born Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg.  The couple has three children, all of whom are pictured here: (L-R) Archduchess Ildikó, Archduchess Zsófia, and Archduke Károly-Konstantin.

Eilika is wearing the traditional lace veil, but just like her sister-in-law, Francesca, she has chosen younger headcoverings for her daughters.  Ildikó is wearing a dark kerchief, and Zsófia has a headband-style wrap.  It would be tough to get little girls to keep a lace veil on, and it's more of an adult female mourning headgear anyway.  Good all around.

(And let's not ignore little Károly-Konstantin ... looks like his ears will be nice and warm.)

Here are three more of Habsburg women attending the funeral of Archduchess Regina: Regina's daughter-in-law, Archduchess Francesca, and two of her granddaughters, Archduchess Gloria (left) and Archduchess Eleanore (right).  Also pictured is their brother, Archduke Ferdinand.

Francesca's husband and the children's father, Archduke Karl, is essentially the current head of the House of Habsburg -- his father, Otto, is still alive, but he basically abdicated the role to his son several years ago.  Had the Habsburgs' throne not been abolished almost a century ago, Francesca would be the current Austrian crown princess.  It is illegal for the family to use their royal titles in Austria, so they refrain from doing so.

Both Francesca and her elder daughter, Eleanore, have chosen the traditional lace headcovering for the funeral, but little Gloria is sporting instead a fascinator-style headband.  I think that's a nice choice for a younger hatter; still appropriate, but more fitting for a young girl.

We've got new royals on the blog today, but for a sad occasion.  Archduchess Regina of Austria, the wife of Otto von Habsburg, the last Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, died on February 3 at the age of 85.  Regina had a fascinating and sometimes tragic life; I'd recommend her obituary in the Telegraph for more of her biography.  Her funeral was held today in Germany, and many members of the family attended.

This is Archduchess Gabriela of Austria, the fourth of Otto and Regina's seven children.  Gabriela is wearing the headwear that seems to have been the consensus choice of the Habsburg women for today's requiem mass -- a traditional lace veil headcovering.  It's a traditional and respectful choice -- very lovely.

Ms. von Habsburg dug into her jewelry box for another tiara at Fred and Mary's wedding; she chose this Emerald and Diamond Wreath Tiara, which can also be converted into a necklace.

I quite like the tiara, especially the contrast of the green stones against her hair.  But really -- I have to ask -- a fur stole in May?

Here's a royal we don't see very often, from the little-seen Habsburg family: Archduchess Francesca of Austria.  She attended the Danish royal wedding festivities alone (rumors are, I believe, that she and her husband, who will likely one day be head of the House of Habsburg, are separated), but she did so in style. 

Here, Fran's wearing the Habsburg Diamond and Pearl Bandeau, the tiara she wore on her wedding day.  It looks quite lovely in her red hair, doesn't it?  I know this is a Habsburg family tiara, but I don't know exactly how long it's been with the family.  Anyone have any extra info?