Mad hats

Generations of royal women and British VIPs have made their greatest (and loudest) fashion statements atop their heads. Young or old, these ladies are flaunting their fabulous fascinators on the royal wedding and party circuit. See a selection of some of their most noteworthy picks.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (from left) attend the annual Order of the Garter Service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England on June 18, 2012.

Dutch Queen Beatrix and Princess Annemarie Gualtherie van Weezel arrive for the wedding of Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Parma with Albert Brenninkmeijer at San Miniato al Monte Basilica in Florence on June 16, 2012.

Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands attends a lunch with Turkish students and scientists at the Dutch consulate Palais de Hollande in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 14, 2012.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge watch part of a children's sports event while visiting Vernon Park during a Diamond Jubilee visit to Nottingham on June 13, 2012 in Nottingham, England.

Britain's Zara Philips leaves St. Paul's Cathedral after a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth in central London on June 5, 2012.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands waves to well-wishers during the annual Queen's day in Rhenen, The Netherlands on April 30, 2012.

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth at St. Paul's Cathedral in central London on June 5, 2012.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II enjoys a race from her balcony with Sophie, Countess of Wessex at the Derby meeting at Epsom racecourse, near London, Britain, on June 2, 2012. The classic horse race is the first engagement of this Diamond Jubilee central weekend which ends on June 5 and celebrates the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrives at the National Memorial on March 26, 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge holds a glass of Harvey's Bristol Creme in the Junior's Mess as she visits Aldershot Barracks on St. Patrick's Day, in Aldershot, Britain, on March 17, 2012. The Duchess presented shamrocks to the Irish Guards at a St Patrick's Day parade during her visit.

Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a fashion show at De Montfort University on March 8, 2012 in Leicester, England. The royal visit to Leicester marks the first date of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK between March 8 and July 25, 2012.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth views the interior of the refurbished East Wing of Somerset House at King's College in London on February 29, 2012. The Queen is celebrating her sixtieth anniversary as Regent in 2012.

Queen Elizabeth II waves to crowds while on a river cruise on the Brisbane river on October 24, 2011 in Brisbane, Australia. This is the Queen's 16th official visit to Australia.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall talk together, as they watch the procession pass at the Order of The Garter Service in Windsor, England, on June 13, 2011. The annual service is held in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II looks at an Australian rules (AFL) football during her visit to Clontarf Aboriginal college on October 27, 2011 in Perth, Australia.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend the wedding of Ben Elliot and Mary-Clare Winwood at the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Northleach on September 10, 2011 in Cheltenham, England. The Duchess of Cornwall has been made Dame Grand Cross by the Queen, the honour is the highest female rank in the Royal Victorian Order and comes on the day the Duchess and Prince Charles celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends Canada Day Celebrations at Parliament Hill on day two of the Royal Couple's North American Tour on July 1, 2011 in Ottawa, Canada.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend Investec Derby Day at the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 4, 2011 in Epsom, England.

Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Eugenie (left) and Princess Beatrice (right), both of whom chose extraordinary fascinators, leave Westminster Abbey after the royal wedding ceremony.

Three's a trend! Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is flanked by Carole Middleton (left) and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall outside of Westminster Abbey after the royal wedding.

David and Victoria Beckham arrive at the royal wedding. He chose a fancy top hat; her fascinator is by famed designer Philip Treacy.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark waves as she arrives to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The daughters of Earl Spencer, each in a fantastical fascinator, sit in the Westminster Abbey pews for the royal wedding.

William's cousin Zara Phillips chose a gray headpiece for the royal wedding.

Charlene Wittstock, fiance of Prince Albert of Monaco, made her own royal hat trick with a curved topper.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne leave the royal wedding ceremony.

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband and Justine Thornton exit the wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

The Duchess of Kent leaves the royal wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Sophie Winkleman, Lady Frederick Windsor, exits the royal wedding wearing a gravity-defying hat.

Princess Beatrice is dressed for spring at the May wedding of her cousin Peter Phillips to Autumn Kelly in 2008 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.

Kate leaves the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles and Harry Lopes in 2006, wearing a fascinator. The term is used to describe a delicate, sometimes frivolous, headpiece.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive by carriage at the Royal Ascot horse race meeting at Ascot Racecourse in June 2010.

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall greets the crowd after the Service of Prayer and Dedication following her marriage to Prince Charles at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2005.

The Princess Royal, Anne, attends a graduation of junior soldiers at the Army Foundation College in August 2010 in Harrogate, England.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie join their grandmother, the Queen, in June 2009 at Trooping the Colour, the Queen’s birthday parade. It moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horse Guards Parade and marks the Queen’s official birthday.

Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex wears a fascinator, which shields her face at the unveiling of a statue of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother on the Mall in central London in 2009.

Autumn Philips wears a pink, feathered hat at Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Racecourse in June 2008. Only formal day dress with a hat or substantial fascinator is acceptable at the Royal Ascot’s Royal Enclosure.

The Queen visits Maldon Salt Crystal Company in 2010. As part of her visit to Essex, the Queen watched the salt production process and greeted members of the family who run the business.

Peter Phillips and his then fiancée Autumn Kelly, attend an Easter Day Service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2008.

Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Prince William watch the Trooping the Colour festivities from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2010. The Trooping the Colour is the parade celebrating the Queen’s official birthday.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wears a hat resembling a flower to the Queen’s garden party at Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2010. Approximately 8,000 people attend each of the Queen’s garden parties. The women wear afternoon dress, which is usually accompanied by a hat or fascinator.

The Queen meets students at St. Mary and St. Pancras Church of England Primary School in London in 2010.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend the annual Garter Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2006. The Queen named the princesses’ father, Prince Andrew, a Knight of the Garter. The Order of the Garter is the Queen’s personal gift, and it is the most senior and the oldest British Order of Chivalry.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall arrive by carriage at the Royal Ascot horse race in 2009.

Catherine attends the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to watch Prince William graduate as an Army officer in December 2006. This was Kate's first high-profile event attended by the Queen.

Autumn Phillips, wife of Peter Phillips, gives a glimpse behind her as she leaves the ceremony. Matching dress to headpiece was a style must for most guests.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with the Duke and Duchess of York make their way to the Royal Ascot race meeting in June 1990. Princess Diana wears a Philip Somerville hat.

Princess Beatrice sports a fascinator at the Ascot Racecourse in June 2009 in Ascot, England.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall takes a carriage after the annual Garter Service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in June 2005.

The Queen’s eldest granddaughter, Zara Phillips, wears a fascinator at the Emirates Melbourne Cup Day in November 2009 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.

Prince Michael of Kent shares a carriage with Princess Eugenie and the princess’ lime green fascinator to Ladies Day of Royal Ascot at the racecourse in June 2009.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex attends a 2009 Service of Commemoration alongside veterans and the relatives of those who died during the country’s combat operations in Iraq. The service at St. Paul’s Cathedral marked the end of the country’s operations in Iraq.

Autumn Phillips (then Autumn Kelley), Peter Phillips, Zara Phillips and the Queen converse on the balcony at Ladies Day of Royal Ascot in the summer of 2007.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attends the National Commemorative Service parade, marking the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Westminster Abbey in September 2010.

Hats worn by the Queen to the Royal Ascot races were displayed at “The Queen’s Year” exhibition at Buckingham Palace in July 2010.

The Queen visits Sultan Qaboos bin Said at Al-Alam Palace in Muscat, Oman with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on a State visit in November 2010. Her Majesty has been on more than 60 State visits to foreign governments. The Queen has traveled more than any other Sovereign in British history, visiting more than 325 countries during her reign.

Kate Middleton attends a wedding at The Guards Chapel at the Wellington Barracks in London in August 2009.

The Princess Royal and her eldest niece Princess Beatrice arrive by carriage in The Royal Procession at the Ascot Racecourse in June 2008.

Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex attends the first day of the Royal Ascot races in the summer of 2006.

Zara Phillips wears a holiday colored fascinator to the Christmas Day Church Service at St. Mary’s Church in Sandringham, England in 2008.