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Princess Margaret and the Art of the Hat

In the 1950s, as a young royal stepping into public life, she favored delicate pieces that emphasized her refined, doll-like beauty.

By Patricia William

January 11, 2026
3:59 am
Los Angeles, CA

Princess Margaret’s relationship with fashion is well documented, but among her most distinctive style signatures was her remarkable collection of hats. While many royals wore hats out of duty or tradition, Margaret turned them into personal statements—small sculptures perched above a personality that refused to be subdued. Her hats mirrored her evolution. In the 1950s, as a young royal stepping into public life, she favored delicate pieces that emphasized her refined, doll-like beauty. Soft cloches, tilted berets, and petal-shaped fascinators framed her face with a romantic charm that suited the era’s ladylike silhouette. These early choices were less about spectacle and more about balancing proportion and glamour—something Margaret mastered effortlessly. As she grew older and more confident in her image, her hats became bolder. The 1960s saw her embrace

Her hats mirrored her evolution. In the 1950s, as a young royal stepping into public life, she favored delicate pieces that emphasized her refined, doll-like beauty. Soft cloches, tilted berets, and petal-shaped fascinators framed her face with a romantic charm that suited the era’s ladylike silhouette. These early choices were less about spectacle and more about balancing proportion and glamour—something Margaret mastered effortlessly.

As she grew older and more confident in her image, her hats became bolder. The 1960s saw her embrace pillbox hats, dramatic wide brims, and sculpted millinery that echoed the sleek modernity of the time. Often worn at a slight angle, her hats added a sense of mischief and sophistication, as though she were letting the viewer in on a private joke. Margaret had the rare ability to make even formal pieces look conversational, alive, and expressive.

Her millinery taste reflected her personality: dramatic but precise, bold yet impeccably coordinated. She gravitated toward hats that highlighted her striking dark hair and luminous complexion—creams, blacks, vivid jewel tones, and elegant pastels. Many were finished with flourishes such as feathers, veils, rosettes, or sharply folded brims, each detail chosen not simply for fashion but for character.

In later decades, particularly during the 1970s and 80s, Margaret’s hats embodied mature confidence. Broad-brimmed designs paired beautifully with her formal daywear, while structured fascinators offered a modern twist on tradition. Even at events where royal protocol dictated conformity, Margaret’s choices carried her unmistakable flair. Her hats never overwhelmed her; they amplified her—another stage on which her personality performed.

Princess Margaret understood what few others have mastered: a hat is not just an accessory but an attitude. On her, it became a symbol of elegance, independence, and style that was never afraid to be seen. In the world of royal fashion, her millinery remains among the most memorable and influential—a reminder that true style is not worn, but lived.