Philip Treacy Defends Princess Beatrice's | Opinion Dividing Royal "Wedding Hat"

'Gorgeous and beautiful': Celebrity milliner Philip Treacy has defended the headpiece Princess Beatrice wore to the Royal Wedding last Friday


Princess Beatrice's extraordinary choice of millinery for the Royal Wedding has been subject to rampant internet mockery. But today its designer spoke out in defence of the bold design.

Philip Treacy, who made headwear for a large number of guests including Victoria Beckham, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and Zara Phillips, said Beatrice, 22, and her sister Eugenie, 21, looked 'gorgeous and beautiful' at their cousin's high-profile nuptials.

He told HollywoodLife.com: 'My inspiration was beauty and elegance; it's a 21st century royal wedding.


'They didn't tell me what they wanted because I've known them for a long time and I wanted them to look gorgeous and beautiful.'

Brushing off the backlash, he continued: 'They trusted me to make them. Gorgeous and beautiful can be open to interpretation...

'I thought they looked gorgeous and beautiful. But no one is crying if anyone didn't.'

Outlandish: The royal sisters both attracted widespread criticism for their outfits


The 43-year-old had made a dramatic taupe creation for the elder princess to co-ordinate with her Valentino Couture ensemble.

But the oval headpiece in the shape of a bow with trailing ribbons became an internet sensation for all the wrong reasons.

Within hours it had its own Facebook page, titled Princess Beatrice’s Ridiculous Royal Wedding Hat, attracting 133,282 'likes' so far.

And bloggers have wasted no time in poking fun at the fifth in line to the throne’s headgear, creating a host of ‘viral’ mock-up pictures.

The spoofs suggested various uses for the titfer, including a cat flap, a Star Trek stun gun and even a lavatory bowl.

Mr Treacy also designed a hat for Princess Eugenie, which attracted criticism,although not as much as her sister's.

The designer, whose hats have been worn by everybody from Lady Gaga to Sarah-Jessica Parker, typically cost in excess of $1,000.

He explained that his creations were designed to make the wearer 'feel a million dollars'.