Princess Anne has done it again. The royal with a famously thrifty, no-nonsense attitude towards style has effortlessly pulled off a look which ticks off more summer 2024 trends than an influencer holidaying on Mykonos.
As she visited Team GB house in Paris on Thursday, the Princess Royal, 73, not only sported her signature wraparound sunglasses but added a pair of futuristic Dad-style trainers (no cliché Sambas for her), a wafty linen tunic and – la piece de resistance – a bucket hat. It all added up to a singularly stylish ensemble.
Team GB, £23, Adidas at JD Sports
The Princess, who is president of the British Olympic association, likely chose her bucket hat as a simple show of patriotic support for Team GB. Indeed, her blue and white graphic print style can be purchased by anyone for £23 from JD Sports.
Her look has garnered widespread praise, too. Comments on social media ranged from: “Don’t know anyone who can pull a bucket hat off better than Princess Anne” to “Princess Anne is rocking that bucket hat--I love it”. She is probably blissfully unaware that she happened to be showcasing one of this summer’s biggest hat trends.
On Thursday, Victoria Beckham posted holiday snaps of husband David wearing a woven bucket hat style with linen shorts and little else. Brad Pitt has also made the bucket hat a cornerstone of his summer look, debuting a pink and white houndstooth version and a Burberry check style in the last month. Both men – age 49 and 60 respectively – show how the bucket hat, when chosen carefully, can be a youthifying addition to the midlifer’s wardrobe.
If you’re already fretting about looking like a Nineties Gallagher brother throwback then, first, your concerns are valid. Second, however, there are plenty of styles out there now which will help you swerve any unwanted Oasis connotations.
Wide brim, £41.95, Muji; Speckled, £215, Lock & Co
From straw to raffia and chic muted colourways, the modern bucket hats make for an elegant cover-up. “Bucket hats have become increasingly popular with customers as they offer a casual look that can keep them cool on the commute as well as on holiday. The latest styles in linens and crochets offer a stylish take on the youthful headwear,” says Claire Brereton, womens’ accessories buyer at John Lewis, where a reversible cream and white linen design or a subtly colour-blocked woven number are key summer buys – and would roll up in your suitcase far more easily than a giant statement straw hat while also representing a more sophisticated alternative to this summer’s other big hat trend, the baseball cap.
Canvas with ties, £79, Lack of Colour; Knitted crochet, £312, Maison Michel
The beauty of the bucket hat is that there’s a version for all style inclinations – they can exude sophistication (look to Lack of Colour and Jigsaw), boho glamour (see Maison Michel’s patterned style) or down-to-earth beachy chic (see Free People or Arket). Yes, Princess Anne can get away with a logo, patterned version, but something plain and understated will be the most versatile.
“Let’s be honest, bucket hats are not for everyone. One of fashion’s more divisive accessories given the confidence needed to pull them off and their association with different music genres from acid house to hip hop and Madchester/indie, you’re definitely ‘saying something’ when you wear a bucket hat,” says Melissa Dick, chief creative officer at Hush, where the current collection includes a grown-up £39 take on the look.
“If you’re into them, like we very much are at Hush, embrace the playful practicality and use them to add an unexpected and informal element to an otherwise chic and straight-up summer look. For example with silk, pyjama co ords, or with a pretty one- shouldered top and denim Bermudas. The key, as with most great outfits – is to get the tension right. My personal preference is a classic Nineties shape in canvas, in a solid colour like black, beige or bold green.”
The bucket hat isn’t just great for shielding you from the sun in summer, it’s a style which can be deployed for all weathers. Cos’ new collection includes cosy merino versions while its sloping silhouette makes it especially practical in the rain too. Directional Scandi rainwear brand Rains has a selection of bucket hats to match its jackets.
Linen blend, £57, Arket; Straw, £60, Jigsaw
“Bucket hats are one of the hardest working accessories in your wardrobe, they are that reliable, durable and seasonless staple that transcend age, place, style trend and also climate,” says a spokesperson for the brand. “The bucket hat can shade you from the sun but can also be the statement headpiece to complete any rainwear look and add that extra layer of protection.”
Waterproof, £29, Rains; Wide-brimmed, £32, Freepeople
Naturally, Princess Anne has always known this. She might have gone viral with her 2024 bucket hat, but she was pictured in a waterproof version as far back as 1983.
Always ahead of the curve.
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