Princess Beatrice and the hat that launched a Facebook page [Poll] [Updated to include, um, commentary]
This post has been corrected. See the note below for details.
Oh, Princess Beatrice -- the hat she presumably thought was a lovely choice for Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding turned out to be a royal disaster, prompting the scorn of thousands of Facebook users. Their hate wasn't necessarily for all hats, but rather specifically for the one perched Friday on Beatrice's high-profile head.
The 22-year-old took a risk donning headgear that many thought would be more appropriate for Lady Gaga, and the risky hat choice quickly backfired for her on Facebook. Witness the emergence of "Princess Beatrice's ridiculous Royal Wedding hat," a group dedicated to her headgear that had received more than 18,000 "likes" just hours after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Has any topper since Aretha Franklin's unforgettable inauguration hat seen such biting abuse?
Picture gallery: Royal wedding hats
Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, stepped out at the fairy tale wedding in a sculptured ribbon topper made by London milliner Philip Treacy, a native of Ireland who trimmed the tops of dozens of guests at the wedding including Victoria Beckham, Zara Phillips and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
But when the hat-crowned Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie, 21, emerged from their ride, one comparison rang clear: The evil "Cinderella" stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella had arrived.
"She paired that disgusting hat with HORRIBLE make-up! The racoon eyes have to go! Not a fan of Eugenia's dress either! I'm sure these girls can consult a stylist, but maybe they should start with a mirror!" wrote Tara Noe Armstrong.
"Later she sets the hoop on her hat on fire and has little tigers jump through it for the amusement of the guests at the reception," added Colleen Fagan.
"I am a fan of Philip Treacy and I loves me some crazy hats ... but Princess Beatrice's hat wasn't the best choice for a wedding -- anyone's wedding. Anything THAT high shouldn't be that solid. It is reminiscent of overdone fondant icing -- only beige. Ew...Anyway, I do respect Bea for recycling and wearing her grandma's 1961 theatre coat. {*stifled giggles*}," mused Richard Ian Tracy.
Rough -- but not as rough on the hat as the hat was on the eyes. What'd you think of Bea's headgear? Hot or hot mess? Tell us in comments.
[Updated, 3:30 p.m. April 29, 2011: At 3 p.m. PDT Friday, just 12 hours after the royal wedding ceremony began, the Beatrice-hat Facebook page had reached more than 35,000 likes and counting. Our MOG readers had quite a few pithy words to add to the conversation as well. Here's a sampling; check out comments to see them all, or add your own.
J Crowley: Pretty sure that thing's a Stargate
shirley zager: She looks like a raccoon that mated with an octopus.
EC Hudson: It wasn't any more ridiculous that anyone else's hat - and it could double as a fun wedding reception game (toss a canape thru the loop).
John: I am currently at the eye doctor hoping he can restore my sight since I was blinded by Beatrice's bloody hat !!!!
lynn Roberts: Do they live in a house without mirrors?
Rick Baker: Those Brits like them some crazy hats, which actually is kind of unique and cool but that thing looks like the hood ornament on Santa's sleigh.
Sylvia Ubych: I thought she was a dear but when I saw the hat I thought she was more like a deer!]
[For the record, 5:32 p.m. April 29: This post originally referred to Philip Treacy as a British milliner. Though Treacy operates out of London, he was born in Ireland. Thanks to commenter @carl for flagging the gaffe.]
RELATED:
Photos: Festive royal wedding hats
Kate and William kiss on the balcony: two smooches, one happy crowd [Video]
-- Nardine Saad
twitter.com/NardineSaad
Photos: Princess Eugenie, top left, and Princess Beatrice made a fashion statement upon arrival at Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding ceremony. Beatrice's hat almost needed an invitation of its own, right, and within hours had a Facebook page of its own. Hmm -- it didn't look so risky when the ladies, bottom left, were still in the car. Credits: Ian Langsdon / EPA, top; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, right; Dan Kitwood / Getty Images, left.
I thought I saw a Who. I did I say, see a Who today.
Posted by: Shari McDowell | Apr 29, 2011 at 09:28 PM
Why would they wear that I Mean it's a Wedding . Not a Feathered or Plastic Ribbon Hat party , Gosh
Posted by: Lilian | Apr 29, 2011 at 09:31 PM
That hat is fantastic. Who cares if it was ugly? That's beside the point. She dared to be different and crazy at a stodgy, stuffy, boring affair. It's all about the self-expression and daring to be fun and wacky. Okay, yeah, she looked like a hot mess, but at least she turned heads, got attention, and had fun. I love her!
Posted by: Kurt | Apr 29, 2011 at 09:41 PM
I would have thought wearing anything that tall was rude...It obscured the view for others behind her. You'd think a royal would have some manners!
Posted by: Susie | Apr 29, 2011 at 09:52 PM
I have no words... It may have looked plausible in the shop. But, reality is quite a different story. It must have been the mirrors...they make everything look good. Yeah..that's it...
Posted by: Ysabeau | Apr 29, 2011 at 10:27 PM
An obvious attempt to upstage the (elegant) bride, but it only resulted in making Beatrice look ridiculous. It might have been suitable for some other occasion (Halloween party, maybe?), but NOT at somebody else's wedding.
Actually, she makes me want to shout my favorite line from the original movie "The Producers" (1967): "Well! Talk about BAD TASTE!"
Posted by: sk8eycat | Apr 29, 2011 at 10:35 PM
There's no accounting for British taste. This is one weird hat, but there were others as well. They have headgear issues, the men AND women.
Posted by: Sophie | Apr 29, 2011 at 11:03 PM
I mean no disrespect, but..... Eugenie and Bea looked like two 18th century prostitutes leaving the brothel the first thing in the morning! I'm sorry, but I have an open mind, but...... way too weird!
Posted by: Tammy | Apr 29, 2011 at 11:13 PM
This just in: Cindy Lou Who attends Royal Wedding.
Posted by: Amanda | Apr 29, 2011 at 11:31 PM
she looks like she grew antlers!!! absolutely hilarious
Posted by: lisbeth | Apr 29, 2011 at 11:44 PM
I can't believe someone conned her into wearing a toilet seat.
Posted by: Gill Avila | Apr 29, 2011 at 11:47 PM
I think for two young ladies in such high profile,,,,
wot on earth did their designers do , they both looked
dreadful.......
Posted by: joy | Apr 30, 2011 at 01:00 AM
It was just her way of saying, "Fine, don't invite my mum to the wedding. I trust you won't mind it I wear a hat that looks like a condom with a bow on top. Have a nice day."
Posted by: alisonbg | Apr 30, 2011 at 01:08 AM
Thats exactly what I thought when I saw them in the wedding audience. "holy crap, who invited Anastasia and Drizella.". It was bad. My mom tried to defend them until she saw the outfits. I think they are beautiful girls and they could have done far better with their outfit and hat choices. All in all though, they did get plenty of attention.
Posted by: Tess | Apr 30, 2011 at 01:30 AM
That Facebook page is the funniest thing I've ever read! People need to separate the girl from the hat though. She's very sweet and slender and her dress was great. It was just, that, that....HAT!
Posted by: Jackie | Apr 30, 2011 at 02:12 AM
omg sorry it is wierd/ hiddious ..etc, and more.
Posted by: christine | Apr 30, 2011 at 02:28 AM
awful choice really.
Posted by: christine | Apr 30, 2011 at 02:29 AM
no
Posted by: christine | Apr 30, 2011 at 02:30 AM
RIP Rudolph.
Posted by: JCB | Apr 30, 2011 at 02:40 AM
Aww, it's Beatrice Lou Who who is no more than 22.
Posted by: USMike | Apr 30, 2011 at 03:09 AM
These girls need to get some better designers cos these outfits were BAD!
Its obvious the bow thing should of been laid flat but some drongo flipped the lid! And what is with the gothic makeup? The makeup artists should be shot. Beautiful women who were made to look like dogs. Shame!
Posted by: J PooleNZ | Apr 30, 2011 at 03:16 AM
Arrrggghhh!!! The Mad Hatter has gone...well...mad. Will somebody please shoot that damn rabbit...!!!
Posted by: deepwater805 | Apr 30, 2011 at 04:07 AM
All things considered, their youth and that inherent sense of rebellion we have seen in the Windsor children, I think it was a careful plot of behalf of the two princesses to steal some few bits of air time away from the wedding party.
Why, to retaliate for their mother, Fergie, not being invited to any of the events but then the royals have abused Fergie to some degree making it necessary for her to sue them for support and drag the Windsors through scandal again.
The princesses should not have been invited either. If there is bad blood in a family, it does pass down to and through the children and anyone else would have know better than to invite a relation with a grudge.
But, God love them, the royals of the past have provided no end of entertainment for the population of the world. It is just a shame that Fergie has to sue for support money when the money she might get is coming from the pockets of the British Taxpayers.
I suppose the daring of Bea to show up in that rig and go into the palace, though not on the balcony, is some small retribution. But hey, don't forget that Rowan Atkinson was on the invite list. He should have worn the hat. LOL
Posted by: Gene Carter | Apr 30, 2011 at 04:21 AM
Just one more word and I am gone.
What was with Bea's sister's hat or fascinator or what ever it may be called.
It literally looks like a ruptured duck being rogered from behind. It is hard to decide which train wreck to focus on.
Posted by: Gene Carter | Apr 30, 2011 at 04:27 AM
These two poor girls could benefit from the direction of a good image consultant. With the money they have, they needn't appear in public, at a royal wedding, no less, looking like this. Princess Eugenie's outfit was ill fiting and not well coordinated. Her hat, while a bit less of a fashion disaster than her sister's, is hideous. Princess Beatrice's outfit fit her much better and was classy and tasteful, but that 'hat' really detracted from her overall appearance. I've never seen headgear so outlandishly ugly. They both need help with hair and makeup to create an appearance much more fitting for princesses.
Posted by: cara hiler | Apr 30, 2011 at 04:42 AM