PRINCESS’S WEDDING HAT PUT MY HEAD ON THE LINE, SAYS TREACY
HAT-MAKER to the royals Philip Treacy has said he thought he would end up with his “head on a spike” for his design worn by Princess Beatrice at the wedding of William and Kate in 2011.
The Irish milliner (51), who has crafted distinctive headwear for the likes of Madonna, Lady Gaga and Grace Jones, said he considers hats to be a symbol of rebellion.
Speaking on BBC radio, he described the backlash against the distinctive, towering “Pretzel” design made for Princess Beatrice in 2011, worn at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
He said: “There was a moment where I thought I would find myself with my head on a spike outside the Tower of London. But it was a very modern hat and modernity is always unusual things.”
Treacy, who was inspired to go into hat making by the weddings he witnessed as a child in a village church in Ahascragh, Co Galway, credits the support of his late father, a baker, for his success.
“I’ve come from a very humble background, I have made hats for kings and queens,” said Treacy, who recalled making clothes for dolls when he was a child.
“One of the strongest memories I have is being in somebody’s house and my father’s friend saying ‘don’t you think that’s a little odd, don’t you think it’s a bit strange this child is doing this?’
“And I remember distinctly my father saying: ‘Whatever makes him happy.’ It moves me still.”
He said the annual Royal Ascot horse races in England were like “Christmas” due to the popularity of his designs among a number of high-profile guests.
“Royal Ascot makes our year, so last week was Christmas for us. People have to wear a hat, they can’t wear an excuse for a hat — that dreaded word fascinator. It sounds like a dodgy sex toy. It’s a headband with a floppy flower in it.”