Her Majesty talks through her (EU) hat...

Whether it was sartorial happenstance or a tacit signal of support for Europe, the Queen’s hat yesterday became one of the biggest talking points of the State Opening of Parliament because of its supposed resemblance to the EU flag.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, posted a picture of the Queen on Twitter and joked: “Clearly the EU still inspires some in the UK.”

The Queen wore the blue hat and matching day-coat and dress instead of her crown and ceremonial robes as the usual pageantry was scaled down for the first time since 1974 in the wake of the snap election.

It is not the first time that the Queen’s views on Brexit have become a source of public speculation. At the height of the EU referendum, it was claimed that she had expressed Eurosceptic views at a private lunch. Buckingham Palace subsequently made a formal complaint about the article, which was headlined “Queen backs Brexit”.

The Duke of Edinburgh missed the State Opening of Parliament after being admitted to hospital with an infection as a precautionary measure. He remained in hospital last night. The Prince of Wales yesterday sat on the throne usually occupied by his father. After completing her official duties, the Queen attended Royal Ascot, one of her favourite events of the year.

There had been suggestions that she would be unable to make it after the date of the Queen’s Speech was delayed. However, she arrived on time in a horsedrawn carriage, having changed into a yellow day-dress and hat.