Designer of Princess Beatrice's god awful hat she wore at Kate and William's wedding feared he'd find his 'head on a spike'
We all remember the infamous hat worn by Princess Beatrice at the wedding of Kate and Prince William, Duchess and Duke of Cambridge in 2011. The hat practically stole the bride’s thunder and superseded talks/gawks on Pippa Middleton's shapely dearie. It has recently been revealed that the maker of the hat received backlash for his slightly peculiar hat design and he feared he might end up with his "head on a spike" for his eccentric transgression.
Philip Treacy, 51, the milliner, opened up about his experience on the outcry over his elaborate hat design that had the whole world talking. You know you’re in it deep when the discourse on the brides wedding glow takes a back seat to the aesthetics of a hat.
While speaking to the Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Treacy 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."
Princess Beatrice, the eldest daughter of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew, had to face condemnation for her choice of attire. The disapproval was slightly misplaced as the hat that had managed to garner censure from the masses didn’t precisely put a damper on the happy event since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got through the event without a hiccup and are now proud parents of three.
Treacy, who has designed hats for the likes of Madonna, Lady Gaga and Grace Jones, mentored alongside Alexander McQueen by fashion magazine editor Isabella Blow, is known for his bold artistic designs and is quite popular during the Royal Ascot Events.
”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,” Express.co.uk reported.
The Irish designer who has also hung his hat in prominent fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren and Givenchy believes hats to be a symbol of rebellion. He derives inspiration from the weddings witnessed by him as a child in Ireland and owes his success to his father, a baker in Ireland.
He said, ”I have come from a very humble background, I have made hats for kings and queens. 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."