Kate's rented hats sold for almost triple their auction value

 

 

Two hats rented and worn by Kate Middleton sold for about $9,000 at auction this week. Left, she wears the Philip Somerville creation to the Order of the Garter ceremony in 2008, when she giggled with Harry as Prince William wore his elaborate robes to join the exclusive club. Right, the 'Aurora' hat adorned her head as she and Prince William went to a wedding.

The Brothers Grimm once wrote a tale about a mischievous fellow named Rumpelstiltskin, who spun straw into gold.

Kate Middleton doesn’t quite match the profile, but it’s amazing what she can do with straw. In this case, a couple of straw hats that she once wore when she was still dating Prince William. These were not even hats she owned; she rented them for an occasion, one a wedding and the other the Order of the Garter procession.

Both hats were put up under the hammer this week by Kerry Taylor Auctions, including the receipts. Each hat was expected to fetch about $1,600. So much for guesses … one went for $4,157 and the other for $4,800.

This was the same auction house that handled the see-through dress Kate wore (right) from her days at St. Andrews. That flimsy thing sold for $125,000.

As for the hats, the biggest pricetag landed on the black “Aurora” hat with the label “Get Ahead Hats.” The diary from the store shows that her mother Carole accompanied her to the shop where she rented it in Berkshire, close to the family home. Then it was off to join Prince William at the wedding of his friend, Harry Meade, on Oct. 23, 2010. The sight of the two together heated up the talk of an impending engagement. True enough, the following month they announced their matrimonial intentions.

The second hat, made by Philip Somerville, featured white feathers and a delicately woven brim. She wore it on June 16, 2008 to William’s induction into the Order of the Garter at Windsor Castle.

CHARLES HOLDS COURT

Tennis at Wimbledon has always been a favourite of the royals, and some of them have become regulars at the lawn tennis championships.

Kate and Prince William attended last year, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent have been regulars.

A couple of royals rarely seen are Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. The Queen last appeared in 1977 when she presented the women's championship trophy to Virginia Wade. Charles has only been there once, in 1970.

The Prince finally made it back to the hallowed grounds on Wednesday, accompanied by Camilla. They were seated in the Royal Box for the day's first match, Roger Federer vs. Fabio Fognini. Federer, seeded third, bowed to the Prince, then quickly dispatched his Italian opponent, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

Charles and Camilla had company in the royals section, joined by British TV celebrity Bruce Forsyth and his wife, Wilnelia Mercred, who won the Miss World contest in 1975 (below).

(Reuters)