Philip Treacy claims the hat Princess Beatrice wore to her cousin Prince William’s wedding is his ”most favourite” creation.
The milliner can’t understand why the outlandish accessory received so much criticism when the princess donned it for the nuptials of the prince and Duchess Catherine last year but is pleased it got people interested in hats again.
He told You magazine: ”I genuinely set out to design a hat with a bow on it. It’s my most favourite hat ever! It was complex in construction, but, most importantly, it got everyone talking about hats – good or bad.
”And it’s even been immortalised as a cake by the Berkeley Hotel in London for its afternoon Prêt-à -Porter tea.”
Philip – whose clients include Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker and The Duchess of Cambridge – loves working with celebrities, but was star struck when he met Dame Elizabeth Taylor four years ago at London’s Dorchester Hotel.
Recalling his meeting with the late actress, he said: ”I took 25 hats to show her and ended up giving them all to her. As a thank you she sent me 100 violet roses, the colour of her eyes, and composed me a poem.
”But when she asked, ‘What else can I do for you?’ I asked if she would call my sister. Can you imagine? My sister was doing the laundry at home and I phoned to say, ‘I have Elizabeth Taylor on the phone for you…’ ”