The Duke of Windsor's straw boater, mid-late 1940s, labelled to the interior 'John Cavanagh Ltd, Park Avenue, at 47th Street, New York', trimmed with black grosgrain ribbon, size 6 7/8 Provenance: Sotheby's New York Duke & Duchess of Windsor Auction, February, 1998, part lot 2857. In 1948 the Duke of Windsor was photographed in Havana, Cuba wearing an identical straw boater, accompanied by the Duchess. He liked to wear boaters though they had fallen out of fashion generally. He was to wear them all his life. In a 'Family Album' he described how he tried without success to launch a fashion for boater hats in the 1920s, which he hoped might raise the flagging fortunes of the Luton straw hat industry. An advertisement of the period read: 'BOATERS AHOY'! Two boaters afloat in Leicester Square God Bless the Prince of Wales! Now you bright young things who always swear Whatever the task entails To follow his lead - your duty indeed Is clear and simple, Tis that No matter what urgent claims may plead You purchase a new boater hat.

Leather inner band bears the original accession no in ink from Mohammed Al Fayed’s museum archive. There are a few faint discolourations in the crown lining (minor). Gros grain ribbon is good – just a few faint marks to the bow (minor)