Say hello to HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge.
As many readers will have already heard, the name for the newest member of the Cambridge family was revealed on Monday.
A topic of intense conversation and speculation has been the little hat or bonnet worn by the Princess when she was introduced to the world on Saturday.
Ben Stevens / i-Images
Your fearless correspondent searched (and searched and searched) for the piece online, fruitlessly it seemed, knowing only the color and that it appeared to be hand-knitted, not a mass-production piece.
James Higgins / Splash News
Well, it turns out it is from a Spanish company, Irulea.
More on the piece comes via a story in Spain’s El País, but first a little background on the company:
- Irulea is located in San Sebastián on Spain’s northern coast, situated on the Bay of Biscay
- The company has been in business since 1932. Originally specializing in linens, the company now also offers infant and children’s clothing and accessories, as well as women’s lingerie.
- Irulea remains a family-owned enterprise, with third-generation family members operating the company.
- Most (if not all) of the merchandise is made by hand using quality textiles, including some exquisite lace and other fibers.
Irulea
Now to the El País story; it turns out Irulea’s owners didn’t even know little Charlotte was seen wearing one of their products. The story quotes one of the store’s owners, Ayago Villar. (FYI, this is a *very* rough translation of the story, done using Google Translate and my rusty Spanish.)
“One of our clients was the one who tipped us off…. one of my clients told me that the princess wore a hat of us.”
Ben Stevens/i-Images
The newspaper was told that the cap is part of a set that also comes with booties and a top. Looking at Irulea’s merchandise photos I am guessing the booties were something like these. (Please see update below, they’re similar to the pair on the right.)
Irulea Facebook
A local newspaper El Diario Vasco, says the connection between Kensington Palace and the Spanish store comes through the children’s nanny, Maria Teresa Turrión Borrallo; she is is from northern Spain. More from the El Diario story (again, this English version is via Google translate):
A phone call from a woman from Palencia, which proved to be the mother of the royal family nanny, Maria Teresa Turrión Borrallo asked for different items he had seen on the website of the store.
Both the El Diario and El País say the person ordering the items was specific they needed white or bone or ivory because the baby’s sex wasn’t known. According to El Diario items were ordered in sizes 0-3 months as well as 3-6 months.
Below we show pieces similar to those that would have been ordered for the Cambridge’s baby, the “capotita” (hat) and “patucos,” or booties.
Irulea
And here is an infant’s sweater from Irulea that may be something like the one purchased for the Princess. (Please see update below.)
Irulea
Quite a few comments on the Irulea Facebook page (as well as some on the WKW page) note that Charlotte’s hat was put on backwards and/or upside down/inside out.
i-Images/Splash/Polaris
That is something far beyond my beyond-extremely-limited knowledge of infant apparel and accessories, I’ll leave it to our wise readers to sort this one out.
A bit more about Irulea, below we show some of the firm’s handknit pieces from this past winter’s collection.
Irulea
And here is a more seasonal set from the company.
Irulea
One other note about the hat via our sister site, What Kate Wore.
With thanks to Trish A. on the WKW Facebook page for the tip, there is a knitting pattern for those interested in making their own version of the hat; it is available online at Ravelry.com, a fabulous site for knitters and crocheters. The pattern was created by Rian Anderson and is a free download for Ravelry site members; here is more from Rian Anderson:
This bonnet is my version of the one worn by the new princess born on the 2nd May 2015 to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
This pattern is “reverse engineered” from photographs and is just my own take on what can be seen (the lower hem is my own invention, it not being visible in the pics).
I am not the designer of this pattern, nor did I knit the original bonnet worn by the princess.
This page has all of the details.
I have inquiries in to Irulea, if/when we hear back from them (hopefully with photos of the items) I will update the post.
UPDATE MAY 12: Irulea has released photos of the items purchased for Princess Charlotte. Below we share one photo, others may be seen in this post. Prices for the items can also be seen here.
Irulea Facebook
Of course, Charlotte’s blanket is by G.H. Hurt & Son, the company’s Soft Wool Baby Shawl.
One other note for readers, the magazine market has exploded with special editions and collectible issues celebrating Charlotte’s birth. Hello! Canada, People and OK!
Hello! Canada, People, OK!
To say the interest in Princess Charlotte is significant would be an interest.
Gala, Women’s Day Australia, Oggi
Thank you so much for all the background on the amazing Irulea company. I’m just so pleased that the little bonnet was hand-knit after all, even if not by anyone at the Palace! Seems right for a tiny newbie. Irulea has some truly gorgeous things on offer.