A history of hats at the Queen's speech

The year 1928 saw a whole array of wonderful hats. Witness Ian Fraser MP and his wife attending the state opening of parliament. Our favourite hat in this picture, though, is the one on Ian Fraser's daughter. It's warm, woolly and matches her mittens Photograph: London Express/Getty

Senora Berckemeyer, the wife of the Peruvian ambassador to Britain, wears a fantastic flamboyant creation in 1947. Roisin Murphy take note - this is how to wear feathers! Photograph: J. A. Hampton/Getty Images

It's 1983 and prime minister Thatcher sits with her ministers wearing a rather formal creation. It suits her, but isn't very interesting Photograph: PA

Jump forward in time to 1998 and Cherie Blair looks as if she should be talking to this human-shaped tomato in the Kremlin rather than Westminster Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

Sandra Howard, the wife of the Conservative leader Michael Howard, sits looking very prim and proper in the gallery in 2003 Photograph: PA/PA

2003 again and security are standing by in the central lobby, just in case Gene Kelly's ghostly possession of Cherie Blair results in a highly inappropriate rendition of Singin' in the Rain Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

In 2005 Pauline Prescott and Cherie Blair are soon to make an appearance in The Women in White Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

2007: Sarah Brown watches from the gallery in an astoundingly ugly ensemble Photograph: Stephen Lock/PA

This year Sarah Brown displays rather more fashion nous with her purple beret Photograph: Arthur Edwards/PA