Beatrice’s wedding hat could be yours

LONDON – The eye-popping hat worn by Princess Beatrice at Britain’s royal wedding is to be auctioned to raise money for charity, Buckingham Palace said Thursday.

The famous creation – which some said looked like antlers – will be sold on eBay, with the proceeds to go to the charities UNICEF and Children in Crisis.

The hat was the handiwork of Britain’s leading milliner, Philip Treacy, who designed many of the ladies’ hats worn at the April 29 nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The unusual design of the beige hat has sparked a Facebook fan page, and one computer-altered picture showed President Barack Obama and his national security team all wearing the hat as they watched the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan.

The sale was announced by Beatrice’s mother, Sarah Ferguson, on the Oprah Winfrey show. Many have said the hat looked outlandish, but Treacy has defended it in comments to the British press, saying Beatrice looked “gorgeous.”

Beatrice, 22, also defended it in a recent interview with Grazia magazine. She said it was “wonderful that it’s had such a reaction.”

She added: “It’s an incredible response to a hat, really. I’m glad it provoked so much conversation.”