The Royal Family's Go-To Hat Shop Turns 350: 'It's Like Stepping into the Past' (Exclusive)
The Royal Family's Go-To Hat Shop Turns 350: 'It's Like Stepping into the Past' (Exclusive)
Monique Jessen, Janine HenniThu, April 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
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Lock & Co. Hatters in London; Kate Middleton attends a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on March 29, 2022.Credit: Courtesy Lock & Co Hatters; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty -
The British royal family's go-to hat shop is celebrating its 350th anniversary
Lock & Co. Hatters of London has crafted hats for three and a half centuries, serving a royal clientele from the start
Known for iconic designs like the bowler hat, the legendary brand remains a favorite of Kate Middleton and King Charles
A stone’s throw from St. James’s Palace in London, the dark green door of Lock & Co. Hatters still opens with the high-pitched chime of an old-fashioned shop bell — and a warm greeting from one of the store's "master hatters."
For 350 years, the institution has handcrafted designs to frame familiar faces, from Oscar Wilde and Franklin D. Roosevelt to Kate Middleton and King Charles.
Step inside, and the secret to its staying power comes into focus. The ground floor is lined with everything from classic top hats to casual hats (starting at $100), while a tucked-away back room offers a glimpse into the shop's remarkable legacy.
Antique ledgers record orders from figures like former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and one carefully preserved volume details the 1953 commission to fit Queen Elizabeth's coronation crown — a reminder that this is no ordinary hat shop.
Queen Elizabeth after her coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London on June 2, 1953; Lock & Co. Hatters.Credit: PA Images via Getty; Courtesy Lock & Co Hatters
"Lock & Co.'s history goes hand in hand with Britain's history," head millinery designer Awon Golding exclusively tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "When you step into the shop, it really is like stepping into the past."
That feeling is everywhere, from framed royal warrants to a wall of head measurement records for famous clients, including Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy and David Beckham — some of them autographed.
But Lock and Co.'s appeal goes far beyond its archive.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in her riding gear in Peapack, New Jersey in 1970.Credit: Art Zelin/Getty
Founded in 1676 to serve the nobility of King Charles II's court, the family-run brand has long been intertwined with royal life — and still draws everyone from modern royals to celebrities, racegoers and mothers of the bride in search of the perfect finishing touch.
For Golding, that continuity is part of the thrill.
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Charlie Chaplin in 1935; Lionel Richie at a Buckingham Palace garden party on May 3, 2023; David Beckham at an Arsenal vs. Burnely match at Emirates Stadium on Nov. 1, 2014.Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty; Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty; David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty
"It's an honor to be part of historic events in that way," she tells PEOPLE. "I love seeing my hats out in the wild!"
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From the iconic bowler hat created by the brand in 1849 and later popularized by Charlie Chaplin, to the top hat King Charles wears for Royal Ascot and garden parties, Lock & Co. has topped some of the world’s most recognizable heads — including Helen Mirren, Lionel Richie and more.
King Charles at Royal Ascot on June 21, 2025; Helen Mirren at Royal Ascot on June 23, 2018.Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty; Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty
“Hats are about celebration and making a statement,” says Golding. “People come here to find something beautiful and meaningful — to have some fun and show your personality.”
Princess Kate has also long turned to Lock & Co. for standout toppers, with more than a dozen unique pieces in her wardrobe for everything from weddings to official royal outings.
Kate Middleton at the Irish Guards St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 2019; Kate Middleton in Ottawa, Canada on July 1, 2011; Kate Middleton at a garden party at Hillsborough Castle on June 14, 2016.Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty; Mark Large - Pool/Getty ; UK Press Pool/UK Press via Getty
“She’s a brilliant ambassador for all the brands that she wears,” the designer says. “There is something about her that really resonates — she just wears things so well.”
Three and a half centuries on, Lock & Co. is marking its milestone year with monthly limited-edition drops — a stylish celebration for the legendary hatter that still draws tour groups every day.
Lock & Co. Hatters.Credit: Courtesy Lock & Co Hatters (2)
"It is literally hat heaven!" says Golding.
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