Explore the reimagining of royal portraiture through contemporary hat design
The Romanian Cultural Institute in London presents Royal Portraits in Hats, an exhibition presented as a pop-up show by NITA SAO (Ana Istodorescu), unfolding across the entrance hall and the Constantin Brâncuși Gallery.
The exhibition opens on 21 May 2026 at 7:00pm and runs until 29 May 2026 at the Romanian Cultural Institute in London.
The exhibition
Conceived as a contemporary reflection on European royal heritage, Royal Portraits in Hats explores the enduring influence of monarchy on visual culture, style and identity, from the 15th century to the present day.
Timed ahead of the British social season — including events such as Royal Ascot and traditional garden gatherings — the exhibition engages with ideas of elegance, ceremony and cultural continuity.
Each of the 18 sculptural hat designs is dedicated to a historical female figure from European royal families, transforming biography into form and memory into object. From Isabella of Castile and Anne Boleyn to Catherine de’ Medici and Marie Antoinette, each piece reinterprets historical symbolism through contemporary design and intricate craftsmanship.
The narrative continues into the 19th and 20th centuries, with references to Queen Victoria, Empress Eugénie, Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi), and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, where ornament becomes a language of identity, symbolism and public image.
The final section of the exhibition turns to more recent figures, including Queen Marie of Romania, Grace of Monaco, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales, whose visual legacies continue to shape contemporary perceptions of femininity, presence and influence.
Across the exhibition, over a thousand hours of artisanal work are embodied in pieces presented in London for the first time, each hat functioning both as a design object and as a visual narrative.
The experience
Moving between the entrance hall and the Constantin Brâncuși Gallery, the exhibition creates a continuous visual journey through centuries of royal imagery. Each work operates at the intersection of sculpture, fashion and storytelling, inviting viewers to reconsider the codes through which power, elegance and identity are expressed.
A selection of hats will be available for visitors to try on, offering a playful yet intimate encounter with the works.
About the designer
NITA SAO is the creative identity of Ana Istodorescu, an artistic persona established in 2014, through which she develops a distinctive practice at the intersection of design, symbolism and contemporary craft.
Her work spans fashion, headwear design and sculptural objects, with a focus on expressive, statement-driven pieces. Educated across interdisciplinary fields, including languages, marketing and design, she studied at the University of Westminster and the University of the Arts London (Central Saint Martins), where she developed a practice combining conceptual thinking with material experimentation.
She has created over 20 collections and participated in numerous international design events, including London Hat Week, where she presented works representing Romania in large-scale commemorative projects.
In 2025, she was formally recognised as Supplier to the Royal House of Romania. Alongside her international practice, she has developed independent projects such as Istoria Pălăriilor and her own design space in Bucharest.
Through her work, Ana Istodorescu constructs a visual language in which tradition, symbolism and contemporary expression coexist, transforming each piece into both object and narrative.
When: 21–29 May 2026 | Private View: 21 May 2026, 7:00 pm
Where: Romanian Cultural Institute in London, 1 Belgrave Square SW1X 8PH
Free access, BOOK HERE
