LONDON, June 1, 2009 (AFP) - French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was named winner of an annual celebrity hat wearers' award on Monday 1 June, beating nominees including Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Madonna to the millinery top spot.

Photo: AFP/File/Lewis Whyld

The supermodel wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy came first in the Celebrity Hat Wearers contest, which was won last year by Zara Phillips, the queen's champion horseriding granddaughter.

The British monarch was in second place, followed by the Countess of Wessex -- Prince Edward's wife Sophie -- with Victoria Beckham in fourth and pop icon Madonna in fifth.

On the male front, Australian heart-throb Hugh Jackman beat former James Bond actor Sean Connery, Daniel Day Lewis, Johnny Depp and Australian singer Peter Andre to the title.

"Carla Bruni's neat, chic, pill box hat was a supreme example of classic simplicity at its best - a stylish understatement which captured the attention of the world's media," said Philip Wright, whose company organises the award.

Bruni-Sarkozy wore a stylish Christian Dior pillbox hat to meet the queen during a state visit to Britain last year.

"Hugh Jackman's outback hat, worn in the film 'Australia,' not only achieved instant fame on the big screen but also popularised the look for men's casual wear generally," Wright added.

Of the female runners-up, he added that David Beckham's wife remains a hat fan with her third appearance in the annual lists.

"She demonstrates a tendency towards the more masculine peaked caps, trilby and fedora styles, while the Countess of Wessex opts for more feminine styles, including a particularly eye catching one with feather trim.

"Madonna's 'winged' hat, co-ordinating with her turquoise dress, raised a few eyebrows when she wore it this year but it was adventurous and fun and deserves recognition."

The British press reported last month that the queen had been snubbed by France because she was not invited to a commemoration of the World War II D-Day landings next weekend. It is unclear if Bruni-Sarkozy will be there.