Queen Camilla attended the horse racing event for the fourth day in a row!
Even though Prince William celebrated his 42nd birthday privately, his father, King Charles, enjoyed a bustling day at the Royal Ascot horse races.
King Charles and Queen Camilla made their appearance at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire on June 21. Before heading out, King Charles marked his son’s birthday with a sweet throwback photo on social media. The post on the royal family’s official accounts featured a black-and-white picture of King Charles holding baby William, captioned with a heartfelt “Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!” and a party horn emoji.
Queen Camilla, 76, dedicatedly attended all four days of Royal Ascot, while King Charles, 75, missed Wednesday due to engagements at Buckingham Palace. On June 21, the royal pair elegantly led the Royal Procession at the event’s 2 p.m. kickoff, arriving in a horse-drawn carriage alongside family friends Lord and Lady Bamford.
Closely following in the procession were Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. They were joined by Lord Frederik Windsor and his wife, actress Sophie Winkleman. Although Princess Beatrice attended on June 19, this day marked her first ride in the Royal Procession.
The attendees adhered to the strict dress code for the Royal Enclosure. Men wore morning suits with top hats in approved colors like black, grey, or navy, accompanied by a waistcoat and necktie. Women sported hats with at least a four-inch base, matching them with skirts, dresses, trouser suits, or jumpsuits aligned with the dress code.
During the event, Princess Beatrice had the honor of presenting the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes award. This race was renamed in 1991 to honor Prince Philip, who passed away in 2021. The Duke of Edinburgh title was recently bestowed upon Prince Edward by King Charles in 2023.
The Royal Ascot remains a significant event on the royal calendar. The late Queen Elizabeth was a passionate supporter, with 24 of her horses winning over the years. This year’s event saw many royals in attendance, including Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Prince Edward, Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh, and Lady Gabriella Kingston.
Even though Prince William didn’t celebrate his birthday at Royal Ascot, he attended on June 19. He was seen catching up with his in-laws, Carole and Michael Middleton, who made their first public appearance since Kate Middleton, Prince William’s wife, announced her cancer diagnosis. A touching moment occurred when Prince William helped Carole Middleton after her heel got stuck in the grass, causing her shoe to slip. They both shared a laugh as he supported her.
Princess Kate, 42, was notably absent from Royal Ascot. She made her most recent public appearance during Trooping the Colour on June 15, celebrating King Charles’s birthday parade.
A close source shared that Kate has been focusing on her health and recovering at home. “She has been doing what’s right for her and recovering privately at home. She is dealing with it the best she can,” the source revealed in an exclusive cover story.
