Kate Middleton to make long-awaited return to Royal Ascot today after three-year absence
It has been confirmed that the Princess of Wales will be at Royal Ascot today in the carriage procession alongside Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla for the second day of the 2026 festival
The Princess of Wales will return to Royal Ascot today for her first appearance at the racing festival in three years.
It has been confirmed that Kate will be in today's carriage procession alongside Prince William having last attended Royal Ascot back in 2023. Kate missed the racing in 2024 as she was still having cancer treatment. Last year there was confusion when Kate’s name appeared in the official programme but she did not appear sparking some concern - although Kensington Palace insisted she had never planned to attend.
She will be in the second carriage later alongside William and the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, while joining the King and Queen in the first carriage will be Lady Sarah Chatto, Princess Margaret's daughter and her husband Daniel. Other guests in today's carriages include political commentator Rory Stewart.
Charles and Camilla will have hopes of a Royal Ascot win when their horse Point of Law runs later in the Queen’s Vase. They saw their thoroughbred Reaching High well beaten on Royal Ascot’s opening day in the Ascot Stakes as thousands of racegoers cheered on their horses.
William and Kate made a recent appearance with their children during the weekend’s Trooping the Colour ceremony and the couple were also part of Monday’s Garter Day celebrations at Windsor Castle.
Prince George joined his siblings at the celebrations for the King’s official birthday on Saturday and his parents announced yesterday he will be attending Eton College in the autumn, following in the footsteps of his father.
When Kate last attended Royal Ascot in 2023, she wore a striking red Alexander McQueen dress and a Philip Treacy hat with statement earrings by Sezane. Yesterday, King Charles and Queen Camilla officially kicked off Royal Ascot with cheers and the traditional carriage procession, which today included the Royal Family's newest member.
The couple led the royal party in the carriages for the first day of racing, with Camilla wearing a blue dress with floral embellisment. They were joined in their carriage by their close friends Duke and Duchess of Wellington. Meanwhile, following behind in the second carriage was the King's sister Princess Anne and her newlywed son, Peter Phillips with his new wife Harriet.
It has marked the first official event for the couple since they tied the knot in a Cotswolds wedding earlier this month, which was attended by nearly all senior members of the Royal Family.
Later in the royal box, Charles and Camilla were seen cheering on the horses as they were joined by the Queen's children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, while newlyweds Harriet and Peter sipped champagne as they beamed at each other.
But the King and Queen's racing dreams dashed when their horse was well beaten on the track. They were watched from the royal box as Reaching High lost in the Ascot Stakes with 25-1 shot Kizlyar victorious, as thousands of racegoers cheered on their horses.
They will be hoping for better luck later this week as they have another four horses entered in the sporting event, one of the highlights of the flat racing calendar.
