Carole’s Cheltenham cheer! Kate’s mother proves she’s truly in the Royal inner circle as she hugs Princess Anne on Ladies Day out with Queen Camilla
Carole also held her own in the fashion stakes, carrying a chic Hermes ostrich skin bag with an eye-watering price tag of approximately £20,000, and she gave a nod to her daughter, wearing the same navy fedora the Princess of Wales wore to church at Sandringham in 2020.
Although Kate wasn’t present, Carole was still clearly at ease in the company of her daughter’s in-laws and was even seen throwing her arms around no-nonsense Princess Anne – who is not usually one for public displays of affection.
She also looked animated as she chatted to TV star James Nesbitt, while Queen Camilla watched the action on track with Clare Balding.
In a nod to Ladies Day, Camilla celebrated ‘trailblazing’ women in sport at the Festival, hailing the first black woman to win a jump race as ‘just brilliant’.
+32
View gallery
Carole Middleton is firmly part of the royal inner circle as the Princess of Wales’s mother was spotted hugging Princess Anne and cheering alongside Queen Camilla at Cheltenham Festival today
+32
View gallery
Queen Camilla put on a very animated display while watching the races on the second day of Cheltenham Festival
+32
View gallery
Carole was spotted sharing a laugh with a friend and consultant surgeon Brendan Moran on Ladies Day
+32
View gallery
Zara and Mike Tindall put on a very loved-up display as they arrived at the Gloucestershire racecourse on Wednesday – even as Carole Middleton crashed their date
+32
View gallery
Princess Anne can be seen holding the Ladies Day programme as Carole and Camilla share a laugh with James Nesbitt
+32
View gallery
+32
View gallery
Carole paired her herringbone wool coat that was strikingly similar to Zara’s with a brown, faux-fur stole, fur-lined blue hat, and brown suede boots
+32
View gallery
Carole, 71, and Zara, 44, were twinning in nearly-identical grey coats as Zara finished her Ladies Day outfit with a burgundy blouse , dark brown skirt and black suede boots
TRENDING
Epstein confessed to having a child with the ‘perfect’ woman
10.8k viewing now
How the US and Israel killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Deep Dive
60.4k viewing now
Trump declares war with Iran WON during Kentucky rally
3.1k viewing now
After arriving at the racecourse by helicopter at noon, she chatted to jockey Aamilah Aswat, who last month became the first black woman to win a jump race in the UK, winning at Kempton Park on Guchen, a horse owned by the Friends of Ebony Horse Club.
Camilla is president of the London-based charity and community riding centre uses horse riding to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people. ‘Just brilliant,’ Camilla told her, asking: ‘When’s your next race?’
In the parade ring she was also introduced to Rachael Blackmore.
Blackmore, 36, was the first female jockey to win both the Grand National in 2021 on Minella Times and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022 on A Plus Tard. She retired from racing last year and is expecting her first child with her husband, the jockey Brian Hayes.
‘Oh, wow, congratulations Rachael,’ Camilla told her, spotting Blackmore’s baby bump.
‘I know, it’s a bit different to before and the career,’ Blackmore laughed.
The Queen also met with the Rugby World Cup-winning Red Roses team members Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt and the captain, Zoe Aldcroft, who both also play for Gloucester.
‘Make sure you both have some bubbles today,’ Camilla said.
Zara then joined Camilla for a group photo and a chat.
‘See you up there,’ Camilla said, before heading to the royal box, where she was joined by her son Tom Parker-Bowles, daughter Laura Lopes and her husband, Harry Lopes.
+32
View gallery
Mr Moran pointing something out to Carole as they watched the action unfold from the Royal Box
+32
View gallery
Carole joined Zara and Camilla (not pictured) in the Royal Box at Cheltenham Racecourse
+32
View gallery
Camilla added a touch of flair to her outfit with a feathered hat
+32
View gallery
Camilla looked animated as BBC star Clare Balding reacted to the races
+32
View gallery
Princess Anne was be seen holding the Ladies Day programme
+32
View gallery
Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo is seen celebrating a winning horse on Ladies Day while enjoying a pint of Guinness
+32
View gallery
The senior royals joined thousands of revellers to celebrate the return of Ladies Day after a seven-year break from the cherished festival tradition
It appeared Carole and Zara coordinated their outfits as they sported near-identical coats.
Zara finished her Ladies Day outfit with a burgundy blouse, dark brown skirt and black suede boots from Fairfax & Favor.
The former Olympian, 44, added a fascinator and sunnies on an uncharacteristically bright day at the races.
Meanwhile, Carole paired her herringbone wool coat – that was strikingly similar to Zara’s – with a brown faux-fur stole, suede boots and a feather fedora from Hicks & Brown.
It is the same £115 hat that Kate was seen wearing as she attended a church service in Sandringham six years ago.
She was also spotted carrying a vintage black Birkin as Prince William’s mother-in-law pulled out all the stops for the event today.
Meanwhile, the Queen arrived for Ladies Day wearing a camel coat with a brown suede skirt and matching boots as she added a touch of flair with a feather hat by Philip Treacy.
Not long after, the Princess Royal was seen making her way to the course in a forest green ensemble that she paired with a brightly coloured silk scarf.
The senior royals joined thousands of revellers to celebrate the return of Ladies Day after a seven-year break from the cherished festival tradition.
+32
View gallery
Queen Camilla (second from right) reacts while watching the races
+32
View gallery
The Queen was completely engrossed in the races
+32
View gallery
She can be seen here sharing a laugh with a friend as the Queen’s daughter Laura Lopes was pictured in the background
+32
View gallery
One attendee wearing a navy winter hat as Ladies Day got underway
Famous faces like Georgia Toffolo and presenter Josie Gibson were joined by guests sporting gravity-defying fascinators, bright yellow tailored suits and a sea of tweed, on day two of the races.
In 2020, Ladies Day was renamed ‘Festival Wednesday’ and was further rebranded as ‘Style Wednesday’ in 2025.
But now the decades-old title has made a triumphant comeback, inviting female attendees to show up in their finest ensembles.
The Queen also presented the trophy to the winning owner, jockey, and trainer of The Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, the feature race of day two and the most prestigious race for two-mile chasers in the jump racing calendar.
Cheltenham Festival kicked off in style on Tuesday as glamorous racegoers clad in tweed and fur arrived in Gloucestershire for the four-day racing event.
With spring around the corner and the occasion signalling the start of the British social season, revellers quickly got into the party spirit on day one of the festival.
As big a draw for its fashion as the horse racing itself, Cheltenham attendees paraded down the racecourse in statement suits, tweed jackets and knee-high boots.
British fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper was a vision in a navy-and-green tartan-print peplum jacket and matching tweed skirt from her own brand.
The founder of Holland Cooper – a favourite of the Princess of Wales – paired her outfit with a delicate fascinator and burgundy leather accessories, including boots and a bag.
She was joined by perfectly coiffed women – clad in thigh-skimming dresses, fur-lined jackets, tailored suits and trenches – drinking champagne while enjoying a sunny day in the countryside.
Spirits were high as revellers gathered around large screens to watch the action unfold as drinks flowed freely.
+32
View gallery
The Queen presented the trophy to the winning trainer of The Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, Willie Mullins, after Il Etait Temps won the race
+32
View gallery
The Queen arrived for Ladies Day wearing a camel coat with a brown suede skirt and matching boots as Camilla, 78, finished the look with a flamboyant feather hat
News
“ONE SEAGULL… ONE JACKET… AND EIGHT WORDS THAT LEFT EVERYONE LAUGHING.”
King Charles’s hilarious 8-word response after bird poos on his jacket during seaside trip King Charles didn’t let the mishap ruin his second day in Northern Ireland. King Charles with bird poo on his suit jacket in Northern Ireland (Image: GB…
“FOR 15 MINUTES… PEOPLE THOUGHT THE KING WAS GONE.”
UK radio station mistakenly announces King Charles’ death in on-air blunder King Charles III was mistakenly declared dead by a UK radio station Tuesday in a shocking on-air blunder that left listeners stunned before the station suddenly went silent. Radio…
“‘SHE WILL LOVE THAT…’ — King Charles’ Quiet Gift For Princess Charlotte Is Melting Hearts Worldwide
The King picked up a special gift for his eldest granddaughter Princess Charlotte during his trip to Belfast yesterday. Charles, 77, together with Queen Camilla, made a visit to Northern Ireland this week and toured a digital learning hub on Tuesday where he met local business owners supported…
“VIEWERS SAY THE FINAL TWIST BROKE THEIR BRAINS…”
Calling all romance fans! Prime Video’s upcoming eight-part series, Every Year After, hits TV screens this June – and it’s shaping up to be a must-watch for anyone who loves a messy love story. The series, which comes from Sex and the…
“SHE WAS ONLY 13… AND SUDDENLY THE WORLD WANTED HER GONE.”
Netflix’s Most Haunting True Story: A Young Girl’s Defiant Stand Against the Shadows of WWII In the annals of human endurance, few tales burn as brightly as that of survival amid unimaginable horror. Netflix’s latest release, Shadows of the Forgotten, has…
“FANS THOUGHT THE CHAOS WAS OVER… THEN NETFLIX RENEWED IT.”
‘Big Mistakes’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix With New Partnership With Dan Levy Announced Picture Credit: Netflix Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan Levy’s new Netflix series Big Mistakes ends with twists and cliffhangers aplenty, leaving the door wide open for more seasons. What’s…
End of content
No more pages to load