Carole Middleton proved that she’s firmly part of the Royal inner circle today as she hugged Princess Anne while cheering on the horses at Cheltenham.

Kate’s 71-year-old mother joined Queen Camilla, 78, and the Princess Royal, 75, for Ladies Day to take in the action on track after arriving arm-in-arm at the Gloucestershire course with Zara Tindall.

An amused Carole tried to politely avert her eyes as Mike Tindall planted a kiss on his wife’s lips as they attended day two of the festival.

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’.

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

Queen Camilla put on a very animated display while watching the races on the second day of Cheltenham Festival

Carole was spotted sharing a laugh with a friend and consultant surgeon Brendan Moran on Ladies Day

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

Princess Anne can be seen holding the Ladies Day programme as Carole and Camilla share a laugh with James Nesbitt

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

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

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.

Mr Moran pointing something out to Carole as they watched the action unfold from the Royal Box

Carole joined Zara and Camilla (not pictured) in the Royal Box at Cheltenham Racecourse

Camilla added a touch of flair to her outfit with a feathered hat

Camilla looked animated as BBC star Clare Balding reacted to the races

Princess Anne was be seen holding the Ladies Day programme

Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo is seen celebrating a winning horse on Ladies Day while enjoying a pint of Guinness

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.

Queen Camilla (second from right) reacts while watching the races

The Queen was completely engrossed in the races

She can be seen here sharing a laugh with a friend as the Queen’s daughter Laura Lopes was pictured in the background

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.

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

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

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

Zara (far left) and Queen Camilla (centre) posing with former jockey Rachael Blackmore (far right) and jockey Aamilah Aswat (next to Camilla) and England rugby players Natasha Hunt and Zoe Aldcroft

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’

James Nesbitt joined the royal party as the Irish actor was seen posing with Natalie Pinkham (left) and Zara

The Princess of Wales mother Carole was all-smiles as she arrived at the Cheltenham Festival today

The Tindalls returned for a second day of racing action as they looked more in love than ever