As Carole Middleton arrived at Royal Ascot in Berkshire today, she gave a touching nod to the Princess of Wales.
Walking alongside her husband, Michael Middleton, the 69-year-old channeled the style of her eldest daughter, Kate, 42, by recreating her ensemble from the same 2019 event.
Today marked Carole and Michael’s first public appearance since their daughter’s cancer diagnosis, at an event thought to be one of Kate’s favourites.
Carole’s £350 pale blue floral chiffon dress from Self Portrait echoed Kate’s £1,275 blue lace creation from Elie Saab, not to mention the floral-focused fascinators and matching shoes.
In 2019, Kate turned heads when she arrived at Royal Ascot in a flowing powder blue ensemble by Elie Saab – her first time wearing the Lebanese label which has a legion of A-list fans.
Carole Middleton (pictured right) today repeated Kate’s 2019 Royal Ascot look (pictured left) amid her cancer treatment
Sticking with her love of black and white from head to toe, the princess added a floral blue Philip Treacy hat and Kiki MsDonough earrings.
However, she added a pop of color with a pair of £545 silver pumps from Gianvito Rossi and a metallic clutch from Elie Saab.
It was a look that paved the way for Carole’s look today, as she arrived in a blue Self Portrait dress with a strikingly similar silhouette, bow embellishment and elegant hue.
The London-based luxury label is one of Kate’s favorites and dresses her for a host of notable events, including Wimbledon last year.
In keeping with Kate’s 2019 look, Carole added a matching blue fascinator with floral embellishment and completed her look with a pair of contrasting heeled pumps.
Carole varied her outfit slightly with the addition of a small navy bag, in contrast to Kate’s metallic clutch.
Michael and his wife’s last public appearance before today was at Kate’s annual Royal Carols: Together at Christmas at Westminster Abbey in London in December. Three months later, Kate announced her cancer diagnosis to the world.
In March, Carole was photographed driving a 4×4 Audi, with Kate in the passenger seat, near Windsor Castle. The images were published by the American gossip website TMZ.
The Princess of Wales completed her elegant outfit with a striking floral hat from the London brand Philip Treacy
Carole echoed her eldest daughter’s 2019 Philip Treacy hat with a similar blue floral fascinator
Then in April, William was spotted on a quiet pub outing in Norfolk with his mother-in-law while his wife stayed home, The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reported. Carole was supposed to stay with the couple for Easter.
The outing comes after Kate, who has been receiving chemotherapy for an unknown form of cancer since February, made a spectacular return to public life during Trooping the Color on Saturday.
Kate beamed and waved as she and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were cheered by the crowd on The Mall after leaving Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Color ceremony.
After spending much of a year coming to terms with the diagnosis and undergoing ongoing chemotherapy, the future queen looked relaxed as she traveled with her family in the glass state carriage along one of London’s most famous thoroughfares.
There were doubts about her appearance after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal, and confirmation that she would attend was only given shortly before.
But because the king also suffered from cancer, the spectacle of military splendor became, after much uncertainty, a symbolic statement of the monarchy.
Kate was surrounded by other members of the family – with her husband Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, along with Princess Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Prince Edward, Colonel of the Scots Guards.
From the moment the Princess of Wales was first spotted on her way to Buckingham Palace, the nation rejoiced at the first glimpse of her as she returned to her royal duties for the first time in six months.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are photographed at Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in 2019
Royal Ascot 2019 marked the first time the Princess of Wales donned Lebanese designer Elie Saab
Carole arrived at the event in Berkshire this afternoon with her husband Michael Middleton
Kate relaxed as she smiled and waved to the delighted crowd and made a triumphant return to public life in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Color ceremony.
Watching the spectacle with her children from the Duke of Wellington’s former office, her day then culminated in a joyful reunion with her father-in-law, King Charles, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
It was a huge relief for an anxious nation who had waited so long to see Kate after her latest royal engagement at Christmas, with millions concerned for her well-being as she continued chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
The princess attended a family celebration on the national stage and kept a close eye on her children, but appeared to be enjoying most of her first day in the spotlight following her diagnosis in February.
During the day, Kate was surrounded by other members of the family, with William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, along with Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Edward, Colonel of the Scots Guards.
Kate was greeted by a sea of faces as the royal party moved from The Mall into the Horse Guards Parade, with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence also riding together in a carriage.
The Duchess of Edinburgh traveled in a carriage with her daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and the Duke of Kent.
The royal party was in the midst of a sovereign’s escort, formed by troops of the Household Cavalry’s Life Guards and Blues and Royals.
In the back row was Tennyson, one of five horses injured while running through the streets of London after being startled by construction noise.
When the royal carriages finally came to a stop, Louis left first, followed by his older brother George and sister Charlotte.
Finally, Kate stepped down wearing a Jenny Packham dress, a Philip Treacy hat and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, as she is the colonel of the regiment.
Unlike last year, Kate did not sit on a stage with older relatives, but watched the spectacle from the Duke of Wellington’s former office with her children.