Prince William was joined by Queen Camilla in the traditional carriage procession at Royal Ascot today, marking a rare joint appearance for the couple.
The Prince of Wales, who once had a very strained relationship with his stepmother, appeared at ease as he sat with her and the Earl and Countess of Halifax in front of adoring crowds.
It was the first time Camilla and William have worked together since leading senior royals at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March.
But while that was an official engagement, Ascot is not on the list of duties and so William’s appearance alongside Camilla will be seen by royal watchers as a sign of how well they are now getting along.
Prince William was joined by Queen Camilla in the traditional carriage procession at Royal Ascot today, marking a rare joint appearance by the couple
The Prince of Wales, who once had a deeply strained relationship with his stepmother, was at ease as he sat with her and the Earl and Countess of Halifax before adoring crowds.
William’s relationship with Camilla dates back to the trauma of his childhood.
King Charles began an affair with her in the late 1980s, when he was still married to Princess Diana.
The couple’s romance remained quiet until after Diana’s death in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
Prince Harry claimed in his memoir Spare that he and William ‘begged’ their father not to marry Camilla.
Harry compared her to an ‘evil stepmother’ and even accused Camilla of leaking stories about him through a palace spin doctor.
When Charles and Camilla married in April 2005, both William and Harry were present at the ceremony.
At Ascot today, the parents of the Princess of Wales also attended what was their first public appearance since their daughter’s cancer diagnosis.
Carole and Michael Middleton beamed as they arrived side by side for the prestigious event at Berkshire Racecourse.
Kate, who continues her cancer treatment, was not in attendance despite her welcome appearance at Trooping the Color last weekend.
Kate revealed in a statement on Friday that she is making ‘good progress’ with her treatment, but candidly said she has ‘good days and bad days’ and while there is limited working from home, she insists: ‘I’m not out of the woods yet. yet’.
Zara and Mike Tindall were also there to soak up the atmosphere.
Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank were in another carriage, and when the procession reached the parade ring, Zara was ready to greet them all.
Other guests included Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was appointed Companion of the Order of the Garter at a ceremony at Windsor Castle on Monday, attended by the King and Queen and other senior members of the Royal Family.
Queen Camilla attends day two of Royal Ascot 2024 at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2024
Queen Camilla sits opposite Prince William at Royal Ascot today
Prince William sits next to the Earl of Halifax and opposite Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot
Prince William sits opposite a beaming Queen Camilla and the Countess of Halifax
Prince William hugs Mike Tindall, the husband of his cousin Zara, at Royal Ascot today
Prince William at Royal Ascot today, along with other guests at the famous racecourse
Radiant: Carole looked effortlessly elegant in her blue number from Self-Portrait
Princess Beatrice was seen chatting to Zara Tindall ahead of this afternoon’s race at Ascot
Zara, The Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Eugenie, Prince Edward and Mike Tindall at Royal Ascot today
Theater impresario Lord Lloyd-Webber, whose hit musicals include The Phantom Of The Opera, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, was accompanied by his wife.
The Middletons also made their way to the ring to mingle with other guesses from the royal box, but missing was the king, who was previously depicted carrying out state duties.
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.
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.
For today’s appearance, Carole looked effortlessly elegant in her all-blue ensemble as she joined her equally sophisticated husband at Ascot.
Her floral dress was reminiscent of Kate’s £1,275 blue lace Elie Saab creation, which she first wore at Royal Ascot in 2019. The dress also featured a dainty bow and pleated details.
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the British racing calendar, started yesterday with the Queen Anne Stakes and runs until Saturday.
Yesterday the King and Queen joined the punters on the famous racing match.
Lady Gabriella Windsor, who lost her husband earlier this year, was also in attendance.
Charles and Camilla took on the late Queen’s thoroughbreds and have entered a series of horses over the next five days.
The late Queen was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds, and had more than twenty Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.