Zara Tindall and Lady Gabriella Windsor greet each other with kisses in candid show of affection at Ascot - and there's hugs for Prince William too
Zara Tindall and Lady Gabriella Windsor shared a very warm royal welcome as they greeted each other on the second day of Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
The close friends shared a sweet embrace in the royal box during the races this afternoon, shrugging off any sense of stuffy formality as they stepped out at the Berkshire racecourse.
And there were hugs for Prince William too, as Zara, 44, and her cousin, 42, were seen with their arms around each other while chatting merrily.
Princess Anne 's daughter is often regarded as one of the most popular members of the royal family and is said to enjoy good relationships with her relatives.
Yesterday, she was even seen affectionately pecking the cheek of her uncle King Charles, 76, as well as her mother, The Princess Royal.
Her friendly attitude will certainly be seen as a show of support for Lady Gabriella, fondly known as Ella, after the death of her husband Thomas Kingston last February.
Lady Gabriella also attended Royal Ascot last year - her first public appearance since the loss of her husband - where she was again embraced by Zara.
Thomas had been found dead with a 'traumatic head wound' and a gun near his body in an outbuilding of his parents' Cotswolds home.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace shortly after Mr Kingston's death, Lady Gabriella described him an 'exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him'.
Elsewhere today, the Prince of Wales was pictured enjoying what appeared to be a Pimm's after putting on an animated display while watching the races.
Arriving at the annual occasion, the father-of-three sat beside Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud, a member of the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, and opposite Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, as they made their way to the Berkshire racecourse by carriage.
His appearance in the royal procession came after the Princess of Wales pulled out of attending the prestigious five-day meet at the last minute as she continues to 'find the right balance' following her battle with cancer.
Racegoers had been hoping to catch a glimpse of Kate as William was named as one of the figures awarding race prizes during day two of the festival.
Ascot officials had announced in a published list at 12pm that the Princess was due to be with William in the second carriage in the royal procession - which is marking its 200th anniversary this year.
But less than half an hour later, Kensington Palace confirmed just before 12.30pm that Kate would not be attending - and a revised carriage list was published by Ascot.
MailOnline understands the Princess was 'disappointed' not to be in attendance 'but she has to find the right balance as she fully returns to public facing engagements'.
However, Kate's mother Carole Middleton did attend today - alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet, the wife of Kate's brother James Middleton.
The 43-year-old Princess has been making a gradual return to public duties since it was announced in January that she was in remission from cancer.
But in the past week she has attended three high-profile events - Trooping the Colour, the annual Order of the Garter service and a visit to a V&A storage facility in London.
The King and Queen were also joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Charles also hosted Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of his late aunt Princess Margaret and a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II. She was joined on the fourth carriage with her artist husband, Daniel Chatto.
Despite her closeness to Her late Majesty, Lady Sarah is known for keeping a low profile, and while she's attended Ascot in the past, she's not regularly seen with the royal family, aside from a handful of key events.
The King and Queen, both fans of racing, were also joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Ascot, known as the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, will welcome hundreds of thousands of punters during the five-day meet.
Yesterday, the King and Queen enjoyed a day at the races as they welcomed the girlfriend of the Princess Royal's son to the royal fold.
Charles chats to Carol Middleton during the second day of Royal Ascot
Enjoying the racing action! The Prince of Wales in the stands during the races
William looked pensive mid-Pimm's as he reflected on the afternoon's events
The Princess of Wales' mother Carole Middleton and James Middleton's wife Alizée Thevenet put on a stylish display as they attend the second day of Royal Ascot
The King (pictured left) waves to the crowd at the second day of Royal Ascot in Berkshire
Having a great time! Kate's mother Carole appeared to be filled with laugher during the day of racing action
Carole Middleton, dressed in Me+Em's £325 Two Tone Lace-Blend Midi Dress, and Sam Waley-Cohen watching the Queen Mary Stakes on day two of Royal Ascot
The Prince of Wales greets Carole Middleton during the Queen's Vase on day two of Royal Ascot
Prince William reacts while watching the racing during the second day of the prestigious festival
The Prince of Wales ahead of the Queen's Vase on day two of Royal Ascot
Charles and Camilla hosted guests in the royal box on the first day of Royal Ascot including the monarch's nephew Peter Phillips and his partner, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling.
She made an appearance for the first time in the carriage procession the royal family make onto the famous Berkshire racecourse to signal the start of the day.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition begun during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
The King and Queen rode in the first carriage with Prince Faisal, a member of the Saudi royal family, and Lady Sarah Keswick, one of the Queen's official companions.
Behind them travelled the Princess Royal with Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot and the Duke and Duchess of Wellington and they were followed by a coach carrying Anne's son Peter Phillips and his girlfriend.
Other royals spotted among the crowds included Princess Beatrice and her mother Sarah, Duchess of York and Zara and Mike Tindall.
The King and his wife have continued Queen Elizabeth II's close association with the Berkshire race meet but they had no luck with the sport of Kings when their horse Reaching High was well beaten in the Ascot Stakes.
The late Queen was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
The royal women oozed elegance as they attended the prestigious occasion in Berkshire
The Prince of Wales appeared to be deep in thought during one moment of the carriage procession
William looked charming in his suit as he attended the annual occasion with the King and Queen
The King and Queen were joined by the Prince of Wales and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud, a member of the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia
King Charles and Queen Camilla were all smiles as they arrived at the occasion in Ascot
The excited crowd at Royal Ascot trying to get a photo of the royals
The Prince of Wales greeting a guest at the second day of Royal Ascot
Kate's mother Carole Middleton (pictured right) did attend Ascot today - alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet, the wife of Kate's brother James Middleton
(L-R) Lucy van Straubenzee, Alizee Thevenet and Lady Laura Meade watch a race
The Duchess of Gloucester ahead of the Queen's Vase on day two of Royal Ascot
Charles and Camilla have taken on her stable of horses and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot winner in 2023 when their horse Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.
Today's racing, meanwhile, will feature the The Prince of Wales's Stakes as one of its highlights.
First run at Royal Ascot in 1862, the race, named after the son of Queen Victoria (later to become King Edward VII), is now worth £1million in prize money and is one of the features of the week.
Over £10 million in prize money is awarded to the winners and placed horses across the five days of the festival.
The minimum value for each race is £110,000 and every Group 1 contest will be rewarded with at least £650,000.
Kate was last seen on Monday, joking and laughing when she made a return to one of the highlights of the royal calendar - a service celebrating the Order of the Garter.
The princess, who missed last year's event during the period of her cancer treatment, was in good spirits when she watched the procession of Ladies and Knights of the Garter through the grounds of Windsor Castle to St George's Chapel.
Kate was joined by the Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence at the chapel's Galilee porch, a traditional vantage point to see the spectacle.
The King and Queen followed convention and were at the back of the procession dressed in white plumed hats and dark blue velvet robes, as were the other members of the order including the Prince of Wales, Princess Royal and Duke of Edinburgh.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Luke Littler to star in different sport on ITV as darts sensation, 18, links up with Tony Bellew and Barry Hearn
LUKE LITTLER is aiming to show there's just a fin margin between success and failure. Darts' world champ is joining fellow big names of sport like Tony Bellew, Steve Davis and Barry Hearn for an angling event to be shown on ITV4. 3 But the Nuke, 18, came BOTTOM on his debut in the Target Sports Star Fishing Championship last year. That's despite the keen angler sharing a snap of a sizable catch he made at the competition in Warwickshire. The Warrington whizkid teamed up in 2024 with former Ally Pally kings Adrian Lewis and Rob Cross, plus Target Darts boss Garry Plummer. Now he'll be back at the Tunnel Barn Fishery on July 29 alongside ex-world cruiserweight boxing champ Bellew, snooker's six-time Crucible king Davis, promoter Hearn and a string of other stars - from both sides of the microphone. The 32-strong line-up also includes Lewis, Cross and James Wade from darts, as well as Derek Redmond, Gail Emms, George Groves, Johnny Fisher, Andy Goldstein, Hayley Turner and Gary Newbon. Littler hopes to show Big Fish has a more meaty meaning than just being his favourite checkout at the oche. And he also hopes to bounce back from England's World Cup embarrassment. The Nuke and Luke Humphries went into the pairs tournament as the world's top two players and the last two Ally Pally kings. 3 But they began to flounder from the start and fans had plenty to carp about afterwards. Welshman Gerwyn Price, who suffered disappointment in the final against Northern Ireland, described the duo as "rubbish" and appeared to suggest they lacked "camaraderie". At least Littler won't be under the same type of pressure when he contests the angling competition, which raises five-figure sums for charity. Organisers have stressed their 13th annual event is "not open to the public". But a two-hour highlights package will be on ITV4 at a date to be confirmed.
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Strictly Come Dancing in talks with married reality TV star as BBC bosses back him to resist show's 'curse'
Strictly Come Dancing is reportedly in talks with a married reality TV star, as BBC bosses are convinced he won't fall victim to the show's infamous 'curse'. The so-called 'Strictly curse' has been a tabloid staple for over a decade - rooted in the idea that taking part in the show often spells trouble for contestants' relationships. Now, insiders reportedly claim producers are keen to sign none other than Paul Brunson. The clean-cut relationship expert is known for his roles on Channel 4 's hit shows Married At First Sight UK and Celebs Go Dating. The American star, who now lives in London, is seen as a safe option - and potentially just what Strictly needs following two drama-filled series. A source told The Sun: 'Paul would be the ideal tonic to the dark clouds over Strictly as he's clean-cut, very intelligent and has no scandals to worry about. 'They are now in discussion but he's met with producers a number of times. 'Everyone is hoping he'll sign on the dotted line and is keen to make it happen.' MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Paul's representatives for comment. It comes just days after a Gladiators star was rumoured to have signed up for this year's show after 'impressing' BBC producers on the Christmas special. The superhuman, 36, took part in last year's festive edition and was paired with professional dancer Nancy Xu. Nitro, whose real name is Harry Aikines Aryeetey, has reportedly agreed to appear on the regular series this autumn. A show insider told The Sun how the ex-Olympian had been on bosses' wish list for some time now. The said: 'Bosses have been desperate to get Nitro on the series for a while. 'They were in talks last year but couldn't get the timings to marry up with his work. 'He was a huge hit at Christmas prancing around in lycra and showing off his biceps. Producers were also impressed with his dancing. 'The Gladiators' fanbase is growing and kids love them so he'll be a hit with younger viewers, too.' MailOnline has contacted Nitro's rep and the BBC. Nitro previously hinted at a role in the main series when he revealed he would be taking part in the Christmas special with an injury. He told The Mirror: 'I am carrying an injury to some degree. It's been quite tough. I'm not my full self. Hopefully that's taken into consideration. But at the same time, I'm just here for a good time. I can dance, I can enjoy myself, that's the most important thing. 'Although I think we're going to do well and although I think we're going to have fun with it, it would be nice to do myself 100% justice by competing another time on the main series. 'It would be good to be in a position where I can show my ultimate self. I've got the bug. If the opportunity arises… it's obeing in an arena and learning a new skill. If the opportunity arises, I would jump at it, literally because I'll be able to jump by then.' Earlier this year Strictly Come Dancing confirmed the professional lineup for 2025. Dianne Buswell, who lifted the glitter ball in December with Chris McCausland, will be joining Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal in returning to the dance floor this September. Amy Dowden, who pulled out in the opening weeks of last year's show due to a foot injury, will also be back on Strictly for 2025, as will Carlos Gu and Kai Widdrington, who didn't have a celebrity partner last year. Despite rumours that he might be making a return after missing out on last year's series, Giovanni Pernice will not be heading back to the ballroom this time around. Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said : 'The excitement is already building ahead of the new series and in addition to welcoming back our fantastic returning Pros, we are looking forward to welcoming two brand new Professional Dancers to the line up who will help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance and loads more besides to viewers later in 2025.'
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
Danny Boyle: Covid pandemic had ‘inevitable' influence on new film 28 Years Later
Danny Boyle says it was inevitable the Covid -19 pandemic would shape his latest film, 28 Years Later, which premiered in London on Wednesday (18 June). The post-apocalyptic horror, directed by Boyle, is a direct sequel to 28 Days Later (2002), set nearly 30 years after the rage virus outbreak. It stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. 'Even if you're not intentionally including it in a specific way, it definitely influences what you are doing, and some of the behaviour patterns,' Boyle told The Independent. 'It's inevitable, really, because of what we all went through,' he said. 'The way we all reacted to Covid initially… We all hid and put masks on and gloves and disinfected everything. You can't live like that for very long.' He likened the pandemic to the film, adding, 'After 28 years, you would take enormous risks, you know, because you think you could.'
