Prince and Princess of Wales join King and Queen at Royal Ascot

The Prince and Princess of Wales Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

The Prince and Princess of Wales joined the King and Queen for a day at Royal Ascot.

The future King and Queen were making their first appearance of the week at the famous Berkshire meet, where high fashion rubs shoulders with the racing world.

Racegoers cheered them on as they were seen on the big screen taking part in the traditional royal carriage procession.

The fashion-conscious noticed the princess donning a red dress by Alexander McQueen and a matching Philip Treacy hat, while the Prince, like the other royal men, wore a morning suit and top hat.

The Princess of Wales wore an Alexander McQueen dress at Ascot Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA

The couple live close to the racecourse, having moved to their four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park last year, to offer their children more freedom away from central London.

They were spotted on Thursday with eldest son Prince George at William’s former school Eton College, prompting speculation the young royal, who turns 10 next month, will follow in the footsteps of his father.

William and Kate were guests of the late Queen a number of times at Royal Ascot, a racecourse the monarch had a great affinity with and where she had more than 20 winners.

Frankie Dettori performed his signature move, jumping from Porta Fortuna after winning the Albany Stakes Credit: John Walton/PA

Charles and Camilla appeared ecstatic when their thoroughbred Desert Hero, an 18-1 longshot, won the King George V Stakes on Thursday – their first Royal Ascot win – and they have another chance of victory when Candle of Hope rides later in the Sandringham Stakes.

They were joined in the carriage procession by actress Dame Judi Dench, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi.

When the King and Queen and their guests stepped down from the carriages in the parade ring, they mingled with trainers and jockeys ahead of the first race and popular rider Frankie Dettori walked over and chatted with William.

King Charles congratulates Frankie Dettori after his victory on Courage Mon Ami in the Gold Cup Credit: David Davies/PA

Dettori had a number of rides this week on horses owned by the King and Queen and failed to win but he put his racetrack frustrations behind him when he won the big race of the meet – the Gold Cup on Thursday.

After his chat with William, he won the first race of the day on Porta Fortuna and performed his trademark celebration jumping from his horse.

The prince and princess soon returned to the parade ring to present the trophy in the Commonwealth Cup won by Shaquille.

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