Carole Middleton, the mum of the Princess of Wales, joined the likes of Queen Camilla and Zara Tindall at Cheltenham for Ladies Day today, wearing a very familiar accessory
She may not strictly be a royal – but Carole Middleton enjoyed a day out at the races with Queen Camilla at Cheltenham’s Ladies Day today. Carole, the mother of the Princess of Wales, brought a touch of glamour to the racecourse as she and Zara Tindall were spotted laughing as they walked arm in arm at Cheltenham Festival today.
The 71-year-old, who is a grandmother to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, later watched the action from a box alongside the royal party, which also included Princess Anne. Carole dressed to impress for the races, wearing a thick grey coat, which she teamed with brown suede boots. She also wore an eye-catching blue fedora hat by Hicks & Brown, which included an elegant feather.
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And it seems the Middleton matriarch may have borrowed the item from her daughter Kate, who was last seen wearing the exact same hat to a church service at Sandringham back in 2020. Meanwhile, Carole completed her look by carrying a rare black vintage Hermes Birkin bag, which can go on resale sites for as much as £50,000.
It comes as the Queen celebrated “trailblazing” women in sport today at Cheltenham, hailing the first black woman to win a jump race as “just brilliant”. Camilla, joint patron with the King of the Jockey Club, met women in the sport who have made their mark.
After arriving at the racecourse by helicopter at noon, Camilla, wearing a honey-coloured cashmere coat by Anna Valentine, a brown feathered hat by Philip Treacy and a Jockey Club pin, walked to the parade ring where she was 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 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?”
Camilla 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 was joined by her son Tom Parker-Bowles, daughter Laura Lopes and her husband, Harry Lopes.
