Royal Ascot's famous carriage procession often throws up a few surprises, and this year's Ladies' Day was no different as Hollywood star Stanley Tucci took his place alongside members of the Royal Family.
While Zara Tindall was among the royals and royal guests participating in Thursday's procession, her husband Mike Tindall was notably absent from the official line-up.
Instead, it was The Devil Wears Prada actor Tucci and his wife Felicity Blunt who were handed one of the most prestigious invitations of the week.
Why was Stanley Tucci in the Royal Procession?
Royal Ascot confirmed Tucci and wife Felicity, a literary agent and sister of actor Emily Blunt, were among those selected for the fourth carriage in Thursday's procession. They joined Lord and Lady Cavendish, close friends of Queen Camilla who were among the guests at King Charles' Coronation in 2023.
The appearance may have surprised some racegoers, but Tucci's invitation is the latest example of his long-standing friendship with King Charles and growing links to the Royal Family. Although Tucci has no royal connections by blood, he has become a familiar face at royal events over the years thanks to his friendship with the King.
The actor has attended several high-profile engagements hosted by Charles, including Buckingham Palace receptions linked to the King's charity work and The Prince's Trust. In 2023, Tucci joined fellow celebrity ambassador Holly Willoughby at Buckingham Palace when Charles welcomed Prince's Trust award winners and ambassadors following the annual ceremony.
Tucci has also become a regular guest at events celebrating causes close to the King's heart, particularly those linked to sustainability, heritage and young people.
The Highgrove dinner that showcased their friendship
Perhaps the clearest sign of the bond between Tucci and the King came last year when Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a star-studded Anglo-Italian dinner at Highgrove House. The event was inspired by Tucci's love of Italian food and culture, which has become well known through his television travel and food programmes.
Guests included David and Victoria Beckham, Donatella Versace, Dame Helen Mirren and Edward Enninful, while Tucci played a central role throughout the evening. One of the most memorable moments saw Charles trying his hand at making a martini while Tucci looked on. The pair were later photographed deep in conversation during the black-tie event.
The dinner was held ahead of the King and Queen's state visit to Italy and celebrated the principles of sustainable 'slow food' – a cause Charles has championed for decades.
Who was in today's Royal Ascot procession?
King Charles and Queen Camilla led the first carriage for the third consecutive day at Royal Ascot. They were joined by the Earl of Snowdon and his partner Isabelle de la Bruyère.
The second carriage featured Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
In the third carriage were Zara Tindall, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani and legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins.
Tucci and Felicity Blunt completed the procession in the fourth carriage alongside Lord and Lady Cavendish.
While Mike Tindall was not part of the official procession, the former England rugby star has frequently attended Royal Ascot in previous years and remains a regular fixture at major royal events. In fact Tindall was at Ascot this week and was witness to an awkward incident involving his wife, Zara, who was turned away at the gates after a security guard failed to recognise her.
Zara had arrived alongside husband Mike and his rugby companions, including Austin Healey and former Wales international Nicky Robinson. Having attempted to gain entry through the owners' entrance, Zara was redirected to the ticket office owing to her lack of a pass. However, the error was swiftly picked up by nearby colleagues, with one rushing over to alert the member of staff that the King's niece was most certainly entitled to enter.
Carriage procession list in full:
- 1st Carriage: The King, The Queen, The Earl of Snowdon, Ms Isabelle de la Bruyère
- 2nd Carriage: The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duchess of Edinburgh
- 3rd Carriage: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, Mrs Zara Tindall, Mr Willie Mullins
- 4th Carriage: Lord Cavendish, Lady Cavendish, Mr Stanley Tucci, Ms Felicity Blunt
