Kate Middleton made her first appearance at Royal Ascot in two years, wowing crowds in a stunning yellow dress – and was greeted with a warm kiss on the cheek by a familiar face.
Princess Kate's Radiant Return
The Princess of Wales left spectators captivated in a breathtaking yellow dress on the second day of Royal Ascot this week — her first appearance at the world-renowned Berkshire fixture in two years. But that wasn't the sole reason royal enthusiasts were taken aback by her presence.
Observers were equally surprised to spot Kate in the Royal Box being greeted with a kiss on the cheek by a man, prompting speculation about the identity of the man welcoming her so affectionately. The mystery figure has since been identified as one of the Prince of Wales' longest-standing friends.
A clip of the warm exchange was shared on X, formerly Twitter, with the message: "Princess Catherine and Thomas van Straubenzee, Prince William's best mate. I love how William's mates have embraced her as family and they always have a jolly time when they get together."
However, while Thomas van Straubenzee does feature in the footage, he is visible in the background, chatting and laughing with Kate and the other gentleman. The man who actually greeted Kate so warmly is actually Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, another longstanding companion of Prince William, and godfather to Prince Louis.
A further X user commented: "Love how Charlotte's godfather Thomas [van] Straubenzee was there too (facing the camera), and Louis' godfather Harry Aubrey-Fletcher (kissing Catherine's cheek). Those men are the brothers he should have had!"
The Princess of Wales appeared radiant in a Roksanda Brigitte Dress in a vibrant shade of sunshine yellow, alongside a pair of earrings previously belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II. She had worn the midi dress before, which boasts a tailored silhouette, a full skirt, and an oversized bow detail on the shoulder, at the 2022 Wimbledon final, reports the Mirror.
Who is Harry Aubrey-Fletcher?
Harry attended Ludgrove Prep School in Wokingham, Berkshire, with William and Thomas, and was also at Eton with the Prince of Wales. He and William are frequently spotted together, and acted as ushers at each other's weddings, according to Tatler.
Harry, son of former lord-lieutenant of Buckinghamshire Sir Henry Egerton Aubrey-Fletcher, 8th Baronet, is also godfather to Prince Louis, and purchased the 760-acre Batham Estate in Devon last year. He was also directly appointed by William as adviser to the £1.3 billion Duchy of Cornwall.
He co-founded investment firm Carden Group, and formerly worked as strategic land director at housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, as well as bankers J.P. Morgan, Carden Group's website states.
Who is Thomas van Straubenzee?
Thomas serves as godfather to Princess Charlotte, while both he and his brother Charlie acted as ushers at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. Both William and Thomas are enthusiastic Aston Villa supporters, and have been spotted at matches together, alongside Prince George, who also backs the club, according to Tatler. The Prince of Wales is likewise godfather to Thomas' daughter May.
He holds the position of global head of real estate firm Knight Franks' private office, overseeing property transactions across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, according to The Marque. He also serves as chairman of the Philanthropy Board of the Royal Albert Hall.
William and Harry were also joint patrons of the Henry van Staubenzee Memorial Fund, which was established in 2007 in honour of Thomas' brother Henry, who died in a road accident in 2002, aged 18. The fund raised money to support children in Uganda, where Henry had been due to teach during his gap year, and closed in 2024.
