The Princess of Wales will make her long-awaited return to Royal Ascot today, marking her first appearance at the prestigious racing festival in three years. It has been confirmed that Kate will participate in the carriage procession alongside Prince William, King Charles, and Queen Camilla for the second day of the 2026 event.
A Triumphant Comeback
Kate last attended Royal Ascot in 2023, where she dazzled in a striking red Alexander McQueen dress paired with a Philip Treacy hat and statement earrings by Sezane. She missed the 2024 edition while undergoing cancer treatment, and last year, confusion arose when her name appeared in the official programme but she did not appear. Kensington Palace later clarified that she had never planned to attend.
Royal Festivities Underway
Yesterday, King Charles and Queen Camilla officially opened Royal Ascot with the traditional carriage procession, joined by their close friends the Duke and Duchess of Wellington. Princess Anne and her newlywed son, Peter Phillips, along with his wife Harriet, followed in a second carriage. This marked the first official event for Peter and Harriet since their Cotswolds wedding earlier this month, which was attended by nearly all senior royals.
In the royal box, Charles and Camilla cheered on the horses alongside the Queen's children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, while the newlyweds sipped champagne. However, the King and Queen's hopes were dashed when their horse, Reaching High, lost the Ascot Stakes to 25-1 shot Kizlyar. They have four more horses entered later in the week.
Security Concerns
Kate's appearance comes amid reports that a hospital worker at the private clinic where she had abdominal surgery in 2024 faces criminal prosecution for allegedly accessing her medical records. Three employees at The London Clinic have been dismissed following an internal investigation. The Mirror broke the story in March 2024, raising concerns about royal data security.
