LIVE: Kate Middleton set to miss Royal Ascot Day 3 - the most high-fashion day of the meet – as it happened
The royal ladies have been stealing the show since Day 1, but Day 3 of Royal Ascot is finally, officially, theirs. Dresses will dazzle, champagne will flow, but the royal style icon might miss the action as Royal Ascot reaches its midpoint.
King Charles and Queen Camilla take center stage for the Gold Cup
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were front and center for the Gold Cup presentation at Royal Ascot Day 3, the centerpiece race of the entire five-day meet, dating back to 1807, and one of eight Group 1 races held during the week. This year's field featured defending champion Trawlerman looking to become the first repeat winner since Stradivarius in 2020, facing stiff competition from St Leger winner Scandinavia, the hot favorite.
Ladies Day belongs to them — Zara Tindall, Sophie and Princess Anne steal the show
The ladies well and truly showed up for Royal Ascot Ladies Day: Zara Tindall dazzled in a butter-yellow jacquard dress with intricate embroidery, gold stilettos, and a statement hat, while Sophie opted for a monochromatic dark blue ensemble with white accessories and a statement hat. Princess Anne completed the trio, making it a proper royal ladies' moment on Day 3 at Ascot Racecourse.
Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, and Zara Tindall stood together in the stands watching the racing unfold, a relaxed family reunion of sorts among the royals out in force for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot 2026.
Zara Tindall appeared to be the composed one of the trio at Royal Ascot Ladies Day, keeping a straight face while King Charles III and Carole Middleton were caught completely losing their composure in the royal enclosure on Day 3.
The Ladies' Day threw up one of the day's more unexpected photo moments, King Charles III and Carole Middleton caught reacting side by side in the royal enclosure. No word on what prompted the response, but the image speaks for itself.
Queen Camilla attended Royal Ascot Ladies Day in a white Fiona Clare dress, wearing the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, a piece originally bequeathed to the Queen Mother in 1944, with the wish that it be passed from queen to queen, alongside a Lady Dior bag. After the Queen Mother, it passed to Queen Elizabeth II, and Camilla first wore it at Royal Ascot in 2023.
One of the highlights of Royal Ascot this week was when Mike Tindall pulled a prank on King Charles. On opening day, the retired rugby player dropped something while tipping his hat to greet the monarch. The little something was a miniature hat filled with chocolates.
On Wednesday, Charles and Zara Tindall were seen engrossed in a serious discussion. Wonder what that might be about?
Zara Tindall is possibly the happiest on a racecourse, and she definitely showed it through her outfit choices. The Olympic silver-medallist opted for summery hues for Ladies Day as she flaunted a butter-yellow patterned dress and a matching hat.
On Day 2 of Royal Ascot, Duchess Sophie had raised a few eyebrows when she wore a black dress, a color usually reserved for mourning in the UK. But it seems the Duchess of Edinburgh has really been taken to darker hues as she opted for a dark blue dress and matching hat for Ladies Day as well.
Princess Anne, who sat next to her in the carriage, looked like a striking contrast as she donned an orange dress with a lighter shaded hat. Day and night!
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in style as Royal Ascot Day 3 begins
King Charles and Queen Camilla rolled down into the racecourse, dressed to the nines, as Royal Ascot opened its most high-fashion day. Ladies Day not only marks the midpoint of the racing week but is arguably the most important day of the event. And of course, is significant for upping the style quotient.
For Day 3, the King opted for a lilac vest to pair with his favorite grey blazer, while the Queen Consort kept it chic with an ivory dress and matching hat.
Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse
Abha Anindita
