Princess Kate Nearly Struck in the Eye by Oversized Hat During Royal Ascot Greeting — Watch

Princess Kate's Royal Ascot appearance nearly took a dramatic turn thanks to one particularly oversized hat.

Princess Kate commanded attention on day 2 of Royal Ascot on June 17 in her bright yellow Roksanda midi dress and matching hat. As always, she appeared in high spirits, warmly greeting guests. It was during one such interaction that she met Lady Gabriella Kingston, the second cousin of King Charles. As the pair leaned in for a hug, Kate appeared to narrowly avoid being struck in the eye by Gabriella's oversized hat, creating a lighthearted moment caught on camera.

In a video posted on Instagram, Kate and Gabriella were seen exchanging pleasantries in the Royal Enclosure area, where senior royals had gathered after arriving in the carriage procession. As the Princess of Wales leaned in to greet Gabriella with a hug and cheek kiss, the latter's oversized white floral hat appeared to come very close to Kate's face, creating the impression of a near miss to the eye. The pair quickly laughed it off and continued their conversation. One of the rules at Royal Ascot encourages formal millinery, which is why royal ladies often wear wide-brimmed hats, saucer hats, and elaborate headpieces. Watch the video here!

Lady Gabriella Kingston is one of the royal family's lesser-known members, despite being close to the King. She and Charles are second cousins as the great-grandchildren of King George V and Queen Mary. Her appearance at public events became all the more rare after the death of her husband, Thomas Kingston, in February 2024 at age 45. An inquest found that he died from a gunshot wound to the head, with a firearm discovered nearby. The pair had been married since 2019, with Charles, the late Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Phillip, the York sisters, and Prince Harry in attendance. Interestingly, Prince William and Kate were not present for the nuptials, despite Kate's mother, father, and sister all attending.  

As for Kate's appearance at the event, she recycled one of her most popular Wimbledon outfits for day 2. The first time she wore it was in March 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica, during her and William's Caribbean tour. A few months later, she wore it at Wimbledon and now again at Ascot, tying her hair in a sleek bun and pairing it with drop earrings.  She and William were absent on Day 1 of the event for reasons unknown.