Queen Camilla showcased her fashion prowess as she led royals attending the Cheltenham Festival’s ‘Style Wednesday’ today.
The King’s wife, 76, looked effortlessly elegant in a green Anna Valentine coat teamed with a vibrant floral scarf and a fake fur-trimmed hat from Lock & Co as she stepped out to enjoy a day at the races at the Gloucestershire racecourse.
She was joined for the prestigious Day Two of the four-day festival, previously referred to as Ladies Day, by her son Tom Parker-Bowles, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Anne and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.
Shortly after their arrival, Zara, 42, and her former rugby international ace husband Mike, 45, exchanged a quick kiss on the lips before the King’s niece walked off with her cousin Eugenie, 33.
The Queen, who is a keen horse racing fan, joined other close relatives, including daughter Laura Lopes and her husband Harry, alongside Camilla’s nephew Sir Ben Elliot, at the biggest week in the jump racing calendar.
Queen Camilla has showcased her fashion prowess when attending the Cheltenham Festival ‘s ‘Style Wednesday’ today
Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie appeared in high spirits as they arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse today
Mike and Zara Tindall pictured exchanging a quick kiss as they arrived at the Cheltenham races today
The Princess Royal joining other royals at Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival
Known to love a flutter on the horses, the Queen took her place in the royal box after arriving at the Cheltenham racecourse and walking past racegoers who stopped to watch her pass.
The Queen – who is a regular at the occasion and an honorary member of the Jockey Club which runs the major sporting event – made an appearance without King Charles, 75, since he is still having treatment for cancer.
Also among the guests in the royal box were Eugenie and husband Jack, and Camilla’s friend and official Queen’s Companion, Lady Sarah Keswick.
For the outing, Camilla wore an Anna Valentine ensemble – brown suede skirt, matching leopard print shirt and a dark green cashmere coat, with a wide brimmed Lock & Co hat.
Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble, the Queen finished off her sophisticated look with a pair of gold and diamond earrings, as well as a shimmering brooch.
Equestrian Zara, 42, opted for an elegant blue pinstripe double-breasted suit jacket with matching straight-leg trousers. The mother-of-three wore a silk burnt orange high necked blouse, leather gloves and a burgundy croc-effect handbag. She completed her ensemble with minimal gold jewellery and a chic burgundy suede fascinator.
The King’s wife, 76, looked effortlessly elegant in a green coat teamed with a vibrant floral scarf and a fake fur-trimmed hat as she stepped out to enjoy a day at the races at the Gloucestershire racecourse
Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble, she finished off her sophisticated look with a pair of gold and diamond earrings, as well as a shimmering brooch
Equestrian Zara, 42, opted for an elegant blue pinstripe double-breasted suit jacket with matching straight-leg trousers
Princess Eugenie looked chic and sophisticated in a white wraparound coat, which she wore over an oatmeal midi dress
Equestrian Zara, who is known for her love of all things racing, looked animated as she strolled through the racecourse
Camilla (pictured) was joined for the prestigious Day Two of the four-day festival by her son Tom Parker-Bowles, Zara and Mike Tindall and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
Queen Camilla looked delighted to be attending the second day of the four-day festival
Princess Anne, 73, joined Andrew Parker Bowles, whom she briefly dated in the 1970s, at the races
Zara’s mother Princess Anne, 73, another racing enthusiast, was also present at the racecourse, and donned a tweed, button-up coat paired with a camel hat and a nude scarf to protect from the chill.
Mike Tindall’s dapper navy suit perfectly complemented his wife’s ensemble as he opted for a pop of colour with a burgundy tie.
Shortly after their arrival, Zara and Mike, who aren’t afraid of a little PDA, exchanged a quick kiss on the lips before the royal walked off with her cousin Eugenie.
Mother-of-two Eugenie looked chic and sophisticated in a white wraparound coat, which she wore over an oatmeal midi dress.
The 33-year-old was pictured in a sleek white fedora and holding a structured handbag with gold hardware that perfectly matched the tone of her dress.
The royal finished off her look with some tan suede boots and minimal gold hoops.
As she arrived at the racecourse, Eugenie posed for pictures with her husband Jack Brooksbank – who was dressed in a light grey suit and green tie.
Pictured: cousins Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie appeared in high spirits as they arrived at Cheltenham
Pictured: the two cousins cuddled up as they walked into the races in Cheltenham this afternoon
As she arrived at the racecourse, Eugenie posed for pictures with her husband Jack Brooksbank – who was dressed in a light grey suit and green tie
Mike Tindall looked dapper in a navy suit, grey cap and burgundy tie which perfectly matched his wife’s fascinator
Princess Anne ‘s daughter completed her ensemble with minimal gold jewellery and a chic burgundy suede fascinator
The Queen looked chic as she watched the action on the racecourse
The Queen, 76, appeared to be deep in conversation with her peers as they watched the action
The second day of the race meet, which has long been fondly referred to as Ladies Day, is now banded as Style Wednesday, with a fashion competition for both men and women. Pictured, Queen Camilla
Hold on to your hat! Camilla battled the windy weather when stepping out at the event
The Queen finished off her look with a smattering of glamorous makeup added to her features
The Queen opted for smart black boots, a matching handbag and gloves for today’s occasion
The right royal day out at Cheltenham racecourse comes after a busy day of engagements on Monday to mark Commonwealth Day.
Members of the royal family, led by Camilla and William, descended upon Westminster Abbey to take part in the annual service, before the Queen continued the festivities at Marlborough House in Pall Mall in the evening.
Charlotte Hawkins, Jade Holland Cooper, Aston Villa and England footballer Tyrone Mings and magician and gameshow presenter Stephen Mulhern were among the other famous famous at today’s event.
The second day of the race meet, which has long been fondly referred to as Ladies Day, has now been branded as Style Wednesday by festival organisers, and includes a fashion competition for both men and women.
Open to both men and women, the competition ‘celebrates vintage and borrowed items, as well as investment pieces’.
A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said: ‘This year we re-launched day two of The Festival as Style Wednesday to celebrate “fast horses, slow fashion”, encouraging racegoers to make more sustainable fashion choices, showcasing their unique and personal style, and to share the stories behind their amazing outfits with friends, family and on social media.
‘This includes re-wearing outfits they already have in their wardrobes, purchasing timeless garments to wear again and again and also buying from retailers specialising in pre-loved clothing.’
Commenting on the change, The Daily Mail’s Nadine Dorries said in her latest column: ‘I looked at the programme and saw, with no fanfare or warning, that Ladies Day at Cheltenham appears to have been downgraded to Style Wednesday.
‘I’m assuming this is some sort of woke nod from the Jockey Club to the powerful trans lobby.
‘If that’s the case, the Jockey Club might like to consider who exactly will be attending – and who it is they are now offending.’
The second day of the four-day festival hasn’t officially been labelled Ladies Day since 2018; last year it was billed as Festival Wednesday.
But fans on X were equally disappointed with the move to rebrand the second day as ‘Style Wednesday’, with one person writing: ‘Who on earth gets paid to come up with this nonsense? Oh for the days when racing was felt worthy enough on its own.’
Another said: ‘Style Wednesday? Jesus wept. It’s Ladies Day,’ while a third added: ‘Game is in the gutter.’
A fourth insisted: ‘Style Wednesday, how absolutely embarrassing’, as a fifth individual wrote: ‘Styles Wednesday, is this a joke?’
‘End of an era as Ladies Day at Cheltenham Festival is no more. We now have Style Day on a Wednesday. I assume that is to be more inclusive,’ one person wrote, while another simply said: ‘Box-ticking.’
The Jockey Club’s website describes today’s Slow Fashion Awards as an event that will ‘celebrate vintage and borrowed items, as well as investment pieces that can be passed down through generations.
‘We encourage all racegoers to showcase their unique and personal style, and to share the stories behind their amazing outfits with friends, family, and on social media.
‘The awards are open to both men and women, and we can’t wait to see the incredible fashion on display!’
