The five-day social event of the royal calendar has kicked off: The Royal Ascot 2026 is here! From June 16 until June 20, royals descend on the historic Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England.
For the royal family, Royal Ascot follows some of the largest public-facing events of the year, including Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter.
Horses, horse riding, and husbandry have long been of interest to the British Royal Family. The annual event was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne. In 1911, the Ascot summer race meeting became a dedicated week to royal racing.
Among the attendees at the 2026 Royal Ascot were Bridgerton star Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte in the hit series) and Dame Mary Berry, the iconic home baker, food writer and media personality.
Golda Rosheuvel, Dame Mary Berry and guest attend Day 1 of Royal Ascot at Ascot 2026. (Photo by Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Royal Ascot)
Beyond the celebrities who often also make appearances, royalists are mostly looking out for royals! Last year, Princess Catherine was meant to make her debut since her cancer diagnosis, but cancelled at the last minute. As she has entered remission and has returned to public affairs (including a solo royal trip to Italy this year), we can expect to see her in the stands.
However, we may not see long-time attendee of the event, Sarah Ferguson. Last year, she attended with both of her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, on various days. However, the former Duchess of York has lost her titles following her association with Jeffrey Epstein. Chances are, she’s eshew the public-facing event this year.
Continue reading to find out which royals attended the 2026 Royal Ascot.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 16: King Charles III and Queen Camilla smile and wave as they attend day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 16, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
King Charles III and Queen Camilla
Day One
As expected King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the royals on the the Royal Ascot 2026.
The King and Queen seemed to have a wonderful time in the Royal Box with their friends and family members and were spotted laughing with one another as they watched the races.
(Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Queen Camilla wore a stunning Anna Valentine light blue dress coat embroidered with flowers, which she accessorised with a matching Philip Treacy hat, Chanel pumps and a bone white purse.
Her son, Tom Parker Bowles and daughter, Laura Lopes, from her first marriage, also joined the royals in the box to watch the races.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 16: Tom Parker Bowles and Queen Camilla attend day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 16, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Day Two:
The King and Queen attended the second day of the Royal Ascot as well. This time, Queen Camilla wore a cream dress coat and a matching hat while King Charles opted for a light blue vest.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 17: Queen Camilla and King Charles III attend day two of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 17: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales on day two of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Princess Catherine
Day Two:
Making her Royal Ascot return in style, Princess Catherine was positively (and literally) glowing in a bespoke Roksanda dress which she accessorised with a pearl-embellished clutch from her favourite bag designer, Anya Hindmarch and a Janet Taylor London hat with bright yellow netting. Royalists also spotted that her earrings were actually Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond chandelier earrings. She also wore Princess Diana‘s three-strand pearl bracelet.
(Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
(Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Prince William reflected Princess Catherine’s choice of bright yellow in his corsage, which appeared to be daffodils (the flower of the Cancer Council) or tulips. Princess Catherine missed the Royal Ascot last year; she pulled out at the last minute. However, at the time, she had just returned to public duties following her cancer treatment.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 16: Princess Anne, Princess Royal on day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 16, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal
Day One:
Not a stranger to a bold outfit choice, the Princess Royal wore this colourful dress coat with a swirling design. She accessorised with a matching hat with flowers of similar hues, pearl drop earrings and, for those who look closely, a gold horse brooch! It’s a piece she wears to many of her equestrian events as an avid horse-lover (and former Olympian).
Day Two:
The Princess Royal returned to the Royal Ascot 2026 in a pastel pink dress suit. She was accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, and we spotted her fixing his cravat between the races.
(Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall attend day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 16, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Day One:
The loved-up couple were full of smiles as they posed for photos on the first day of Royal Ascot 2026. Zara, like her mother, is also an Olympian and rarely, if ever, misses the event.
On day one, Zara chose a dress from one of her favourite designers, Australia’s Rebecca Vallance. She paired the lilac dress with an Anya Hindmarch clutch (another favourite of the royals), rose pink pumps, and a pink boater.
Day Two:
Zara and Mike also attended the second day of Royal Ascot 2026. Zara wore another Australian designer, a lovely navy Leo Lin dress embroidered with large lily flowers. She paired the dress with a pale gold hat from Juliette Milinery, Emmy Longond leather clutch, pumps and Finlay and Co sunglasses.
Peter Phillips and Harriet Phillips attend day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 16, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Peter and Harriet Phillips
Day One:
The newlyweds are here! Last year, she was Harriet Sperling, and in 2026, Harriet joined Peter as his new wife! The couple married a mere ten days ago, but honeymoons must wait until after this prestigious event. He couldn’t miss the Royal Ascot when his mum and sister are entrenched in the horse world!
Harriest wore a duck egg blue Suzannah London dress with a blue clutch by Anya Hindmarch with Jimmy Choo pumps, which somehow didn’t sink into the sod!
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, attend day 2 of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026, in Ascot, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie of Edinburgh
Day Two:
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended the second day of the Royal Ascot 2026. The two are about to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary on 19 June.
Duchess Sophie wore a Suzannah London silk shirt dress with a dramatic bow collar paired with a bespoke JT Millineray hat.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 16: Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester attend day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 16, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
Day One:
Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester and his wife, Brigitte, also attended the first day of the Royal Ascot. Richard is the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, and he and his wife Brigitte are working royals who often attend events to represent the family.
On the first day of the Royal Ascot 2026, Brigitte donned a light teal dress coat with a classic string of pearls and a refined summer hat.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 17: Carole Middleton and Alizee Thevenet attend day two of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Carole Middleton and Alizee Thevenet
Day Two:
Just like in 2025, Princess Catherine’s mother, Carole Middleton, and sister-in-law Alizee Thevenet attended day two of the races.
Carole wore the same pale pink Catherine Walker coat dress that she wore to Pippa Middleton’s wedding, this time with a new Catherine Walker hat. However, she paired it with an Emmy Londone rose leather bag and matching pumps.
Alizee appeared to have stepped out of a 19th-century French novel with her white cotton dress with intricate lacing and dainty florals. She completed the look with a straw boat hat.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 17: Lady Gabriella Kingston attends day two of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
The only daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent wore a Claire Mischevani coat dress in a pale blue hue. The writer and editor paired it with an Aspinal of London bag.
Author
The Australian Women’s Weekly
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