King Charles' nephew Peter Phillips is joined by his NHS nurse girlfriend Harriet Sperling in Ascot carriage procession for the first time as royals turn out in force
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The Royal Family turned out in force for the first day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday as thousands of revellers kicked off the five-day meet in style - and were joined by a very special guest.
King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, both fans of racing, arrived in the famous carriage procession - which is marking its 200th anniversary this year - along the Berkshire racecourse.
The monarch appeared in great spirits as he tipped his hat to the crowd and waved, while the Queen looked elegant in a mint green coat dress by Dior, Cullinan V diamond heart-shaped brooch and feather hat by Philip Treacy.
Riding in the first carriage to the tune of the national anthem, they were joined by the Queen's companion Lady Sarah Keswick and racing owner Prince Faisal, a member of the Saudi royal family.
Following right behind them were Princess Anne, Annabel Elliot - an interior designer and Camilla's sister - and the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.
Today's royal procession also featured a very special guest, as Peter Phillips was accompanied in the third carriage by his girlfriend Harriet Sperling after making their debut at the Badminton Horse Trials last year.
Harriet, 45, played the part perfectly in an ivory ensemble featuring a cropped jacket with puffed sleeves and matching skirt - both believed to be from Suzannah London - and accessorising with a smart woven hat.
Peter, 47, who is King Charles's nephew, has been dating Harriet for over a year, after breaking up with his previous partner of three-years, Lindsay Wallace.
And the invitation to join the prestigious procession can be seen as a seal of approval from the King and a very high honour.
According to royal reporter Ian Lloyd, the late Queen Elizabeth didn't include royal girlfriends in the procession unless they were engaged.
Last year, the couple packed on the PDA before meeting with the King and Queen, embarking on their new romance just weeks after his split from Lindsay.
The smitten pair have since attended an array of high society events together, including Wimbledon and the Badminton Horse Trials - as well as Cheltenham Races in January.
Today, she appeared to be getting on swimmingly with the royals, chatting with Princess Anne on the balcony, while Peter's sister Zara Tindall was at one point seen helping out by fixing her hat.
Zara - often regarded for her gregarious manner and popularity among the royal family - was seen exchanging casual greetings and hugs and kisses with the rest of the family.
A keen horsewoman herself, Princess Anne's daughter, 44, looked sensational in a sky blue dress with puffed sleeves by Rebecca Vallance, beaming alongside her rugby player husband Mike, 46.
She was also joined by Princess Beatrice, who looked vibrant in a pink gingham two-piece by Anna Mason, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and mother Sarah Ferguson in smart navy.
Meanwhile Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, looked glamorous in an ivory applique daisy lace ensemble from Suzannah London, rewearing her bespoke Jane Taylor Hat, and adding Prada Heels.
Concluding this afternoon's royal procession were the Lord and Lady Vestey and Henry and Joanna Morton Jack.
Writing in the official programme, the King and Queen said: 'Having experienced the thrill of victory at Royal Ascot ourselves in 2023, we can only wish all those competing this week the very best of luck and that everyone watching has a most enjoyable five days.'
The head of state and his wife will be hoping for a winner in the Ascot Stakes when their horse Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins, takes on other thoroughbreds.
The horse is among the favourites with the bookies and is one of a number the royal couple have entered this week.
According to an online bio, Peter's girlfriend Harriet lives in Gloucestershire and works as a Paediatric Nurse Specialist for the NHS.
She is 'passionate about early brain development in babies and seeing children thrive,' the bio notes.
In 2010, Harriet was a key member of a team of medics, doctors and clinicians who helped save the life of a critically ill baby, named Phineas, after he was struck down by a deadly virus aged just three weeks.
She featured in a unique tribute, created by Phineas' photographer father Michael Cockerham, which was published in the Guardian Weekend Magazine.
The pediatric nurse is related to the Duke of Gloucester through her late father, The Telegraph reported previously.
But her curious family ties do not stop there, as the paper also revealed that Harriet's second cousin once removed is Christopher Courage, 61, a descendant of the Courage Brewery's founder John Courage.
While no information is available about her ex-husband, Harriet has a daughter, thought to be around the same age as Peter's girls, Savannah, 14, and Isla, 12, whom he shares with ex-wife, Autumn.
Peter and Autumn ended their 13-year marriage with a divorce in 2020, but continue to co-parent their daughters.
Queen Elizabeth II was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
Charles and Camilla have taken on her stable of horses and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot winner in 2023 when their horse Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.
The monarch and his wife will be hoping for a winner in the Ascot Stakes when their horse Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins, takes on other thoroughbreds.
Mullins, reflecting on the thoroughbred's narrow defeat at Leopardstown racecourse in Ireland, said: 'I've been very happy since his first run, he did everything nicely at Leopardstown and if he could run a similar type of race at Ascot I would be very pleased.'
Meanwhile, the royal procession has reached its 200th anniversary this year after it was first held in 1825 during the reign of King George IV.
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, starts today with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday.
The prestigious festival was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for 'horses fit for kings' and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction.
Glamorous racegoers pulled out all the sartorial stops as they arrived at Royal Ascot in the sunshine today to kick off the annual celebration in style.
As one of the highlights of the racing calendar, the prestigious festival at the Berkshire racecourse is just as famous for its fashion as it is for its races.
This year, statement hats were the focal point of revellers' eye-popping looks as day one of the annual race meeting got underway.
Dressed to impress, guests wore a variety of show-stopping headpieces as they descended on Ascot for a day of equestrian fun.
Floral prints, modest hemlines and attention-grabbing hats were the order of the day for many, while others looked effortlessly elegant in crisp white dresses and sharp blazers.
Whilst no dress code rules apply in the Windsor Enclosure, although the majority of guests choose to dress up regardless, a strict dress code operates across the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures.
Hats are a must in both Royal enclosures. Alternatively, a headpiece or 'hatinator' with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches (10cm) is also acceptable.
Dresses must be knee length or longer and forget spaghetti straps - all shoulders must be a minimum width of 1 inch (2.5cm). Strapless, off-the-shoulder and one shoulder items are also banned.
Shorts of any kind are not permitted. But having been included in the dress code since 1971, trouser suits remain a popular choice - although they mustn't be mismatched.
From 2017 onwards, jumpsuits have also been accepted as Ascot worthy, while men must stick to black dress shoes worn with ankle socks, but there are no footwear specifications for women.
