It’s a match made in society heaven as Hollywood and royalty came together for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot today.
Stanley Tucci, 65, who is a regular at royal events and dinner parties, looked just as comfortable in a landau as he travelled to the Berkshire racecourse alongside his wife, Felicity Blunt.
The American actor dressed for the part as he opted for a black top hat with an impeccably tailored suit.
Meanwhile, the sister of Tucci’s The Devil Wears Prada co-star, Oscar nominee Emily Blunt, put on a stylish display in a floral dress for the most popular day of the festival, when racegoers pull out all the fashion stops.
Another famous face making their debut in the Royal Family’s Ascot procession was the Earl of Snowdon’s long-term girlfriend, Isabelle de La Bruyere, as the pair had the honour of riding alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Smiling at the crowds, Princess Margaret’s son David Armstrong-Jones, 64, has been dating the French art dealer since 2022, two years after he split from his wife Serena Stanhope after 27 years of marriage.
While the loved-up royal couple attended Ascot together last year, today is the first time Isabelle has joined the royal carriage procession – as she cut a striking figure in a white dress with a black belt.
Stanley Tucci, 65, who is a regular at royal events and dinner parties, looked just as comfortable in a landau as he travelled to the Berkshire racecourse for day three of Ascot today
Carole Middleton, 71, wore a powder blue dress for Ladies Day as she is pictured with Queen Camilla
The Duchess of Edinburgh opted for a Suzannah London dress that was covered with tiny bows
Michael Middleton (right) in the royal box for day three of Royal Ascot
Queen Camilla and King Charles in the royal box with Felicity Blunt
The Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Zara Tindall enjoying Royal Ascot
Lady Eliza Spencer and Lady Amelia Spencer in baby pink outfits at Royal Ascot
Lady Eliza Spencer dressed in Holland Cooper
Travelling behind King Charles and Queen Camilla in the second open-top landau were the Princess Royal, her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, 45, was pictured in the third carriage, riding alongside Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of the Aga Khan, Qatari businessman Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, and legendary Irish racehorse trainer Willie Mullins.
Senior royals joined thousands of stylish racegoers who put their best fashion foot forward as Ladies Day got underway.
However, the warm weather meant sleeveless dresses and airy skirts were popular sartorial choices – as the UK braces for the start of a six-day heatwave with temperatures expected to rise to 27C this afternoon.
A static area of high pressure building across mainland Europe – known as a ‘heat dome’ – is resulting in increasingly warm and humid air for southern England.
London, the East, South East and South West regions were placed under the amber alert, while the Midlands faces a yellow warning. There are no alerts for the North.
These warnings run from midday today until next Tuesday at 8pm – although the Met Office forecast currently suggests the heatwave could last until at least Wednesday.
The amber alert states that the areas covered are likely to see ‘a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions’, while ‘significant impacts are likely across health and social care services’ due to the heat.
The King and Felicity looking completely engrossed by one of the races
They were later joined by Queen Camilla
The monarch appeared relaxed as he spoke to Felicity
The royal Ladies Day! From left to right: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Zara Tindall enjoyed the festivities together
Former Olympian Anne, 75, at the races with her equestrian daughter
Carole enjoying a beverage during her conversation with Zara
Carole rewore the same Catherine Walker dress she first debuted at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018
The King and his niece spotted having a catch up at Royal Ascot today
Stanley’s wife Felicity appeared to be taken aback for a moment at Royal Ascot today
The 2nd Earl of Snowdon, David Armstrong-Jones joined the festivities at Ascot today
Carole and the Queen in the Royal Enclosure
The Devil wears a top hat! Stanley waving at the crowds as he arrived for Royal Ascot
Carole Middleton pictured watching the races in the Royal Box today
The Duchess (left) and Kate’s mother Carole captured during a candid moment at the races
The Princess Royal wore an orange coat dress with embroidered leaves
Sharing a laugh! Carole and Zara captured mid-chat in the Royal Box
In a sweet tribute to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie rewore the pearl necklace from her wedding day
Felicity clapping and cheering as she watched the races with her husband Stanley (centre right), Henry Morley and his wife Kate (far right)
Stanley’s wife, Felicity Blunt was all smiles as she was driven to the racecourse in a royal landau
Stanley waving at crowds while Felicity looked stylish in a white linen dress with a colourful floral print and a black hat
The King tipping his hat as he arrived at the Berkshire racecourse with Queen Camilla
From left to right: Prince Edward, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, Isabelle de La Bruyere and Zara Tindall
Princess Anne’s daughter Zara turned heads in a textured butter yellow midi dress
King Charles led a contingent of senior royal as Ladies Day got underway at Ascot
Another famous face making their debut in the Royal Family’s Ascot procession was the Earl of Snowdon’s long-term girlfriend, Isabelle de La Bruyere (not pictured), as the pair arrived alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla
Sophie smiling at the crowds as she rode in the second royal carriage alongside Princess Anne
Sophie and Anne looked lovely as they travelled in the second royal landau
Stanley was all smiles during the Royal Family’s Ascot carriage procession
Zara looked ethereal in her lemon yellow ensemble as she kept her makeup looking light, fresh and dewy
The King and Queen riding in the first royal carriage
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday.
Joining the King and Queen in the Royal Enclosure today were Princess Anne, 75, Sophie, Prince Edward, as well as the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, David Armstrong-Jones, who is 25th in line to the throne.
The King’s cousin – who owns a bespoke furniture-making business – was accompanied by his long-term girlfriend, art expert Isabelle, less than two weeks after she joined the Royal Family for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding.
Also in attendance today was Princess Zahra, the daughter of the owner of the stolen racehorse Shergar, who recently spoke about the Derby-winning legend’s kidnapping in 1983.
The daughter of the Aga Khan, revealed the colt was killed ‘in an awful way’ and a ransom was never paid to stop the money getting into the wrong hands.
It is 45 years since the big bay with a white blaze won the Derby at Epsom by 10 lengths, a margin which to this day stands as a record for a race first run in 1780.
On the night of February 8, 1983, intruders broke into the Aga Khan’s Ballymany Stud in County Kildare and kidnapped the horse.
At the time, the IRA were the main suspect behind the kidnapping, which involved six armed men.
It has been generally accepted that his abductors were ill-equipped to control a thoroughbred stallion, and he was killed shortly afterwards.
Zara is joined by the daughter of the Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, as they travelled to Berkshire in a royal carriage together
The King with his brother Prince Edward
Felicity is the sister of Stanley’s The Devil Wears Prada co-star, Oscar nominee Emily Blunt
Stanley is a regular at royal events and dinners alike
Charles smiling and waving at well-wishers as he opted for a lovely lilac waistcoat under his grey suit
On the racecourse today, radiant guests created a sea of colourful ensembles as they stepped out for the prestigious occasion.
Those trying to command attention amongst the crowd of thousands opted for unique garments – including a Spanish-inspired bright red dress – but one guest’s extra-large feather hat stole the show.
The wacky, gravity-defying style of hats is permitted in most areas at Ascot, except in the Royal Enclosure.
‘A hat or headpiece with a solid base of four inches in diameter is mandatory in the Royal Enclosure,’ explained the Royal Ascot website.
‘Fascinators are not permitted. Novelty hats (i.e. ones which are excessively oversized, or are promoting or marketing any product or brand) are not permitted.’
Some of the celeb attendees will join society names in the Royal Enclosure – the most exclusive area of the racecourse, which has its own strict dress code.
While 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.
Ladies must wear ‘a dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer’ and ‘shoulder straps that are a minimum width of 1 inch / 2.5cm’, along with ‘a hat or headpiece with a solid base of four inches in diameter’.
Strapless, off-the-shoulder and one-shoulder items are also banned in the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures.
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.
The event’s official lookbook this year was curated by menswear specialist Daniel Fletcher, who has previously designed for the likes of Louis Vuitton, JW Anderson and Victoria Beckham.
