The Windsors, with Kate’s absence, come together at Ascot

Ascot, with a history of more than two centuries behind it, annually brings together thousands and thousands of racing fans around this time, as well as curious people who want to see and be seen. Above all curious, with headdresses and hats that are sometimes impossible to describe. And one more year, as tradition dictates, royal ladies and gentlemen join the social event par excellence of the beginning of summer in England.

The British Royal Family has been loyal to Ascot racing since the beginning of time. Better or worse represented, in number, but it has always been there. This time, however, they have decided to go all out. Or with almost everything.

Only one absence, and more than justified, that of Princess Kate, who continues her treatment to overcome cancer. It is true that his reappearance last weekend, along with the rest of the Royal Family, raised expectations about the possibility that this Friday he would also join the royal procession that delighted the attendees on the second day of racing. But not. There will be more appearances of hers, always under medical supervision, but now she was not playing.

The prominence, however, also bore the surname Middleton. Carole and Michael, the parents of the Princess of Wales, were the guests of honor in the Windsor box. William of Wales, her son-in-law, who turned 42 yesterday, was very affectionate with them.

The parade of floats, one more spectacle in this riot of tradition and glamour, was led by Kings Charles and Camilla. They were later seen very dedicated in the box. They are big racing fans.

More than ten centimeters

With them, the Dukes of Edinburgh, Eduardo and Sofia, who celebrated their silver wedding a few days ago; Royal Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, with their husbands, and with their mother, Sarah Ferguson, who is often seen at events of the British Royal Family despite the fact that her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, left the photo long ago because of his scandal in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Also Zara and Mike Tindall. And more faces of royalty, in this case the Greek, with Pablo and Marie-Chantal at the helm.

And it is necessary to talk about heads when it comes to Ascot. Everyone, men and women, must have their heads covered. There is only one caveat, if the man dresses in Scottish clothing he is exempt. And, be careful, the ladies’ headdress must meet one requirement: have a diameter greater than ten centimeters. No headdresses: hats or headdresses. In this sense, what the royals wore adapted to the canons and did not stand out for being bulky or eccentric. That is left to the ‘influencers’.