The Princess of Wales had a sweet yet formal greeting for her father-in-law during a day at the races
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NEED TO KNOW
- Kate Middleton and Prince William were among the royal family members in attendance at the Royal Ascot’s second day
- The Princess of Wales greeted her father-in-law, King Charles, with a picture-perfect curtsy on the race course
- She also held on to her sunny yellow hat on the blustery day
Kate Middleton proved she's still the queen of the curtsy at the Royal Ascot.
Princess Kate and Prince William were among the members of the royal family in attendance for day two of Royal Ascot on Wednesday, June 17. After taking part in the Royal Procession, they hopped out of their horse-drawn carriage to greet other members of the royal family, including King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The Princess of Wales was captured on video executing a picture-perfect curtsy as she greeted King Charles. While doing the dip, she also kept hold of her sunny yellow hat by Jane Taylor — which expertly matched her yellow dress by Roksanda Brigitte — during the blustery day of horse racing.
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Prince William, 43, and Princess Kate, 44, attended Royal Ascot on the day of the Prince of Wales' Stakes, after which the royal heir presented the trophy cup to jockey William Buick, who won the race on Ombudsman.
Ascot Racecourse shared a video of Prince William and Princess Kate's arrival on social media, writing, "We are delighted to welcome The Princess of Wales to the second day of Royal Ascot."
The day marked Kate's first time at the annual horse racing event since 2023. She skipped the event in 2024, as she spent most of that year out of the spotlight amid her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Last year, Princess Kate's name was listed as part of the Royal Procession, but shortly before the event began, it was revealed that she would not be in attendance. PEOPLE understood at the time that the royal was disappointed not to be able to join, but she was still working to balance her recovery and her return to public life.
"She’s being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life," Queen Elizabeth’s former spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE.
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Princess Kate has continued to gradually resume her schedule of royal duties since announcing she was in remission in early 2025. Last month, she embarked on a solo, two-day visit to Italy, her first overseas trip since her cancer diagnosis. Royal experts told PEOPLE that the trip was a major moment not just for the princess but for the future of the monarchy.
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“There’s no denying that everyone concerned has been missing the princess’s star quality. She is a huge draw wherever she goes,” says Russell Myers, author of William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story. “Catherine is undoubtedly a central force in the monarchy’s popularity and ability to achieve its goals and move forward. There is no better time for her to return.”
Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty
Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, agreed, saying, “She is our future queen. As Queen Elizabeth used to say, you have to be seen to be believed. She is glamorous, she is beautiful. She is warm and approachable. On the back of the King’s successful visit to the States, William and Kate are upping their game.”
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