All eyes were on newlywed Harriet Sperling as she made her official debut as a married member of the Royal Family during the opening day of Royal Ascot.
Less than two weeks after tying the knot with Peter Phillips in an intimate Cotswolds ceremony, the 45-year-old NHS nurse stepped into royal life in style, joining her husband and mother-in-law Princess Anne in the traditional carriage procession.
King Charles and Queen Camilla led the royal entrance in the first carriage, while Peter and Harriet travelled in the second coach alongside Princess Anne and Sir Ben Elliot.
Looking effortlessly elegant, Harriet wore a blue silk Suzannah London Biarritz dress teamed with cream Jimmy Choo slingback heels and a pale blue teardrop hat adorned with floral detailing. She completed the ensemble with jewellery by Pragnell.
However, one of the sweetest nods to her recent wedding was impossible to miss. Harriet carried a sky-blue Anya Hindmarch clutch embroidered with her new initials, “HP”, while her wedding ring sparkled on her left hand.
Peter Phillips, 48, looked delighted to be sharing the famous royal occasion with his new bride. Dressed in a traditional morning suit with top hat and tails, he also broke with long-standing royal custom by proudly wearing a gold wedding band.
Male members of the Royal Family and aristocratic circles, including Prince William, do not always wear their wedding rings, making Peter’s decision a touching sign of his newlywed happiness.
Princess Anne appeared to enjoy the special moment with her new daughter-in-law. The Princess Royal, wearing a striking striped dress and wide-brimmed green hat, chatted warmly with Harriet as the horse-drawn carriage rolled into the main paddock.
The Duke and Duchess of Wellington and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also took part in the grand procession.
Although Harriet attended Royal Ascot alongside Peter last year, this marked her first appearance as Mrs Peter Phillips and a fully-fledged member of the royal fold.
After arriving at the racecourse, the newlyweds shared a sweet moment as they toasted with glasses of champagne. Harriet looked relaxed and happy while enjoying the festivities before the racing got underway.
She was later seen chatting with her new sister-in-law Zara Tindall, who arrived in a glamorous Rebecca Vallance outfit with husband Mike Tindall.
Once the action moved to the track, the couple appeared completely absorbed by the racing, reacting enthusiastically as the horses thundered towards the finish line.
Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla also showed their passion for the sport, cheering on the runners and riders throughout the afternoon. Camilla, dressed in pale blue with matching statement millinery, waved cheerfully to spectators as the royal family made their traditional entrance.
Peter and Harriet’s appearance at Royal Ascot comes just days after their wedding at All Saints Church in Kemble, near Cirencester, where they celebrated their marriage surrounded by family, royals and close friends.
And with their first Royal Ascot appearance as husband and wife now complete, the happy couple appeared every inch the picture of newlywed bliss.
