Royal Ascot 2026: Royal Family, Celebrities and Key Absences Mark the Week-Long Meeting

The glittering world of Royal Ascot 2026 opened on Tuesday, 16 June, at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, drawing the British monarchy, Hollywood stars, and the nation’s elite into a week of tradition and spectacle. The meeting, running from 16 to 20 June, is the crown jewel of the royal family’s June calendar, positioned between Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter ceremony.

The opening day’s procession set the tone. King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the royal column, followed by Princess Anne, her daughter Zara Tindall, and Zara’s husband Mike Tindall. The Tindalls entered early, arriving in the royal stand before the races began. Peter Phillips and his new wife Harriet, who wed in mid‑June, made their first public appearance together in formal racing attire.

The parade also carried the Earl of Snowdon, David Armstrong‑Jones, who rode in the first carriage alongside the King and his girlfriend, art curator Isabelle de La Bruyère. The presence of the late Princess Margaret’s son added a poignant note to the procession.

Thursday, 18 June, saw an unexpected addition: Hollywood actor Stanley Tucci. Having settled in the UK after marrying Felicity Blunt, the sister of actress Emily Blunt, Tucci rode in the fourth carriage with Lord and Lady Cavendish. He greeted the crowd in a top hat and sunglasses, a sight that surprised many.

The most anticipated return came on Wednesday, 19 June, when the Princess of Wales, Catherine Middleton, re‑joined the meeting after a brief absence in 2025 for cancer treatment. Catherine wore a canary‑yellow Roksanda dress, a Jane Taylor London hat, and a set of heirloom jewellery that included a three‑strand pearl bracelet formerly owned by Princess Diana and diamond chandelier earrings that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. She also displayed her engagement ring, wedding band, and a diamond and sapphire eternity band believed to have been gifted by Prince William.

Prince William was present in the procession, sporting a top hat and tails. He was photographed giving a thumbs‑up to the cameras and was seen accompanying the Prince of Wales Stakes prize‑giving ceremony.

The week was also marked by the absence of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the daughters of Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew). Neither princess attended any day of the 2026 meeting, a decision that follows the February 19 arrest of their father on suspicion of misconduct in public office and the subsequent reduction in their public engagements.

Other notable attendees included former Formula One boss Christian Horner and his wife Geri Halliwell, who appeared in a white ensemble. The event attracted over 350,000 spectators, according to the racecourse, underscoring its status as a major social occasion for the British aristocracy and the wider public.

Ascot Racecourse, founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, is a dual‑purpose venue that hosts 13 of Britain’s 36 Group 1 flat races. The Royal Meeting, held each June, remains the highlight of the summer social calendar and is a key platform for sponsors and the racing industry.

The week‑long meeting concluded on Friday, 20 June, with the traditional Gold Cup, a Group 1 race for stayers, held on the third day of the meeting. The event continues to draw significant media attention and serves as a barometer for the health of the British horse‑racing industry.

At present, the royal family’s presence at Royal Ascot 2026 has been confirmed for the King, Queen, Prince William, Princess Catherine, Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, and the Earl of Snowdon. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie remain absent, with no official statement regarding future attendance.