Strong hat game, everybody.
Meghan Markle has quickly settled into her royal duties as a new member of the family, from going on a solo trip with the Queen to Cheshire and now a presentation ceremony with her new husband Prince Harry. The newlyweds arrived at the Royal Ascot just an hour ago looking every inch the part though it won’t all be fun and games, as both she and Prince Harry will be presenting an award at the famed horse race.
According to the Ascot programme, they’ll be presenting the St James’ Palace Stakes trophy at 4.20pm. It’s the first time the couple has attended the Ascot together and they’re definitely moving much faster than Prince William and Kate Middleton did - it took five years for Kate to make an appearance with him at the race.
Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in a carriage, joined by Queen Elizabeth and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex. They all looked dressed the part and although Meghan may have broken a royal fashion rule at Trooping the Colour, she was very much on point for Ascot’s notoriously strict dress code.
She returned to Givenchy, her wedding dress designer, for her all-white ensemble and also donned a sophisticated Philip Treacy hat (one of Kate Middleton’s favourite fashion designers). Prince Harry came dressed in a top hat and tails, along with a Royal Ascot name tag - one of those funny conventions that doesn’t make too much sense, given that you’d be hard-pressed not to recognise who he is.
As they rode into the grounds, people cheered the carriage on and Meghan waved to the crowd - clearly growing more comfortable with the spotlight.
They did the traditional procession around the parade ring as other carriages carrying Prince Charles, Camilla, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie trotted on ahead of them. Prince William and Kate Middleton unfortunately aren't around for the races, but for a good reason - Wills is up in Liverpool on another engagement while Kate is still currently on maternity leave.
Here’s hoping that after the work’s all done that Prince Harry and Meghan get a chance to actually kick back, enjoy the races and make use of that Royal Box.
(We desperately want to know what it’s like in there.)
