Kate Middleton to make long-awaited return to Royal Ascot today after three-year absence

Kate Middleton to make long-awaited return to Royal Ascot today after three-year absence It has been confirmed that the Princess of Wales will be at Royal Ascot today in the carriage procession alongside Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla for the second day of the 2026 festival The Princess of Wales will return to Royal Ascot today for her first appearance at the racing festival in three years. It has been confirmed that Kate will be in today's carriage procession alongside Prince William having last attended Royal Ascot back in 2023. Kate missed the racing in 2024 as she was still having cancer treatment. Last year there was confusion when Kate’s name appeared in the official programme but she did not appear sparking some concern - although Kensington Palace insisted she had never planned to attend. She will be in the second carriage later alongside William and the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, while joining the King and Queen in the first carriage will be Lady Sarah Chatto, Princess Margaret's daughter and her husband Daniel. When Kate last attended Royal Ascot in 2023, she wore a striking red Alexander McQueen dress and a Philip Treacy hat with statement earrings by Sezane. Yesterday, King Charles and Queen Camilla officially kicked off Royal Ascot with cheers and the traditional carriage procession, which today included the Royal Family's newest member. The couple led the royal party in the carriages for the first day of racing, with Camilla wearing a blue dress with floral embellisment. They were joined in their carriage by their close friends Duke and Duchess of Wellington. Meanwhile, following behind in the second carriage was the King's sister Princess Anne and her newlywed son, Peter Phillips with his new wife Harriet. It has marked the first official event for the couple since they tied the knot in a Cotswolds wedding earlier this month, which was attended by nearly all senior members of the Royal Family. Later in the royal box, Charles and Camilla were seen cheering on the horses as they were joined by the Queen's children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, while newlyweds Harriet and Peter sipped champagne as they beamed at each other. But the King and Queen's racing dreams dashed when their horse was well beaten on the track. They were watched from the royal box as Reaching High lost in the Ascot Stakes with 25-1 shot Kizlyar victorious, as thousands of racegoers cheered on their horses. They will be hoping for better luck later this week as they have another four horses entered in the sporting event, one of the highlights of the flat racing calendar. Kate's appearance at Royal Ascot later comes after it was earlier reported that it was understood that a hospital worker at the private clinic where the Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery is set to face a criminal prosecution following an investigation into claims that the Princess' medical records had allegedly been accessed by staff in 2024. A total of three trusted employees, who worked at The London Clinic when the future queen was admitted on January 16, 2024, have been dismissed from their roles following an internal investigation, it is understood. The trio were suspected of attempting to access the Princess’ confidential medical records following her 13-day stay at the hospital, as disturbing rumours concerning her diagnosis and treatment were spread on social media by sick trolls. The Mirror broke the world exclusive on March 19, 2024, which sent shockwaves through the hospital and Kensington Palace and posed serious questions over the safety of the royal family ’s personal data.