Gone was the sensible tweed suit Kate Middleton wore for the first day of the Cheltenham races last week, and in its place an altogether more fashion-savvy look for Gold Cup day. Her choice of cornflower blue jacket, knee-high boots and jaunty black beret once again confirmed that Prince William's increasingly groomed girlfriend is a winner when it comes to style.
The fashion buyer's trendsetting looks have been recognised this month by society magazine Tatler, in which she debuted at number eight in the annual best dressed list. It wasn't just her outfit attracting attention, however, but the fact she was in the royal box for the second year running without her handsome beau - who was enrolling in a tank commanders course in Dorset.
Kate, who works part-time at High Street chain Jigsaw, seems to be increasingly ensconced as a semi-official member of "the firm". Her security has become an important issue, and on arrival she was met by two plain-clothes police officers who escorted her to the royal enclosure.
Totally at ease among the aristocratic set, the 25-year-old followed the day's racing with gusto, smiling and occasionally pointing out the action on the track. At lunchtime she joined a gathering hosted by the Queen's master of the Horse, Lord Vestey, along with Princess Anne and the Duchess of Cornwall's former husband Andrew Parker Bowles, as well as several of William's friends. "She was mixing with nobility as if she had been born and bred to it," remarked one onlooker.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
