Zara and Mike Tindall looked dapper in formal wear as they arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse for the first day of the festival earlier today.
Princess Anne’s daughter, 42, and her former rugby ace husband, 45, braved the damp conditions as they posed for photographs.
Zara and Mike looked suitably glamorous as they arrived at the event this morning in coordinated outfits.
The mum-of-three wrapped up in a smart blue cape coat and a matching navy polo shirt. The coat had a thick matching belt that cinched her waist.
The former equestrian – who won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics – paired her dress with a stylish headpiece – a gray fascinator with a chic decorative branch.
Zara and Mike put on an elegant display for the first day of the event in matching navy ensembles
Zara Tindall looked glamorous as she arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse for the first day of the festival today
The royal completed her outfit with a £345 navy croc bag from Fairfax & Favor and matching pair of gloves to protect her from the cold.
Meanwhile, Mike looked equally dapper in a navy overcoat, blue suit and navy baker boy hat.
Princess Anne’s newly appointed lady-in-waiting Dolly Maude, 51, arrived at the festival shortly after Zara and Mike.
Dolly, who famously helped deliver Zara’s third child Lucas on a bathroom floor when her birth plan went awry in 2021, looked chic in a bottle green ensemble.
Today is the first of four days at Cheltenham Racecourse, Champion Day. The event witnesses a Jump Racing competition where each contestant strives to get the highest obstacle score.
Tomorrow many visitors will compete for best dressed status at ‘Style Wednesday’, a competition formerly known as Ladies Day.
The prestigious second day of the four-day event is known to attract a host of royals and celebrities as they show off their fashion skills while enjoying a day out at the races in Gloucestershire.
Some excited racegoers even start planning their outfits for the popular occasion six or so months in advance.
Princess Anne’s daughter completed her look with a simple but smart gray fascinator with a decorative branch
Princess Anne’s newly appointed lady-in-waiting Dolly Maude arrived at the Cheltenham event shortly after Zara and Mike
Mike put his arm around Zara as he braved the rain and posed for photographs in the damp conditions
The mother of three wrapped up warmly in a navy blue coat and a pair of trendy suede knee high boots
The day will include the Slow Fashion Awards, open to both men and women, which ‘celebrate vintage and borrowed items as well as investment pieces’.
Tomorrow’s Style Wednesday has been called ‘fast horses, slow fashion. The style is timeless and the glamor matches the glory,’ at the Jockey Club’s website.
Explaining the Slow Fashion awards, it adds that the event will ‘celebrate vintage and borrowed items, as well as investment pieces that can be passed down through generations.
‘We encourage all racegoers to showcase their unique and personal style and share the stories behind their amazing outfits with friends, family and on social media.
‘The awards are open to both men and women and we can’t wait to see the incredible fashion on display!’
The Cheltenham Festival has scrapped its strict dress code in recent times as the Jockey Club released new guidelines for its racecourses.
The historic community event, which dates back to the early 19th century, unveiled an ‘inclusive’ dress code which organizers hope will make spectators feel ‘safe and comfortable’ for their visit.
Already much more relaxed than its racing peers, Royal Ascot, Cheltenham organizers are hoping to encourage a younger crowd to the community event, where jeans and trainers are no longer looked down upon and “come dressed to feel your best” guidance on space.
The formal dress codes – which often included a jacket and tie – are being dropped in a bid to make horse racing more ‘accessible and inclusive’, the Jockey Club said in a statement.