“ALL EYES WERE ON THE KING AND QUEEN… UNTIL A DIFFERENT ROYAL COUPLE STOLE THE SPOTLIGHT.” King Charles and Queen Camilla were spotted animatedly cheering from the Royal Box as Royal Ascot got underway, but it was the loved-up appearance of newlyweds Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling that quickly sparked the most attention among royal watchers. As cameras kept finding the smiling couple throughout the day, many were left wondering whether a new royal fan-favorite has quietly arrived at the heart of the family.

.reward-granted-popup {
position: fixed;
top: 50%;
left: 50%;
transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
background-color: white;
border: 1px solid black;
padding: 30px;
z-index: 1001;
text-align: center;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
width: 300px;
}

.reward-granted-popup p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
font-size: 16px;
color: #333;
}

.reward-granted-popup button {
padding: 10px 20px;
cursor: pointer;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 16px;
background-color: #008CBA;
color: white;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
display: block;
width: 200px;
margin: 0 auto;
}

.reward-granted-popup button:hover {
background-color: #007B95;
}

Animated King and Queen cheer on horse at Ascot – as newlyweds Peter Phillips & Harriet look loved up in royal box

King Charles III, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Camilla, and the Duchess of Wellington arriving by carriage at Royal Ascot.

ANIMATED King Charles and Queen Camilla were snapped cheering on a horse at Ascot today as they kicked off the first day of the races.

They were joined by Princess Anne, beaming newlyweds Prince Phillip and Harriet Sperling, and Zara Tindall with husband Mike.

Royal Ascot 2026: Day 1 - Royalty
King Charles and Queen Camilla cheered on a horse at Ascot todayCredit: Getty
Royal Ascot 2026: Day 1 - Royalty
Camilla looked tense as the race got underwayCredit: Getty
Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling at Royal Ascot.
Newlyweds Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling looked loved upCredit: Getty
King Charles III, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Camilla, and the Duchess of Wellington arriving by carriage at Royal Ascot.
King Charles and Queen Camilla earlier made a spectacular arrival on day one of Royal AscotCredit: Splash

Harriet joined her mother-in-law Princess Anne to make her carriage entrance debut at the traditional races.

She was welcomed into the family fold by Zara and Mike, who were the first to arrive.

The King and Queen were later snapped cheering on a horse as they watched on from the royal box.

They are set to attend every day as they arrived in the first carriage of the Royal Procession along Ascot’s famous Straight Mile.

Racegoers in formal attire arriving for the first day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting.
Princess Anne pictured arriving with her new daughter-in-law Harriet SperlingCredit: PA
Zara Tindall and Harriet Sperling in elegant attire at Royal Ascot.
Zara and Harriet chatted in complementary soft pastel outfitsCredit: Getty

The historic journey signalled the start of each day at the races since 1825 before the royals proceed to watch the action from the Royal Enclosure.

But the King suffered Royal Ascot heartache for the second straight year after a huge gamble on his horse Reaching High went up in smoke.

Charles was hoping to land an Ascot winner at 5pm – with his own horse, Reaching High, the 15/8 favourite in the Ascot Stakes.

The Willie Mullins-trained horse, ridden by top jockey Ryan Moore, finished a disappointing 9th in the same race last year having gone off as favourite.

And Reaching High ultimately finished ninth this year too.

The King is expected to have up to five runners across the week – and there is a record prize pool of £10,645,000 – up from £10,050,000 last year.

Some 300,000 fans are set to descend on the Berkshire racecourse over the five days until Saturday, with Ladies Day taking place on Thursday.

Racegoers could be seen arriving to the prestigious event in their droves in jaw-dropping dresses and eye-popping hats.

Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall posing outdoors.
Zara Tindall and husband Mike were among the first to arrive at the prestigious eventCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
A woman in a pink hat giving King Charles a kiss on the cheek.
King Charles chuckles with Mike TindallCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Peter Phillips in a top hat and a woman in a blue hat riding in a carriage.
Phillips and Harriet made her carriage entrance debut at AscotCredit: Splash
Harriet Phillips smiling in a carriage during a procession at Royal Ascot.
The royal family was the picture of happiness as they arrived togetherCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

There are then seven races throughout the day, the last of which commencing at 6.10pm.

On each day at 2pm is the racing procession, and a chance for attendees to get a glimpse of the Royal Family.

Yesterday, the royals also held their first Order of the Garter at Windsor Castle since disgraced Andrew was stripped of the honour.

Charles and Camilla were joined by a giggling Kate and Wills for the annual ceremony at St George’s Chapel, marking the oldest chivalric order in the UK.

Crowds of thousands lined up to watch one of the highlights of the royal calendar as Kate acknowledged them with a wave.

King Charles III, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Camilla, and the Duchess of Wellington arriving by carriage at Royal Ascot.

ANIMATED King Charles and Queen Camilla were snapped cheering on a horse at Ascot today as they kicked off the first day of the races.

They were joined by Princess Anne, beaming newlyweds Prince Phillip and Harriet Sperling, and Zara Tindall with husband Mike.

Royal Ascot 2026: Day 1 - Royalty
King Charles and Queen Camilla cheered on a horse at Ascot todayCredit: Getty
Royal Ascot 2026: Day 1 - Royalty
Camilla looked tense as the race got underwayCredit: Getty
Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling at Royal Ascot.
Newlyweds Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling looked loved upCredit: Getty
King Charles III, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Camilla, and the Duchess of Wellington arriving by carriage at Royal Ascot.
King Charles and Queen Camilla earlier made a spectacular arrival on day one of Royal AscotCredit: Splash

Harriet joined her mother-in-law Princess Anne to make her carriage entrance debut at the traditional races.

She was welcomed into the family fold by Zara and Mike, who were the first to arrive.

The King and Queen were later snapped cheering on a horse as they watched on from the royal box.

They are set to attend every day as they arrived in the first carriage of the Royal Procession along Ascot’s famous Straight Mile.

Racegoers in formal attire arriving for the first day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting.
Princess Anne pictured arriving with her new daughter-in-law Harriet SperlingCredit: PA
Zara Tindall and Harriet Sperling in elegant attire at Royal Ascot.
Zara and Harriet chatted in complementary soft pastel outfitsCredit: Getty

The historic journey signalled the start of each day at the races since 1825 before the royals proceed to watch the action from the Royal Enclosure.

But the King suffered Royal Ascot heartache for the second straight year after a huge gamble on his horse Reaching High went up in smoke.

Charles was hoping to land an Ascot winner at 5pm – with his own horse, Reaching High, the 15/8 favourite in the Ascot Stakes.

The Willie Mullins-trained horse, ridden by top jockey Ryan Moore, finished a disappointing 9th in the same race last year having gone off as favourite.

And Reaching High ultimately finished ninth this year too.

The King is expected to have up to five runners across the week – and there is a record prize pool of £10,645,000 – up from £10,050,000 last year.

Some 300,000 fans are set to descend on the Berkshire racecourse over the five days until Saturday, with Ladies Day taking place on Thursday.

Racegoers could be seen arriving to the prestigious event in their droves in jaw-dropping dresses and eye-popping hats.

Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall posing outdoors.
Zara Tindall and husband Mike were among the first to arrive at the prestigious eventCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
A woman in a pink hat giving King Charles a kiss on the cheek.
King Charles chuckles with Mike TindallCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Peter Phillips in a top hat and a woman in a blue hat riding in a carriage.
Phillips and Harriet made her carriage entrance debut at AscotCredit: Splash
Harriet Phillips smiling in a carriage during a procession at Royal Ascot.
The royal family was the picture of happiness as they arrived togetherCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

There are then seven races throughout the day, the last of which commencing at 6.10pm.

On each day at 2pm is the racing procession, and a chance for attendees to get a glimpse of the Royal Family.

Yesterday, the royals also held their first Order of the Garter at Windsor Castle since disgraced Andrew was stripped of the honour.

Charles and Camilla were joined by a giggling Kate and Wills for the annual ceremony at St George’s Chapel, marking the oldest chivalric order in the UK.

Crowds of thousands lined up to watch one of the highlights of the royal calendar as Kate acknowledged them with a wave.