It's been a busy week at the Cheltenham Festival for the royal family. We've seen horseracing connoisseurs Zara Tindall, Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales' mother, Carole Middleton, head to the famous Cotswolds racetrack.
Princess Anne is also a regular at any sporting event, and Cheltenham is always at the top of her list. King Charles' sister was pictured cutting a chic figure on Thursday, braving the cold in her classic yet stylish attire.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesThe 75-year-old donned an item that is a permanent, fail-safe fixture in any royal's wardrobe - the dress coat. Anne opted for a navy blue shade, which finished just above the knees. Onlookers noticed that the royal appeared to go bare-legged for the occasion and wore a timeless pair of brown boots and a fur-trimmed hat.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesMany would be nervous about showing their legs in such chilly conditions, but the mother-of-two shows it can be done with a sumptuous coat and stylish boots, which add extra warmth without compromising on style. It's worth noting that the royal could have been wearing flesh-coloured tights, which adheres to royal protocol.
Princess Anne's style tips to her daughter, Zara Tindall
It appears that Anne is following the style approach she gave to her 44-year-old daughter, Zara. "Mum taught me the importance of having good-quality clothing that keeps you warm and comfortable outdoors," the wife of Mike Tindall exclusively told Best Quality Designer Handbag last year.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesCheltenham style rules
By wearing such a tailored yet cosy outfit, Anne is adhering to the style ethos preferred at Cheltenham.
"You're outside for most of the day, often in unpredictable March winds, so fabrics that offer warmth and structure make perfect sense," designer and creative director Amanda Wakeley OBE told Best Quality Designer Handbag . "A great tweed coat or a beautifully cut wool piece carries heritage, yet when the tailoring feels sharp, it never looks dated."
It's also all about embracing the great outdoors when at Cheltenham, and Anne's hat is the perfect example. "The focus shifts to strong outerwear, boots, and fabrics that make sense outdoors," Amanda noted. "Headwear follows suit, of course, instead of the sculptural millinery you often see at Ascot, hats at Cheltenham tend toward felt trilbies or Baker Boy styles. The look still carries elegance, yet practicality sits much closer to the centre of the wardrobe."
