Over the years, the royals have become regulars at Cheltenham Festival. From the Princess of Wales to Queen Camilla and Zara Tindall, many members of the royal family have proved to be avid equestrian fans and love making a trackside appearance in Gloucestershire.
The annual meet kicks off on Tuesday 10 March, with the festival choosing to honour the Princess Royal this year with a special nod. The "Amateur's Gold Cup has been renamed the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase after the royal, who has a long history with the event and the sport in general, going back to when she competed in the Olympics in 1976.
Over the years, Princess Anne has been a regular at the event, along with her daughter Zara Tindall, who is a director at the racecourse and always nails the brief when it comes to trackside glamour. Other regulars over the years include Queen Camilla, who was appointed an Honorary Member of the Jockey Club in 2015, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, who last attended the festival in 2013.
Take a look through our gallery to see all the best moments of the royals enjoying a day at the races ahead of this year's festival.
© GettyRoyal girlfriend
A few years before she married Prince William, then Kate Middleton showed off her Chelsea girl style in 2007 in a duck egg blue Katherine Hooker blazer with a midi skirt and a chocolate brown beret.
© GettyLoved-up display
Mike and Zara Tindall may have been married for nearly 13 years but they packed on the PDA as they shared a loving kiss at the 2023 Festival. And how chic does equestrian Zara look in her checked blazer and beret-style hat?
© GettyTouching tribute
2023 marked the first time Camilla attended the Festival as Queen, just two months before the coronation. She appeared to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II by wearing her late mother-in-law's sparkling horse brooch.
© GettyDoting grandmother
Zara shares her love of equestrian sports with her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Her Late Majesty is pictured having a laugh with her granddaughter in the stands in 2003.
© GettyTwinning in tweed
Who can forget when Prince William and Kate rocked matching green tweed ensembles at Cheltenham in 2007? The royal girlfriend wore a co-ordinating skirt suit by Katherine Hooker with Chanel sunglasses.
© GettyYoung love
Zara and Mike made their debut at Cheltenham together in 2005, with the Princess Royal's daughter rocking the baker boy hat trend. Zara married rugby star Mike at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland in July 2011.
© GettyFrom the archives
Princess Diana wrapped up in a red coat for the festival in 1982, when she was pregnant with eldest son Prince William.
© GettyLike mother, like daughter
We'd love to know what Princess Anne and daughter Zara were so excited about in 2020? We hope it was a win!
© GettyUnited front
Peter Phillips and his former wife, Autumn, were animated at the 2020 festival as they watched the races on Gold Cup Day. While the pair had announced their decision to divorce the previous month, Peter and Autumn put on a united front at the event.
© GettyGirls' day out
Royal sisters-in-law Autumn Phillips and Zara looked stylish on a girls' day out to Cheltenham in 2014.
© GettyWilliam and Kate's last attendance
The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised racegoers when they attended the 2013 meet, when Kate was pregnant with the couple's first child Prince George. She looked glowing in a blush pink Joseph coat with brown accessories and her Kiki McDonough citrine drop earrings.
© GettyBoys' day out
Mike walked arm-in-arm with his brother-in-law, Peter, as they arrived for the 2022 Festival.
