The British royal family turned out in force at the opening of Royal Ascot today – and Zara and Mike Tindall seemed particularly pleased to see their relatives. Princess Anne’s daughter, 44, and her former England rugby player husband, 46, could be seen greeting members of her extended family with friendly kisses when stepping out at the Berkshire racecourse. In several sweet moments, Zara could be seen affectionately pecking the cheek of her uncle King Charles, 76, as well as her mother, The Princess Royal. Mike, who was dressed to impress in all his finery, proved to be as equally affectionate as his wife as he shared a warm greeting with his mother-in-law. Meanwhile, Zara was just as welcoming to her brother Peter Phillips and his girlfriend Harriet Sperling, who were both part of Ascot’s royal procession this year for the first time. It appears NHS nurse Harriet – who started dating Princess Anne’s son after his split from his partner of three years Lindsay Wallace last year – has been fully welcomed into the royal fold, as she embraced the King’s niece upon arrival. Zara put on a typically stylish display for the prestigious festival in a blue dress with lace and floral detailing, teamed with blush accessories. King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, both fans of racing, travelled past packed stands on the Berkshire course in the traditional carriage procession as tens of thousands of punters geared up for the first race of the five-day event. The monarch appeared in great spirits as he tipped his hat to the crowd and waved, while the Queen looked elegant in a grey dress and hat. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition which began during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington. Charles and Camilla rode in the first carriage with Prince Faisal, a member of the Saudi royal family, and Lady Sarah Keswick, one of the Queen’s official companions. Behind them, the Princess Royal travelled with Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot and the Duke and Duchess of Wellington and they were followed by a coach carrying Anne’s son Peter and his girlfriend Harriet. Harriet, 45, played the part perfectly in an all-white ensemble featuring a cropped jacket with puffed sleeves, accessorising with a smart woven hat. Writing in the official programme, the King and Queen said: ‘Having experienced the thrill of victory at Royal Ascot ourselves in 2023, we can only wish all those competing this week the very best of luck and that everyone watching has a most enjoyable five days.’ Queen Elizabeth II was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign. Charles and Camilla have taken on her stable of horses and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot winner in 2023 when their horse Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes. The monarch and his wife will be hoping for a winner in the Ascot Stakes when their horse Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins, takes on other thoroughbreds. Mullins, reflecting on the thoroughbred’s narrow defeat at Leopardstown racecourse in Ireland, said: ‘I’ve been very happy since his first run, he did everything nicely at Leopardstown and if he could run a similar type of race at Ascot I would be very pleased.’ Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, starts today with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday. The prestigious festival was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for ‘horses fit for kings’ and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction. Glamorous racegoers pulled out all the sartorial stops as they arrived at Royal Ascot in the sunshine today to kick off the annual celebration in style. As one of the highlights of the racing calendar, the prestigious festival at the Berkshire racecourse is just as famous for its fashion as it is for its races. This year, statement hats were the focal point of revellers’ eye-popping looks as day one of the annual race meeting got underway. Dressed to impress, guests wore a variety of show-stopping headpieces as they descended on Ascot for a day of equestrian fun. Floral prints, modest hemlines and attention-grabbing hats were the order of the day for many, while others looked effortlessly elegant in crisp white dresses and sharp blazers. Whilst no dress code rules apply in the Windsor Enclosure, although the majority of guests choose to dress up regardless, a strict dress code operates across the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures. Hats are a must in both Royal enclosures. Alternatively, a headpiece or ‘hatinator’ with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches (10cm) is also acceptable. Dresses must be knee length or longer and forget spaghetti straps – all shoulders must be a minimum width of 1 inch (2.5cm). Strapless, off-the-shoulder and one shoulder items are also banned. Shorts of any kind are not permitted. But having been included in the dress code since 1971, trouser suits remain a popular choice – although they mustn’t be mismatched. From 2017 onwards, jumpsuits have also been accepted as Ascot worthy, while men must stick to black dress shoes worn with ankle socks, but there are no footwear specifications for women.