How Onlookers Got Kate Middleton and Prince William's Attention at Royal Ascot
How Onlookers Got Kate Middleton and Prince William's Attention at Royal Ascot
Janine HenniWed, June 17, 2026 at 8:03 PM UTC
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Prince William and Kate Middleton on day two of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026 in Ascot, England.Credit: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty -
Kate Middleton and Prince William shared lighthearted moments with fans during the Royal Ascot horse races
Princess Kate wore a bright yellow dress and hat, marking her first return to Ascot since her cancer remission
Prince William engaged with fans about his favorite soccer team, Aston Villa, sharing laughs and a celebratory fist pump
Royal Ascot guests managed to catch Kate Middleton and Prince William's attention before the pageantry began.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the second day of the Royal Ascot horse races together on June 17 and shared some lighthearted banter with onlookers as they got situated in their horse-drawn carriage for the Royal Procession.
As seen in a video shared to Instagram by King's Guard Tours, a fan behind the camera told Princess Kate, 44, that she "looked gorgeous."
"Thank you! I'm hoping the sun stays out," the royal replied, which made people chuckle.
The Princess of Wales brought the sunshine to Royal Ascot in a bright yellow Roksanda Brigitte dress with a matching hat, which conveniently featured a veil that could assist with sun cover.
Princess Kate's Ascot appearance marked her first return to the race day since 2023. She skipped the social outing in 2024 while receiving treatment for cancer and didn't go again last year. Kate shared in January 2025 that she was in remission and has gradually resumed royal duties since.
Kate Middleton on day two of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire. Picture date: Wednesday June 17, 2026.Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty
Prince William, 43, also engaged with onlookers on a hot topic: soccer!
"William, Up the Villa," someone said in another video shared by King's Guard Tours, dropping a popular rallying cry for fans of Aston Villa, the prince's go-to soccer team.
"Oh, oh," the Prince of Wales replied and pointed out to the crowd, which made everyone laugh, including Princess Kate.
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"I think people are saying that now," the royal joked about the phrase's traction. "Are you?", he asked, referring to the Aston Villa fandom.
The fellow fan seemingly signaled so, as the heir to the throne clenched his hand into a festive fist pump.
"Good season," William said with a laugh — and a wink!
The Prince of Wales has supported the Aston Villa F.C. team for years and recently traveled to Turkey with friends to watch them win the UEFA Europa League Final against German team SC Freiburg.
Prince William and Kate Middleton laugh as they attend day two of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026 in Ascot, England.Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
The heir to the throne felt all the emotions during the May 21 game in Istanbul and used the shorthand for "Up the Villa" in a celebratory social media message later.
Prince William has gotten his kids, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, in on the Villa passion, and Princess Kate revealed that they were allowed to stay up late to watch a key game earlier in the season.
The Prince and Princess of Wales seemed to enjoy themselves at the Ascot races on Tuesday and shared a rare shot of themselves behind the scenes.
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"A wonderful day at Royal Ascot. W & C," they wrote below the photo that showed them standing together in their Ascot finery, using the letters of their first names as abbreviation to reflect the message came directly from them.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
