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The five-day Royal Ascot is the Queen’s favourite week of the year and Kate has been known to attend the quintessentially British event in Berkshire in the past.
However, the Duchess of Cambridge was noticeably absent from Ascot’s first day as the Queen was joined by Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan.
In previous years Kate has attended the races, however, the Duchess gave birth to her third child to Prince William in April and has taken time off from royal engagements.
While Kate did make an appearance at Meghan and Harry’s Royal Wedding in May and the Trooping the Colour earlier this month, a royal expert has said it is unlikely fans will see the Duchess at this year’s Ascot.
Royal commentator, Richard Fitzwilliams who was at Ascot today told Express.co.uk: “We know Royal Ascot week with its thrilling racing and glorious kaleidoscope of fashion is the Queen’s favourite of the year and that she goes every day.
“Part of the fun, like placing bets on the colour of the Queen’s hat, is not knowing which members of the Royal Family appear in the splendid royal procession which has been a feature of the royal meeting since 1825.
“Kate is on maternity leave and I’m pretty sure she’ll be with Louis and won’t attend this year.”
Kate waited five years before she made her debut at Royal Ascot with Prince William in 2016 as the pair started their family with Prince George, who was born in 2013.
The Duchess then had Princess Charlotte in May 2015, just one month before that year’s Ascot.
Meghan and Harry received a rapturous welcome from Royal Ascot as the Duchess made her debut at the races.
Also in attendance today was Princess Anne, who today became a grandmother for the fourth time, and Prince Andrew who rode in the carriage with their mother, the Queen.
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cambridge arrived with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie in another carriage.
The Queen’s decision to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows Meghan has well and truly been welcomed into the Firm.
And it comes just days after Meghan was pictured getting on famously with her new grandmother-in-law during a full day of public engagements in Cheshire.
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