Carole Middleton Attends the Races Wearing Princess Kate’s Hat

Carole Middleton attends the Cheltenham races — (Image credit: Alamy)

Princess Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, live a quiet, low-key life in Bucklebury, Berkshire, filled with cozy dinner parties, grandparent duties, and dog walks. Despite staying away from the public glare of being a royal relative, Carole Middleton can’t resist a day at the races. She’s a regular attendee at Ascot every summer, and just stepped out for a day at the Cheltenham Races.

Alongside Queen Camilla and Zara Tindall, the Middleton matriarch enjoyed a day of very British horse races on a sunny afternoon. The Cheltenham Races aren’t an official royal event, but are often attended by the horse-enthusiasts of the royal family, alongside major celebrities like Henry Cavill, Geri Halliwell-Horner, and Idris Elba. The dress code is less floral frocks and fabulous millinery, and is instead all about tweeds, trilbys, and country attire.

James Nesbitt, Natalie Pinkham, Carole Middleton attending day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Wednesday March 11, 2026. — Carole Middleton wears a Hicks & Brown hat to the Cheltenham Races.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on January 5, 2020 in King&amp;apos;s Lynn, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) — Princess Kate wore the same Hicks & Brown hat in 2020.

3E08NRP (left to right) Queen Camilla, Carole and Michael Middleton and Zara Tindall (second from right) on day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Wednesday March 11, 2026. — Carole Middleton watches the races alongside Queen Camilla and Zara Tindall.

Carole Middleton took a style note out of her daughter’s royal wardrobe, pairing a classic plaid navy coat with a navy fedora featuring feather trim. The “Suffolk” fedora is designed by British countrywear brand Hicks & Brown, and features a circlet of natural bronze feathers and the brand’s iconic gold logo. Princess Kate has worn the same hat in navy blue, and a similar style in dark green. Duchess Sophie also owns the same hat, in a beige color, proving that the Hicks & Brown Suffolk fedora is the perfect British country princess style.

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In a surprising style moment, Carole Middleton effortlessly carried an iconic Hermès Birkin bag to the day at the races. The black bag—if one could call an Hermès Birkin just “a bag”—is crafted from black ostrich skin and features gold hardware. While Carole’s bag looks like it might be a vintage or pre-loved style, similar Birkin bags, even secondhand, retail for about $40,000. Neither Princess Kate nor her sister, Pippa Middleton Matthews, have been seen sporting the legendary French brand, making this a truly personal style statement from Carole Middleton.

Christine Ross is a freelancer writer, royal expert, broadcaster and podcaster. She's worked with news outlets including the BBC, Glamour, Talk TV, ET, PBS, CNN and 20/20 to cover the foremost royal events of the last decade, from Prince George’s birth to the coronation of King Charles III.

She previously served as co-host of Royally Us, a weekly royal podcast by Us Weekly. As a freelance writer and royal commentator she provides expert commentary, historical context and fashion analysis about royal families worldwide, with an emphasis on the British Royal Family.