Stanley Tucci makes a surprise appearance at Ascot 2026
King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by an unexpected guest during the third day of Royal Ascot on June 18, 2026. The royal couple arrived at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire in the first horse-drawn carriage of the Royal Procession, continuing a tradition closely associated with the event. Following behind them were Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Zara Tindall, and an important guest: Stanley Tucci! The American actor traveled in the fourth carriage alongside his wife, Felicity Blunt, and royal family friends Lord and Lady Cavendish.
The King & Queen are joined in the Royal Procession on Gold Cup day by The Princess Royal, Willie Mullins, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Zara Tindall & Stanley Tucci! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/wwBok1OEpB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2026
The royal couple has built a friendship with Tucci
Tucci’s appearance was sudden, but not entirely unexpected for those familiar with his recent interactions with the King and Queen. In February 2025, Charles and Camilla welcomed Tucci and Blunt to Highgrove House for a dinner celebrating the Slow Food and Slow Fashion movements before the royal couple’s trip to Italy. Their reunion included top-tier guests such as David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Helen Mirren, and Donatella Versace. The Devil Wears Prada 2 actor and the British monarch found each other again in the January premiere of the documentary Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision at Windsor Castle and later reunited with the royal couple at a Queen’s Reading Room reception in March.
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Royal Ascot remains an important royal tradition
Royal Ascot continues to be a special event in the royal family’s annual calendar. The 2026 edition of the event will run from June 16 through June 20, with King Charles and Queen Camilla attending each day so far. The tradition reflects the late Queen Elizabeth’s passion for horse racing, as 24 of her racehorses won at Ascot during her 70-year reign.
