Carole Middleton, mother to the Princess of Wales, stepped out in style for day 2 of the prestigious Royal Ascot on June 19. Opting for a classy summer vibe, she donned a blue floral-print dress that flowed down to her ankles. While some were enthralled with her radiant look, others felt differently.

Complementing her all-blue ensemble that had a neatly tied bow by the collar, Carole, who was accompanied by her dapperly-dressed husband, Michael Middleton, paired her dress with a matching flower headband hat.

She also wore closed-toe heels that were in a darker shade of blue and carried a dark blue handbag with flowers on it. Accessory-wise, Carole wore beautiful dangling diamond earrings.

Several pictures captured on the day show her happily engaging with the various guests, which notably included her son-in-law, Prince William. Images display the Prince of Wales, who wore a top hat, a lengthy suit jacket, and gray dress pants, embodying his gentleman persona, helping escort Carole around the space.

Observers are divided in their thoughts concerning how Carole appeared at this year’s Royal Ascot. Some believe she did not look her best, posting comments that criticized what she wore.

“No, I don’t like that. It’s frumpy and hides her fantastic figure. Singularly unremarkable,” wrote a social media user. Another agreed, expressing, “Must admit i normally love her outfits but this dress did nothing for her.”

On the other hand, some people thought Carole looked beautiful. They showered her with compliments that praised her appearance. “I adore this dress!!! Perfect for the occasion!! And she looks beautiful!!,” gushed a fan.

Another admirer followed suit, commenting, “Love it!” while someone else simply stated, “Classy!” A fan on Instagram chimed in with, “kate got carole’s looks for sure […] .” Another particularly impressed fan swooned, “The Middleton family look like a really close knit, loving family – that’s the life goals I aspire to.”

Those who had nothing but positive sentiments to express regarding Carole’s classy dress might be interested to know that the lovely garment was designed by Self Portrait. The dress is purchasable online on Endource for $355.68 (£280) and is called the Tie-Neck Floral-Print Chiffon Midi Dress.

Described appropriately as having “an elegant mid-century feel,” Carole’s dress was perfectly paired with her stunning Electra Sky & London Blue Topaz earrings designed by Emily Mortimer Jewellery.

Her chic dark blue, floral purse comes from none other than the popular fashion brand Kate Spade New York. It’s called the Alpine Drive Mackie, comes with the option of a short and long strap, and the price has been marked down to $170.26 (£134). Unfortunately, due to its incredible popularity, the bag is currently out of stock.

Although different in terms of accessories and design, Carole’s outfit somewhat mimics the all-blue look her daughter wore at the Royal Ascot in 2019. Pictures of the princess show her adorning a similar light blue dress that also came fitted with a bow, although hers did not have floral designs on it.

Instead, Princess Catherine’s garment had dot patterns. Additionally, like her mother, she paired her dress with a flower headband but added a blue-brimmed hat on top.

She accessorized with dangling diamond earrings, her gorgeous wedding ring, silver heels, and a matching silver purse.

Although Princess Catherine has not been in attendance for this year’s Royal Ascot, she was recently seen at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London with her family on June 15.

This marked the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since she revealed her battle with cancer back in March of this year (2024).

Princess Catherine, her husband, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were seen arriving at Buckingham Palace, participating in the annual celebration that honors the official birthday of the British Sovereign.

The event, a tradition since 1748 during the reign of King Charles II, showcases over 1,000 soldiers and hundreds of horses in a grand parade.

Princess Catherine dressed elegantly and appeared composed and graceful, engaging in ceremonial activities despite her recent personal challenges.

Observers and supporters of the royal family have praised Princess Catherine’s courage and dignity during this difficult time. Her presence at such a significant public event speaks volumes about her commitment to her royal duties and her determination to maintain a sense of normalcy amid personal health trials.

On June 14, we reported that Princess Catherine opened up about her courageous battle with cancer in a recent heartfelt post she shared on social media. Captured by photographer Matt Porteous, the image depicts Princess Catherine standing beside a majestic tree, highlighting the symbol of resilience amid her treatment.

In her Instagram caption, she expressed profound gratitude to the public, acknowledging the significant impact of their well-intentioned gestures aimed at her and Prince William. She noted, “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement.”

Princess Catherine also discussed the realities of chemotherapy, mentioning, “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

She went on to share her cautious optimism with her fans, writing, “I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer.”

Despite the numerous challenges she has faced, in true Princess Catherine fashion, she remains optimistic and appreciative. She concluded her message with, “Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.”

The absence of Princess Catherine from the public eye sparked widespread concern this year amid speculation among the public and media. Unsurprisingly, the public’s response to the post she shared on June 15 has been overwhelmingly supportive.

In the post’s comment section, one user wrote, “Wishing you lots of health and a steady recovery. Sending you lots of strength and patience ❤️.“ Another called her a “brave woman.”

One Royal fan was delighted that Princess Catherine was resuming her family commitments, commenting, “Happy news that the princess of Wales will be attending Trooping Of The Colour tomorrow morning with husband William and children and the rest of the Royal family.”

While overcoming these obstacles, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis’ parents have maintained their family-first approach. As Royal biographer Ingrid Seward confirmed, “For William, everything hinges on Kate’s well-being.”

The Prince of Wales has no doubt found it very difficult to cope with his wife and father battling cancer at the same time. Although he has resumed his public duties after taking some time off to be with his nuclear family, they remain his top priority.