Cheltenham Festival 2024 has officially begun, and jumps racing aficionados have descended on the Cotswolds resplendent — despite the intermittent downpours.
Wednesday’s arrivals were led by none other than Queen Camilla, who opted for a forest green wool trench coat and a tweed and faux fur trim hat for the occasion. It made up part of a large Royal Family attendance, on the day of the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The Princess Royal, who wore a beige Chevron wool coat and camel trilby, was also present — and for the second day running, her daughter Zara Tindall, wearing a navy pinstripe suit with burgundy blouse and matching headpiece, cheered on runners. Day two, which is “Style Wednesday” (formally known as “ladies day,” but this year went genderless to various wails of “woke!”) meant all guests — including Emma Louise Connolly and husband Oliver Proudlock — dressed up in an attempt to win best dressed.
Tindall, who is a keen fan of the four day affair, led stylish arrivals on day one alongside her husband Mike wearing a navy cape-coat by Karen Millen and Stuart Weitzman knee-high black suede boots. She finished her day one outfit with a striking grey fur felt headpiece complete with veil and dramatic feather — £395 from milliner Victoria Charles.
Another festival fanatic is Jade Holland Cooper, founder of country-favourite and Princess of Wales-approved fashion label Holland Cooper. The wife of Superdry co-founder Julian Dunkerton made her 2024 Cheltenham debut in a three-piece Holland Cooper ‘Tawny’ suit, matching trench coat, shirt and red tie — all see now, buy now.
ITV racing presenter Francesa Cumani is a regular face at the festival, and explains “the jumps [racing] season is different to the flat in the sense that all roads really do lead to Cheltenham. It’s the absolute pinnacle of the season and everyone wants to have a horse competing there. That’s partly because it’s a great social occasion which attracts a huge number of racing fans. The Cheltenham roar (from the crowd) really is a must experience thing when the horses set off for the first race on the first day of the festival, it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!”
As for what to wear, “Cheltenham is quite tricky because you’re limited by the weather so it’s hard to get away from the standard coat, boots and hat look so it’s about being creative whilst not freezing,” she says. “There are no official rules when it comes to dressing at Cheltenham or any of the jockey club racecourses so there’s no obligation to wear a hat but you can have a bit of fun with one.”
Cheltenham Festival continues until Friday.
The best looks at Cheltenham Festival 2024:
