Daily Express

Sophie’s so Wessexcite­d

- By Richard Palmer

JUMPING up and down with glee, racecard in hand, the Countess of Wessex looks to have picked a winner for Royal Ascot Ladies’ Day. Sophie, 56, could not conceal her joy during the 3.40 Ribblesdal­e Stakes yesterday. Meanwhile the glamour stakes were well and truly under starter’s orders.

Covid rules limited the crowd to 12,000 and there was no sign of the Queen.

But there were plenty of outlandish outfits to match the thrills of the turf. Princess Anne, 70, and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, 66, led the royal party on the meeting’s third day.

They were joined in the royal box by Sophie in a £1,200 Suzannah embroidere­d palm tree shirt dress and Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, 43.

Mother-of-three Zara, 40, sported a floral Erdem dress and hat by Sarah Cant.

And newly divorced Peter seemed to be enjoying the fun as he chatted to F1 presenter

Natalie Pinkham, 43, a close friend of Zara’s.

Waltzing in for her Ascot debut in a Queens of Archive outfit and Sarah Cant hat was Strictly Come Dancing profession­al Janette Manrara, 37, who said: “I’m so excited.”

Hat maker Lisa Tan, who wore a fuchsia coloured straw and feathers piece, was delighted the event is back after being closed to the public last year. She said: “It’s great to have some normality.”

But fellow milliner Tracy Rose, 60, from London, left, who has been to Royal Ascot for 40 years, was seething after being turned away because her huge art deco-style hat was deemed too big.

She said: “This is 2021, this is all about diversity of people.”

 ??  ?? Wessex whirl... Sophie yesterday and from top left, Peter and Natalie, Janette, Princess Anne and Zara
Wessex whirl... Sophie yesterday and from top left, Peter and Natalie, Janette, Princess Anne and Zara

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