Looking every inch the City gent from the days before the “Big Bang” in the financial square mile, Prince Harry demonstrated the Royal way to sport a bowler hat yesterday.

Unembarrassed by his less than trendy headgear, and in a City suit complete with umbrella, the Prince strutted his stuff at a parade commemorating veterans of World War One. He was making his first appearance at the annual Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association Parade in Hyde Park, London.

A wreath was laid in memory of fallen members of the Cavalry before a memorial service was held.

Bowlers and suits are worn to reflect the “proper order of dress” which applied before World War One.

The Queen shopping at the RWHS.

Where else are you able to combine top sporting action, with a venue so unique that it’s open to the public for just four days a year?

The answer is the Royal Windsor Horse Show, set for the second year in the Private Grounds of Windsor Castle. Following on from its success last year, the event launched and incorporated The Royal Windsor Food and Drink Festival for the first time.

The official account says: “Family Entertainment, wonderful shopping, fabulous restaurants, rich equine tradition and sporting excellence make this the event and place to visit in May.”

From the pictures in the media of a smiling Queen, obviously enjoying the whole event hugely, this year’s show was a great success.

The UK Sunday newspaper The People is reporting that Kate Middleton has offered to help Chelsy Davy in her long-distance relationship with Prince Harry.

The paper comments: “Prince William’s girlfriend has offered to be a mentor to his brother Harry’s blonde love … Caring Kate Middleton, 24 — seen as the perfect role model — is keen that 20-year-old Chelsy Davy’s … relationship with Harry survives.”

Apparently, Kate has told Chelsy she can stay at her London flat anytime she likes. The Princes were spotted with their girlfriends at the upmarket Boujis club in Kensington on Thursday night.

The People quotes a “Royal source”: “Kate has been particularly good to Chelsy, offering her advice on how to dress and behave at certain functions and giving her tips on how to behave when with the Princes and their family. The most amazing step is that Kate has told Chelsy she can live with her at her London flat and move her things in if she wants. Chelsy often comes to London and it would be useful for her to have a permanent base here.”

The source added: “No one was sure Kate and Chelsy would get on because they come from different backgrounds. But they’ve become good friends.”

Prince William’s chilli-pepper shorts, thought to be a gift from girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are apparently by Vilebrequin, makers of the most coveted swimming trunks, claims the Telegraph.

“The French shorts, which were first produced in St Tropez during the Seventies and quickly adopted by the jet set, have, once again, become the only beachwear for those in the know, who include Russell Crowe and Hugh Grant.”

They have appeared in glossy fashion shoots in Vanity Fair and Vogue, and such is the brand’s popularity that its boutiques around the world regularly sell out. Even Tony Blair couldn’t dent their appeal when he took them on holiday last year. Their real selling point, though, is the bold and colourful prints, which feature everything from flora and fauna to kangaroos and koalas. To ensure exclusivity, all the prints are designed by an in-house team, and, once they are sold out, no more pairs are produced.

The swimwear has a suitably exclusive price tag: basic styles sell for £89 ($170), limited-edition pairs identified by a silver tag on the drawstrings, start from £125 ($238).

Why then was William ridiculed for wearing these garish baggy pantaloons? The answer is never to believe all you’re told, especially by so-called fashion experts.