Kate Middleton at Cheltenham Races
Kate Middleton spent Cheltenham Gold Cup day at a lunch hosted by the Queen’s Master of the Horse, Lord Vestey. Prince William was absent, presumed training with the Army — not a bad excuse as excuses go.
Pictured in the Royal Box clearly enjoying the thrills and spills of the chase, Kate was easily the centre of attention, even among the thousands of fanatical Irish supporters who come over from the Emerald Isle each year.
Spare a thought for them today, as many will have been carried to trains in a tipsy condition, heading for the port towns of Liverpool or Swansea where ferries will take them back to their horse-mad island.
Come to think of it, Kate looks a little horse-mad too. Could her ongoing riding lessons, or conversations with horse-nut Zara Phillips, have anything to do with it?
We were not told if Kate won anything at Cheltenham, or if her boyfriend had to send extra funds in an armoured car.
This is the first time I find her very very pretty. But she looks like a mix between Liz Hurley and Charlotte Church.
By Lilyfromfrance on March 17th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Charlotte Church is a lot fatter, Lily
But, yes, she’s the same English type as Liz Hurley.
I picked the amusing shots from the photo sequences. Most of the time, she’s quite normal. It was, though, Red Nose Day in Britain yesterday, so I expect she was getting into the mood.
By John on March 17th, 2007 at 10:30 am
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By LifeTimes » Kate Middleton at Cheltenham on March 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, everyone! I think Kate looks wonderful in these photos. I love her blue and brown ensemble.
By Gigi on March 17th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Still no engagement.
By mandy on March 18th, 2007 at 12:47 am
I think she’s lovely and looks very pretty in these photos. She has beautiful eyes to go along with her rather dark complexion. She almost looks exotic. Not the look I am used to seeing in Great Britain. What a pretty young woman. I hope she and William will remain very happy together.
By Positive on March 18th, 2007 at 2:32 am
Yes Mandy, still no engagement, but thats not the moment for that. He have to finish his army thing first, plus Harry is going to war, his mother’s death anniversary is soon, etc.
And I hardly imagine an engagement announcement in the middle of racehorses.
By Lilyfromfrance on March 18th, 2007 at 11:33 am
By Gigi on March 18th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Kate is very pretty, but her looks definitely are not “dark” or “exotic!!!” She has that English Rose look to her—I think her eyes probably just “pop” because of her jacket. Nice photo choice, John. This is the best I’ve seen Kate look in recent times. Good for her!
By Pri on March 19th, 2007 at 1:57 am
She is beautiful to me, I don’t think pictures do her jutice. She has pretty eyes, combined with her dark hair give her a different look. She looks almost ethnic to me because her coloring is darker relatively speaking than most I see from her part of the world. Lots of very fair skinned, red heads, strawberry blondes, etc.
By Positive on March 19th, 2007 at 4:07 am
I would not call Kate “dark” but her skin has that healthy color that is so very attractive. I also think her hair and her eyes are very beautiful.
Actually, she has the same hair and skin coloring that my very handsome husband has (he is definitely DDG) so obviously I like that type of coloring. 
By Gigi on March 19th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
William has dated her for years and still no engagement. Some first loves make it and some don’t, we’ll see with Kate and William, but so far they are together, but still no engagement after 2 years of press hype. They look happy so maybe they have already been silently engaged and just haven’t announced it yet, but each week the press says they are getting engaged. Still no “Official engagement! “
By mandy on March 19th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
William and Kate aren’t in charge of the press hype. They aren’t responsible for it. They have to live with it, just like we all do. I think it’s better for them to wait until the time is right for them, rather than go forward with engagement and marriage at an inopportune time.
They may have learned something from Prince Andrew and Sarah, that love alone may not be enough when duty keeps them apart. They may be waiting until William has completed more of his military training and duties.
By Evelyn on March 20th, 2007 at 1:34 am
I’ve been thinking today about what Kate’s title will be after they’re married. Will Kate be a “princess” right away? If so, would she be “The Princess William”? Will the Queen make William a duke, so Kate can be a duchess, until such time that William becomes Prince of Wales, when Kate would become Princess of Wales? Or are there other options that I’m not aware of? Thanks for any enlightenment.
By Evelyn on March 20th, 2007 at 1:39 am
My recollection is that the second son of the monarch is given the title the Duke of York. That is currently held by Prince Andrew, so it is not available for Prince Harry until after Andrew’s death. When Prince William marries, he will probably be given a Royal Dukedom by the Queen, or Prince William will be made Prince of Wales by Charles, if the Queen has died and Charles is reigning as King George VII by then. I can’t think what is available, though. The Duke of Edinburgh title will pass to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, when Philip dies. The Royal Dukedoms of York, Kent, and Gloucester are already held by others. John, what Royal Dukedom is available for Prince William if he marries prior to Charles’ ascending the throne and vacating the Prince of Wales title? Is there still a Suffolk Dukedom or a Connaught Dukedom or is are those titles held by others?
By Gigi on March 20th, 2007 at 3:24 am
The word is, William will become Duke of Cambridge as a holding title until he gets Prince of Wales. So Kate will initially be HRH Duchess of Cambridge.
By John on March 20th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Thank you both so much!
By Evelyn on March 20th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
By Gigi on March 20th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
There’s also the dukedom of Sussex which was rumoured for Prince Edward. Cumberland, Clarence (last used for the direct heir in the second generation), Connaught and Teck are also extinct and enjoy links to previously to senior royals.
By Stewart on August 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm