Zara Tindall hugs grieving Lady Gabriella Kingston as royals rally around her at Ascot

At today's event, King Charles and Queen Camilla led the procession and Lady Gabriella joined the Princess Royal in the carriage behind them, after the reports that she had been personally invited to attend by The King.

Lady Gabriella looked gorgeous at the annual horse racing event as she donned a pale pink floral dress, a pink hat, and rode in the coach with Princess Anne, Peter Phillips and royal racing manager John Warren.

Queen Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot and her nephew Ben Elliot traveled in the third carriage behind them.

Whilst Zara did not travel in the royal procession she greeted her family warmly and wrapped Lady Gabriella in a warm hug.

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Last year, Lady Gabriella and her husband attended Royal Ascot together and they were photographed with King Charles and Queen Camilla, cheering as they caught the action on the track from the Royal Box.

Kingston died from "a traumatic head wound" in February. A gun was found near his body in an outbuilding at his parents’ home in The Cotswolds.

His funeral took place at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace in March.

At the time Lady Gabriella paid tribute to her husband, describing him as "an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him."

She said his death had come as a "great shock to the whole family".

King Charles and Queen Camilla have shared a joint statement ahead of their appearance at Royal Ascot this week.

Last year, King Charles seemed very emotional when a horse bred by his mother and the late Queen, Desert Hero, clinched victory in the King George V Stakes.

Desert Hero is set to return to Royal Ascot this year, alongside three other horses owned by the Royal Family.

In the sweet message, the King and Queen wrote: "We are delighted to welcome you to Royal Ascot for another week of spectacular racing that draws spectators and viewers from across the globe. Many of the winners will go on to make a significant contribution to the international bloodstock industry and we are pleased that the Royal Meeting continues to play such an important role for breeders. Long may that continue.

"We look forward to the first running of the King Charles III Stakes, formerly the King's Stand Stakes, a race which has been won by some of the world's greatest sprinters in recent years. Delivering a net-zero Village Enclosure last year was a landmark in Ascot's sustainability journey which has led to a range of improvements across the site.

"The Royal Drawing School will be present on the racecourse for the first time, and it will be fascinating to see how the artists capture the essence of this unique race meeting in paintings and drawings. Some of their work will be on display for racegoers to enjoy. It gave us immense pleasure and joy to witness Desert Hero's victory in the King George V Stakes last year, particularly as he was bred by Her late Majesty.

"We wish all the participants this week the very best of luck in seeking that unique thrill of a Royal Ascot winner. We also hope that those here at the racecourse and watching from home will enjoy five days of the finest racing that this sport has to offer."