A beautiful friendship: Princess of Wales catches up with elegant Lady Gabriella Windsor at Royal Ascot – after supporting her in the wake of her husband Thomas Kingston’s death

Lady Gabriella Windsor enjoyed a warm meeting with the Princess of Wales at Royal Ascot today after the future queen gave her support following the death of her husband Thomas Kingston.

Lady Gabriella, 45, greeted Princess Catherine, 44, along with other senior members of the royal family, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, on the second day of the Berkshire racing event.

It came after her husband, financier Mr Kingston, committed suicide in February and was found dead at his family’s Cotswolds home on February 25, 2024, aged 45.

As a result of the autopsy, it was determined that the person died from a ‘traumatic head wound’ and a gun was found next to his body. However, his death was not deemed suspicious.

In a statement released shortly after his death, his widow described him as ‘an extraordinary man who brightened the lives of everyone who knew him’.

Since his death, the family has campaigned to change the way antidepressants are prescribed and provide greater awareness of possible side effects.

The inquest into his death heard that Mr Kingston had stopped taking medication in the days leading up to his death.

After complaining of difficulty sleeping at the inquest, he was initially prescribed sertraline, a medicine used to treat anxiety and depression, and zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace used by royal family staff.

Coroner Katy Skerrett concluded he took his own life, adding: ‘He was suffering from the adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed.’

Following the findings in December 2024, Lady Gabriella warned about the side effects of drugs used to treat mental health problems, saying: ‘If this can happen to Tom, it can happen to anyone.’

Following her death, the Princess of Wales showed her support by reaching out to Gabriella for help planning her carol concert.

Lady Gabriella was said to be ‘a true member of the singing service team’ and was influential in the selection of musical performances.

Today Gabriella looked elegant in a chic wide-brimmed hat and a sky blue Claire Mischevani coat dress, worth £1,395, as she chatted warmly with the Princess of Wales.

She was also seen greeting fellow members on the green grass of the racetrack while wearing a pair of suede, nude heels, an Aspinall of London bag and white flower-shaped earrings.

Lady Gabriella looked elegant in a stylish wide-brimmed hat and a £1,395 sky blue Claire Mischevani coat dress.

Following the death of her husband Thomas Kingston, the Princess of Wales showed her support by reaching out to Gabriella for help planning her carol concert in 2024.

The Princess of Wales has offered her ongoing support to Lady Gabriella, who previously invited her to bring her expertise as a singer-songwriter to her annual caroling event (Christmas Together).

The insider said she was ‘enjoying her role in the service and thrilled to be a part of it’, while the Princess was ‘incredibly grateful for her contribution’.

A friend added: ‘He was touched and grateful to be asked to contribute to the Princess’s very special concert. He felt honored.”

One of Lady Gabriella’s personal touches was to help engage youth charity Restore the Music, which was played as guests lined up to be served.

Polly Moore, CEO of Restore the Music, said: ‘Lady Gabriella is incredibly passionate about music and helping young people find their voice.

‘He has been an ambassador for us for the last five years and frequently attends our events.

‘When he texted me to ask if I’d be interested, I said, ‘Of course you’re kidding!’ I said.

‘He was incredibly friendly and sounded great throughout the planning process. He’s the most amazing person. I’m extremely grateful to him.’

Lady Gabriella, wearing a sky blue dress and a white hat, was seen having a warm chat with the Princess of Wales.

Gabriella attended the second day of the Royal Ascot race at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire on Wednesday

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales brought sunshine to Royal Ascot by arriving at the races in a bright yellow dress after a two-year absence.

Catherine, 44, joined the family’s carriage procession today alongside her husband, the Prince of Wales, who traveled behind the King and Queen.

Catherine wore the Roksanda dress paired with a matching hat, while Prince William pinned yellow flowers to his lapel to complete his wife’s outfit.

This was the third time Catherine wore the dress, having previously worn it during her State Visit to Jamaica and at the Wimbledon championships in 2022.

Race attendees were delighted to see the Princess ride alongside Prince William, 43, in the second royal carriage after he is forced to skip the race in 2025.

At the time, the Princess of Wales was trying to ‘find the right balance’ following cancer treatment.

The couple were accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, who were in the first carriage behind King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Catherine last attended Ascot in 2023; then the future Queen wore her famous ‘tomato red’ Alexander McQueen dress; This proved that Kate was always one step ahead of fashion trends.

Catherine appeared happy to be back at Windsor Keeping and enjoying the company of other royals, including Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband Daniel Chatto, as well as her mother Carole Middleton.

Carole, 71, cut a chic figure as she wore the pink coat dress, which she first wore to her younger daughter Pippa Middleton’s wedding on May 20, 2017.

The Middleton matriarch appeared to be aging backwards as she redesigned a blush pink Catherine Walker outfit in a similar fashion to her daughter.

Carole paired the designer dress with a matching hat and shoes from Emmy London as she happily posed for a photo alongside Alizee Thevenet.

The King, Queen and Princess Anne, as well as Mike and Zara Tindall, were also present on the first day of Royal Ascot.

But yesterday all eyes were on Harriet Sperling as she made her official debut as a member of the Royal Family following her ‘intimate’ wedding to Peter Phillips in the Cotswolds less than two weeks ago.

The 45-year-old athlete was all smiles as he chatted with participants in the garden of the Berkshire-based racecourse

Gabriella looked elegant in a sky blue Claire Mischevani coat dress worth £1,395.

The new Mrs. Peter Phillips joined the traditional carriage procession when he arrived at the racetrack in his second all-terrain vehicle, accompanied by his wife and mother-in-law, the Princess Royal.

Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, kicked off yesterday with the Queen Anne Stakes and King Charles III Stakes and continues until Saturday.

The prestigious festival is as famous for its fashion as it is for horse racing, and this year, flashy hats were the focus of revelers’ dazzling looks on the first day of the annual racing meeting.

Dressed to impress, guests wore a variety of eye-catching headgear as they descended on Ascot for a day of equestrian fun.

The festival was founded by the Queen Mother in 1711 after she declared Ascot to be ideal for ‘horses fit for kings’, and today it has become both a major social event and a sporting attraction.