Mike Tindall places cheeky hand on Zara’s bum at Royal Ascot

Zara and Mike Tindall once again cemented their reputation as the PDA royals on Thursday as the rugby player couldn’t resist placing a hand on his wife’s behind at Royal Ascot. 

King Charles’s niece, 43, beamed as she arrived in a carriage alongside the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon. 

And Zara stole the show at Ladies’ Day in a dazzling blue dress, joined by her rugby-playing husband Mike Tindall who was smart in a grey suit and top hat. 

The couple, who have long been known for their affectionate displays, were seen deep in conversation – while Mike placed a cheeky hand on Zara’s bum. 

Meanwhile Zara gently supported Mike’s hand, in a sweet and loved-up display of affection.  

King Charles and Queen Camilla were also present at the Berkshire event, joining the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in their carriage. 

Though turned out in blue, Zara’s spirits were far from such as she stepped out of the carriage for another day at the races. 

She opted for the stunning Rebecca Vallance Juliana Puff Sleeve dress in a cornflower blue shade, which was smartly tailored with a belt and a plait around the neckline. 

She added a smart matching hat, while her accessories included shades of white in her pearl earrings, clutch and heels. 

Power couple Zara and Mike were seen deep in conversation while waiting for the races, in what is set to be another thrilling day of action. 

They are fond of affectionate public displays – and notably shared cheeky smooches and loved-up touches at Cheltenham Festival this March.  

The two are known for their friendly relationships with everyone in the Royal Family, marking themselves as key players binding members of the Firm together. 

They have a close relationship with the Wales’s, while Zara has a close bond with her cousins Beatrice and Eugenie.  

Also attending on Thursday was Zara’s mother Princess Anne – who is also an Olympic Equestrian – and her husband Sir Admiral Timothy Laurence.

The daughter of billionaire Aga Khan’s, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, joined the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in another carriage. 

Princess Margaret’s children, the Earl of Snowden and Lady Sarah Chatto also joined the royal procession.

Glamorous racegoers have put their best fashion foot forward as they arrived at Royal Ascot in the sunshine today to kick off Ladies Day.

Floral summer dresses, vibrant frocks and eye-catching headpieces were all on display as thousands of revellers descended on the Berkshire racecourse this morning. 

Showstopping headwear appeared to be the order of the day, with radiant racegoers showcasing an array of fabulous fascinators and quirky hats.

One guest decided to stand out from the crowd with a balloon-themed headpiece, while another opted for a firework-themed creation.

Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday. 

Radiant guests turned the racecourse into a sea of colourful ensembles as they stepped out for the prestigious occasion. 

Those trying to command attention amongst the crowd of thousands opted for unique headwear – including a unicorn-themed creation and even an owl design. 

Novelty hats appeared to be the biggest trend of the day, with one person turning up with a burger inspired hat and another showing off a chessboard fascinator.

The wacky, gravity-defying style of hats are permitted in most of the areas at Ascot, except from the Royal Enclosure.

‘A hat or headpiece with a solid base of four inches in diameter is mandatory in the Royal Enclosure,’ explained the Royal Ascot website. 

‘Fascinators are not permitted. Novelty hats (i.e. ones which are excessively oversized, or are promoting or marketing any product or brand) are not permitted.’ 

This year’s meeting will have an overall prize-money pot of £10million. This is a record amount for Royal Ascot. The minimum winnings for all eight Group 1 races will be £650,000. 

It was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for ‘horses to gallop at full stretch’ and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction. 

For the first time in its 313-year history, Ascot Racecourse announced this year the appointment of a creative director.