Flat-cap Zara shuns elaborate fashions for Ladies Day

For Royal bride-to-be (Number Two) Zara Phillips, the answer yesterday was to avoid the elaborate feather and lace contraptions adorned by so many women at the famous race meeting, and opt instead for a traditional flat cap that her Yorkshire fiancé might have been proud of – albeit with a flash of flowery colour pinned to the top.

Miss Phillips, the Queen’s eldest granddaughter, complemented the look with a black, belted coat and red clutch bag.

There was no sign of fiancé Mike Tindall, however, after the England rugby captain injured ankle ligaments in his team’s win over Scotland on Sunday.

The couple will marry in Edinburgh this summer in the year’s second Royal wedding.

Miss Phillips looked far more understated than many of her fellow attendees at the second day of Cheltenham yesterday, with the usual Ladies Day combinations of gorgeous, glamorous and downright garish on full display.

Many of the women were hoping to catch the eye of judges ahead of a fashion awards presentation later in the afternoon. The awards were presented by television actress Claire Sweeney, who herself wore an eye-catching pink dress.

Miss Phillips should not have been the only Royal in attendance at Cheltenham yesterday – Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had been due to present the trophy to the winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but was unable to attend.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House said: “The Duchess is unwell with a stomach bug, so unfortunately she had to cancel her appearance in Cheltenham.”