King Charles makes surprising decision about Princess Anne's son

King Charles III seems to have given his seal of approval to his nephew Peter Phillips, who joined the royals for the first time in an Ascot carriage procession with his girlfriend Harriet Sperling.

The monarch left fans stunned with his welcoming gesture to the NHS nurse at the annual royal event on Tuesday.  

The royal family put on a untied front on the first day of Royal Ascot as thousands of revellers kicked off the five-day meet in style.

The King and Queen, both fans of racing, looked stunning as they arrived in the famous carriage procession, which is marking its 200th anniversary this year.

Monday's prestigious event also featured a very special guest, as Peter Phillips was accompanied in the third carriage by his girlfriend Sperling after making their debut at the Badminton Horse Trials in 2024.

Harriet, 45, dazzled in an ivory ensemble featuring a cropped jacket with puffed sleeves and matching skirt. She also wore a smart woven hat.

Peter, 47, has been dating Harriet for over a year, after breaking up with his previous partner of three-years, Lindsay Wallace. She was seen deep in conversation with Peter's mother Princess Anne on the balcony at the racecourse.

The invitation to join the procession can be seen as a seal of approval from the King and a very high honour.

According to royal reporter Ian Lloyd, the late Queen Elizabeth didn't include royal girlfriends in the procession unless they were engaged.

Last year, the couple packed on the PDA before meeting with the King and Queen, embarking on their new romance just weeks after his split from Lindsay.

The smitten pair have since attended an array of high society events together, including Wimbledon and the Badminton Horse Trials - as well as Cheltenham Races in January.