Cheltenham Festival has long been a favorite among royals, and this year was no different. The Queen attended the Royal Box on Wednesday, the same day Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, caught up with festival regulars Zara and Mike Tindall.
On Friday, Zara—who serves as a director of the Gloucestershire racecourse—was joined by her mother, Princess Anne.
However, the real place to be was the exclusive Holland Cooper box. Dressed in a tailored single-breasted tweed blazer, I couldn’t help but feel like a vision straight out of Jade Holland Cooper’s signature countryside-chic aesthetic.
Upon arrival at the ultra-private Hatton’s Grace box—accessible only via a strictly guarded lift—I found myself stepping in alongside equestrian star Gemma Owen. Inside, top jockey Harry Cobden and racing pundit Megan Nicholls were sharing expert tips with an eager audience.
With a glass of Moët champagne in hand, I caught up with HELLO! favorite Jodie Kidd, effortlessly stylish in a three-piece suit. She and her fiancé, Joseph Bates, had traveled from their home in West Sussex—where her pub, The Half Moon, is gearing up for a busy summer—to stay with Jade and her husband, Julian Dunkerton, at their sprawling Cotswolds estate.
“I’ve known Jade since she had a tiny stall at Olympia, selling these fabulous mini skirts,” Jodie reminisced. A lifelong equestrian enthusiast—her father is the renowned showjumper Johnny Kidd—Jodie had once dreamed of competing in showjumping, but her modeling career took her down a different path. With an ex-racehorse at home, she was eager for an afternoon of top-tier racing.
Broadcaster Clare Balding, dressed in elegant camel tones, was fully immersed in the event—either poring over racing forms with a cup of tea or enthusiastically cheering as the horses thundered toward the finish line. She was joined in the lively atmosphere by journalist Plum Sykes and presenter Nick Knowles, who added to the chorus of excitement.
As champagne magnums popped in celebration, guests enjoyed themed cocktails from the ever-busy bar. While At the Races (an espresso martini) was a popular choice, I opted for an Atelier—a refreshing mix of gin, cucumber, lime, and Cointreau. Among the high-profile attendees was actor Hero Fiennes (nephew of Ralph), as well as the viral sensation Sam Woolfenden—dubbed “the world’s hottest horse farrier” with over a million Instagram followers.
Lily Allen made a stylish appearance, sipping on the trending non-alcoholic beverage of the moment, Guinness 0%. Looking effortlessly chic in an oversized sweater and knee-high boots, her red hair tied back in a ponytail, she was spotted heading to the in-box Tote station to place a bet.
Meanwhile, singer Rebecca Ferguson, a devoted festival-goer, was glued to every race. “We come every year,” she told me, before revealing her latest passion—digital art.
As festival favorite Galopin Des Champs missed out on a third Gold Cup win, it was time to call it a day. A brief encounter with Zara Tindall near the parade ring, deep in conversation, felt like the perfect ending to an unforgettable experience at one of racing’s most prestigious events.
