Princess Eugenie ripped up the royal rule book in style at the weekend as she showed off her toned figure at Royal Ascot.
Instead of her usual flowing frocks, Eugenie chose to highlight her slim physique in somewhat of an unusual choice for a royal – a crop top.
The 35-year-old posed proudly in the short, brown top and cinched, high-waisted skirt in a photograph shared to Instagram.
Following the birth of her two children – August, four, in 2021, and Ernest, two, in 2023 – the art gallery director is seemingly redefining her style to highlight her increasingly toned figure.
While Eugenie tends to keep information on her fitness regime private, she has previously shared details regarding how she likes to stay healthy.
Ahead of her royal wedding to Jack Brooksbank in 2018, Eugenie embarked on a dedicated fitness regime that saw her get up every day at 6.45AM so she could start exercising by 7AM.
‘I go to the park from seven to eight. I do circuits, which I love because they’re quick: burpees, squat jumps, lunges, the whole lot,’ she told Harper’s Bazaar.
‘It’s much better, as I can’t run for a long time. Or I go with my best friend to this amazing, women-only gym called Grace Belgravia.’
Grace Belgravia in London’s Knightsbridge offers everything from GP services to dinner and a massage under one roof, exclusively for women.
The very swanky club houses Britain’s top celebrity facialist, leading nutritionists, personal trainers – and even gynaecologists – within its 11,500 square feet of serene surroundings.
In addition to working out, Eugenie reportedly once hired the help of a nutritionist for diet advice.
According to the Daily Mail’s Consultant Showbusiness Editor, Katie Hind, Eugenie previously sought the expertise of nutritionist Gabriella Peacock.
Gabriella, a former model who has worked as a nutritional therapist for over a decade, is often considered to be high society’s nutritionist, and Prince Harry also reportedly hired her ahead of his nuptials.
The nutritionist, based in the Cotswolds, offers a range of powders with names such as Slim Me, Clean Me, and Protein Me.
Elsewhere, in 2023, Eugenie opened up about the pressure to get her figure back after pregnancy in conversation with Jessie and Lennie Ware on the Table Manners podcast.
‘On the post-baby body thing – it sends me mad, but I find it really hard to shake baby weight,’ she said.
She added, ‘I guess society dictates that you have to shake your baby weight and all that stuff.’
The royal explained that she had given up dairy and gluten in support of her husband Jack Brooksbank who was advised to cut them from his diet by a gut specialist because he was suffering from migraines.
The couple now split their time between the UK and Portugal, which gives the family to live an outdoorsy lifestyle.
And just two years after she welcomed her youngest child into the world, Eugenie appears happier than ever, and put on an elegant display at Royal Ascot last week.
Her beaming mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, who was persona non grata among the Royals for years until King Charles softened the approach towards Prince Andrew’s ex, looked fashionable in a trendy monochrome polka dot frock.
Not to be outdone, Camilla, 77, oozed glamour in a white chiffon dress with embroidered flowers from Anna Valentine, paired with a feathered Philip Treacy hat.
The King and Queen were joined by Camilla’s old school friend Lady Cavendish and her husband Lord Cavendish in their coach during the traditional carriage procession along the course.
Among the guests travelling in the carriages were the former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad, the Queen’s Companion the Marchioness of Lansdowne and musical maestro Lord Lloyd-Webber.
Eugenie’s husband Jack was also spotted in the parade ring alongside former defence secretary Ben Wallace when the royal procession arrived in the exclusive area.
The late Queen was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
Charles and Camilla have taken on her stable of horses and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot winner in 2023 when their horse Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.
His Majesty’s appearance came after the Princess of Wales sparked concern as she pulled out of attending the festival last Wednesday, apparently at the last minute.
But royal sources insisted there was nothing to worry about and that it was simply a case of crossed wires.
Aides also stressed that Catherine was continuing to ‘balance her return to public life’ following her cancer diagnosis last year, after which she made clear that she would resume her duties with a slow and measured approach.
The mini-drama came as her husband, Prince William, handed out the prize for the Prince of Wales stakes at the racecourse in Berkshire.
Executives at Ascot had expected the princess to join him, travelling down in the carriage procession from Windsor Castle with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
At 12pm they issued the procession list for the day, featuring the Prince and Princess of Wales in the second carriage after the King and Queen.
But 22 minutes later, guidance was issued which said Catherine would not be attending. It is understood an ‘inaccurate version’ of the list was ‘issued in error’.
An updated list was circulated and Lord Soames – a good friend of the King – lost his seat to make way for William in the first carriage with Charles and Camilla. They were also joined by Saudi’s Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud.
Sources stressed there was ‘no cause for alarm’ and Catherine was following guidance palace aides have always given: that she would ‘balance her return to public duties’, following appearances at Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter service.
They added that she was ‘disappointed’ not to attend but ‘has to find the right balance’.
Catherine, 43, had abdominal surgery last January, after which she was told cancer had been present, forcing her to undergo preventive chemotherapy.
At the beginning of this year she revealed she was in remission and would begin a slow and measured return to royal life.
While Catherine was not present at Ascot, Charles and Camilla were there for the second day running and plan to attend all week.
