The Earl of Snowdon and his girlfriend, Isabelle de la Bruyère, marked an important first on Thursday as they joined the Royal Ascot carriage procession as a couple for the first time.
David Armstrong-Jones, the son of Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, and his partner of two years, Isabelle, received the coveted invitation to travel in the first carriage with King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Berkshire racecourse.
The Earl, 64, is King Charles's first cousin and is believed to have begun dating Isabelle, 54, in the summer of 2024, first attending Royal Ascot last year – though they didn't join the horse-drawn carriage procession.
This year, they have been chosen to join the first carriage during Ladies' Day, where female racegoers famously pull out all the fashion stops.
See the best photos from day three at Royal Ascot and all the royal arrivals below.
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© GettyEarl of Snowdon
David Linley, as the Earl is known professionally, and Isabelle, appeared in bright spirits as they sat in the front seats of the carriage.
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© Getty ImagesChatting to Zara Tindall and Duchess Sophie
After departing their carriage, they were seen chatting to Zara Tindall and Duchess Sophie.
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© Getty ImagesGlamorous outfits
David was wearing a black suit and classic top hat, while Isabelle was in white with a matching hat and black belt tied around her waist.
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© Getty Images for Ascot RacecoursKing Charles and Queen Camilla
King Charles and Queen Camilla were also seated in their carriage, marking their third consecutive day at the racing event.
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© Getty ImagesStanley Tucci
Charles and Camilla also invited Hollywood star Stanley Tucci and his wife Felicity Blunt to join them in the royal box, with the couple riding in the fourth carriage, while the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Royal, and husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were in the second.
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© Samir Hussein/WireImageDuchess Sophie and Princess Anne
Duchess Sophie opted for a dark-toned ensemble for the second day in a row, wearing a navy dress with a sheer neckline, alongside a fantastic ribboned hat.
Anne, who sat next to her, opted for a peach floral design with a silk shirt and a pearl necklace.
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© Samir Hussein/WireImageZara Tindall
Zara Tindall, wearing a gorgeous butter yellow, was in the third carriage without her husband Mike.
She has attended each day of Ascot so far this year, but this is the first time she's joined the carriage procession in 2026.
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© Getty ImagesZara and Carole Middleton
She was later seen in the Royal Box, chatting animatedly with the Princess of Wales's mother, Carole Middleton.
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© PA Images via Getty ImagesKing Charles's wave
The King, wearing a morning suit and purple waistcoat, gave a sprightly wave from his carriage, despite facing disappointment on Tuesday when his horse was unsuccessful at the races.
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© Getty ImagesAn exciting step
David and Isabelle have now been dating for two years since 2024, and joining the Ascot carriage procession is their most high-profile outing to date.
Entering public life
Up until now, David and Isabelle have chosen to keep their new relationship relatively private, only rarely appearing in public, for example, at the Chelsea Flower Show last May, and Royal Ascot last June.
Their latest appearance comes just weeks after they appeared very much part of the royal fold at Peter and Harriet Phillips' wedding in the Cotswolds, attended by senior members of the Firm. They chatted animatedly to the other guests as well as to the Earl's daughter, Lady Margarita.
© Getty ImagesSuch high-profile, consecutive appearances suggest the seriousness of the relationship, which has blossomed through date nights in Mayfair and days out in David's Aston Martin, according to Tatler.
The Earl has two children from his previous marriage to Serena Stanhope, Charles Armstrong-Jones and Lady Margarita. David and Serena separated after 26 years together in 2020.
David is the honorary chairman of auction house Christie's, where Isabelle once worked as a client advisory and international senior director for the chairman's office across the Middle East. More recently, she has been appointed as CEO of the Opera Gallery Group.
Isabelle has a son, whom she has written about publicly.
