Prince William rescues mother-in-law Carole Middleton after Royal Ascot mishap
The Prince of Wales displayed his touching bond with his in-laws, Carole and Michael Middleton, as the Princess of Wales's parents joined him at Royal Ascot on Wednesday – and Prince William even helped out his mother-in-law as she suffered a relatable mishap.
Photographs captured the moment that William helped Carole as she got her heel stuck in the grass inside the parade ring at the Berkshire racecourse.
The Prince was seen holding his mother-in-law's hand as she freed her shoe, with the pair laughing off the incident together.
Carole, 69, looked beautiful in a pale blue floral shirt dress from Self-Portrait with pussy-bow detailing, teaming the frock with a matching headband and navy accessories.
Husband Michael, who will celebrate his 75th birthday on 23 June, donned a morning suit with pinstriped trousers and a pale blue waistcoat to complement Carole's attire.
READ MORE: WATCH: Live from Royal Ascot
The Middletons' day at the races comes amid a difficult year for the couple following the collapse of their family business, Party Pieces, and daughter Kate's cancer diagnosis.
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It marked the first time Carole and Michael had been seen publicly since last December when they attended the Princess of Wales's Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
The pair have been supporting their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren as Kate continues her course of preventative chemotherapy.
Carole, who resides at Bucklebury Manor at Berkshire, was pictured driving her daughter Kate through Windsor in March and also spent the Easter holidays with the Wales family at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.
The businesswoman was spotted during a low-key outing at a local pub with Prince William during George, Charlotte and Louis' school break.
Carole and Michael have known William since their daughter Kate began dating the Prince in 2003 during their university days at St Andrews in Scotland.
In their engagement interview in 2010, William said of his in-laws: "Kate's got a very, very close family. I get on really well with them and I'm very lucky that they've been so supportive.
"Mike and Carole have been really loving and caring and really fun and have been really welcoming towards me so I've felt really a part of the family and I hope that Kate's felt the same with my family."
Meanwhile, Kate said of meeting then Prince Charles: "I was quite nervous about meeting William's father, but no, he was very, very welcoming, very friendly, it couldn't have gone easier really for me."
The Princess of Wales delighted royal watchers as she made her first public appearance amid her cancer treatment at Trooping the Colour last Saturday.
In a personal message on the eve of the King's birthday parade, Kate said she had made "good progress" but that her treatment plan is expected to be ongoing for the next few months and she is "not out of the woods yet".
