Kate Middleton's dress double up at Royal Ascot

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen and members of the royal family on the first day of races at Royal Ascot.

Kate, 37, looked chic in a powder blue custom Elie Saab skirt and blouse combo retailing for AU$6,600 (£3600), with a saucer-style hat by milliner Philip Treacy.

The top appears to be a customised piece with added sheer sleeves, based on Elie Saab’s Resort 2019 collection.

Kate completed her race day look with her Kiki McDonough topaz earrings and a pair of silver heels.

Powder blue seemed to be the colour of the day, with the Queen also wearing the same shade, along with Princess Beatrice.

Beatrice, 30, wore a lacy Maje dress very similar to Kate’s but with shorter sleeves and a bow around the waist rather than at the neck.

It also came in at a fraction of the price, retailing at $575 (£315).

The colour of the day

The Queen, Kate and Beatrice weren’t the only royals feeling blue for the races, with Princess Eugenie, 29, and Zara Tindall, 38, both wearing complementary shades.

Eugenie opted for a sleeveless look by Calvin Klein which she paired with a yellow hat, while her cousin Zara chose an Australian label with a $1,200 (£667) blue floral dress by Zimmerman.

Did Kate break the dress code?

There’s a strict dress code at Ascot and the Duchess of Cambridge’s outfit came very close to the line.

Strapless and sheer dresses and tops are not permitted in the Village Enclosure - meaning Kate’s sheer sleeves might be deemed to be against the rules.

Fortunately, the duchess is standing in the Royal Enclosure and the guidelines for that area don’t mention that sheer dresses and tops are not allowed.

Similarly, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, also wore a dress with semi-sheer sleeves.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.