King Charles beams as he talks to Kate Middleton's mother

Carole Middleton, the mother of Princess Catherine aka Kate Middleton, was in the stands at Royal Ascot as her daughter pulled out in what was reported as the last-minute changes to the schedule.

The Princess of Wales was to accompany her husband, Prince William and other members of the royal family as King Charles and Queen Camilla led the royal procession on the second day of the five-day event.

Meanwhile, pictures of King Charles and Prince William separately talking to the mother of the future queen emerged online.

Carole Middleton looked relaxed and seemed to be enjoying the races, showing no sign of unrest, suggesting she wasn't dwelling on her daughter's decision to skip the event.

King Charles and Carole were pictured engaging in what appeared to be a lively chat as they were captured laughing in the stands.

Prince William was also photographed while chatting to his mother-in-law in the absence of his wife.

According to Reuters,  Kate was not at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, with a royal source citing her need for balance as she returns to public engagements after being treated for cancer last year.

William, heir to the throne, became part of the royal procession at the horseracing event in southern England later, alongside his father King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The royal source said Kate was disappointed not to be attending.

The princess has gradually been returning to her public royal role after completing a course of preventative chemotherapy last year to address the presence of an unspecified form of cancer.

Royal Ascot sees top horses from around the world compete over five days in races worth up to a million pounds.