The Melbourne Cup is a huge event on the Australian social calendar, attracting big-name celebs from around the world. Some of these guests are paid to attend while others are in the country for work and score an invitation to the lavishly decked out Birdcage Enclosure, where VIPs rub shoulders.
Here’s a look back at the biggest international guests to make an appearance at the race that stops the nation.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana was just 24 when she attended the Melbourne Cup in 1985 while she and Prince Charles were on their Royal Tour of Australia. Already a mum-of-two, she wore a monochrome suit from British fashion designer Bruce Oldfield teamed with a hat by Frederick Fox.
“We were all on a steep learning curve, her as a princess and we as a princess dressing company,” designer Oldfield told the SMH. “We all learned quickly and not too many mistakes were made.”
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However, he does admit that the jacket had caused him a few issues. “It was the mid-’80s and the time of very large [shoulder] pads and it was always a problem to fix them firmly into a garment and these looked as if they had somehow slipped.”
Mary and Crown Prince Frederik
Tasmanian-born Aussie Mary Donaldson decided to take her boyfriend to the 2002 Melbourne Cup. He just happened to be Crown Prince Frederik, the future King of Denmark. The couple have now been married for 19 years and have four children together.
Zara Phillips
What’s surprising is that equestrian and horse-lover, Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, has only been to the Melbourne Cup once. Wearing an…
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