Lady Kitty Spencer returns to the Melbourne Cup

Princess Diana’s niece Lady Kitty Spencer will take part in the Melbourne Cup festivities for her third time, only this year’s visit will be virtual as a judge for the Myer Fashions on your Front Lawn Millinery Award.

On the panel assessing the merits of wide-brimmed wonders and the inevitable feathered fascinators, Lady Spencer, 30, will join renowned English milliner Stephen Jones, who works with Christian Dior, Gucci and topped off Rihanna’s recent and relatively restrained Met Gala look.

“The award is a wonderful opportunity for Australia’s most talented milliners to showcase their creativity and technical skill,” Lady Spencer said by email.

“I have always loved embracing the glamour and joy of dressing up for the races and wearing an incredible headpiece. In particular, I have such wonderful memories of my visits to the Melbourne Cup Carnival as a guest of the Victoria Racing Club and their principal partner Lexus.”

Lady Spencer attended the Melbourne Cup in 2015 and again in 2019. Since those appearances she has been working as a global ambassador for Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, wearing their designs at her July wedding to millionaire fashion retailer Michael Lewis, 61, in Rome.

“Judging alongside world renowned milliner and friend Stephen Jones is an honour and I look forward to seeing all the entries from across Australia.”

For Jones, fresh from working with Christian Dior at Paris Fashion Week, it’s an opportunity to reunite with the aristocratic Lady Spencer as well as Australia’s hat-wearing population.

“I feel a little bit like her uncle,” Jones, 64, said. “We are friends. She is a gorgeous person and knows how to wear clothes very well.”