Behind the Scenes of - Getting the Royals Royal Ascot Ready with Lukas Kroulik

The Lanesborough, London

Lukas Kroulik has been styling European Royals for Ascot and other highlights of the elite social calendar for almost a decade.

This year he is working with Hon. Ella Mountbatten and her mother Penny as they prepare to join the Royal Enclosure at the Ascot Races. Lukas decided that MaxMara‘s unstructured double georgette tunic would create the perfect image for Lady Penny. This has wonderful transparent, tone-on-tone silk georgette sleeves, a floaty shape with shiny envers satin details on the lapel collar and cuff with wide-fitting pleated trousers made with lightweight sablé georgette. Meghan Markle has been wearing MaxMara in London earlier this year, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex told Penny that now was the right time to break older royal traditions and wear a trouser suit for Ascot this year.

Ella Mountbatten styled by Lukas Kroulik.

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Lukas chose Costarellos’ Spring Summer 2018 Collection Embroidered Tulle Tea Length Ball Dress in Riviera Blue for Ella to express her playful bohemian look. Lukas spotted Meghan Markle’s TV co-star dressed from this collection at the Royal Wedding in May. With MaxMara‘s stunning design they epitomise the contemporary, confident mother and daughter setting out on the social scene together, looking their very best for Ascot, where they and their Royal cousins will be seen by the whole world.

Complementing their dress are beautiful hats designed by Lukas’ close friend, the late John Boyd MBE, Royal Milliner, whose designs Princess Diana adored and are worn today by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge. John’s team, led by Sarah Marshall, carry on his inspiration with colour palettes and structures that are the ideal match with MaxMara and Costarellos’ designs.

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Lady Penny Mountbatten styled by Lukas Kroulik.

This year, for the first time, Lukas decided to capture the whole behind the scenes experience of creating that look for Lady Penny and her daughter Ella, telling the story in these images. Ascot is of course a highlight of the traditional London Season which in past times had British debutantes entering the grown-up aristocratic world. Styling Ella and Lady Penny shows how a debut can be at any stage of a woman’s life. “It has been a privilege to style, coach and choreograph to help make that possible”, says Lukas.

Lukas Kroulik and Eliska Sky at the Royal Suite at the Lanesborough.

Lukas Kroulik, photographer Eliska Sky and artist Moon (featured in British Vogue).

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