10 hours ago
King and Queen arrive at Royal Ascot
The King and Queen recalled the 'thrill of victory' as they arrived at Royal Ascot for the opening day of the glamorous sporting event.
Their Majesties led the traditional carriage procession as they swept onto the Berkshire course to loud cheers from the crowd.
They were joined by horse breeder Prince Faisal bin Salman Al Saud and Lady Sarah Keswick, one of the Queen's closest confidantes, for the first of five days of racing.
In their traditional message to guests, the King and Queen referred to their triumph in 2023, when their horse, Desert Hero, won the King George V Stakes, marking their first Royal Ascot winner as owners.
'Having experienced the thrill of victory at Royal Ascot ourselves in 2023, we can only wish all those competing this week the very best of luck and that everyone watching has a most enjoyable five days,' they said.
Riding behind the King and Queen in the second carriage was the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Wellington, and the Queen's sister, Annabel Elliot.
Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips and his girlfriend, Harriet Sperling, were in the third carriage, joined by author Anthony Horowitz and his wife, Jill.
The Queen's Reading Room, Camilla's book club and charity, with which Horowitz is closely associated, has an exhibition stand at Ascot for the first time that will encourage visitors to take a break from the hustle and bustle and 'sit back and relax with a book'.
The King and Queen said they hoped it would be of interest 'and that the delights of reading might even serve to enhance the pleasures of riding...'
Riding in the fourth carriage was barrister Henry Morton Jack and his wife, Lady Joanna, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Halifax, alongside Lord and Lady Vestey.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition which began during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
The King and Queen lost out on a winner last year but will be hoping for victory in the Ascot Stakes, when their horse Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins, takes on other thoroughbreds.
Mullins, reflecting on the thoroughbred's narrow defeat at Leopardstown racecourse in Ireland, said: 'I've been very happy since his first run, he did everything nicely at Leopardstown and if he could run a similar type of race at Ascot I would be very pleased.'
Queen Elizabeth II was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
The King and Queen have taken on her stable of horses and were visibly emotional when Desert Hero triumphed in 2023.
