The Royal Ascot is Britain’s annual horseracing festival and a significant event for the royal family. It has been a staple in the summer social calendar of the royals since 1711 when Queen Anne established the annual race meeting.
Members Of The Royal Family Are Allowed In The Royal Enclosure
It is a five-day event and England’s equivalent to the Kentucky Derby, except it is more formal, proper, and prestigious. The opening day of the Royal Ascot this year was June 18th.
Each day of racing starts with the Royal procession from Windsor Castle, where the King, Queen, and accompanying members of the royal family come to the track in horse-drawn carriages.
Members of the royal family are allowed in the Royal Enclosure, established in 1822, when the area was explicitly reserved for the family and guests of King George IV to see the first running of the gold cup.
The Royal Enclosure gives them access to a private trackside viewing lawn. The royals are expected to follow a special dress code during this event.
The men must wear a complete suit, waistcoat, and black or grey top hat. The shoes must be black and socks are also a requirement.
The women must wear a hat, and it should have a minimum base diameter of four inches. Dresses should be tasteful with modest cuts.
Trousers and jumpsuits are permitted, but men should wear trousers with a jacket or top in a matching fabric. Floral prints, long, flowing dresses, and a mix of bright, summery colors are encouraged.
The Royal Enclosure is the highest privilege. The Queen Anne Enclosure is the premier public enclosure and the second most formal enclosure at Royal Ascot.
The Village Enclosure is next, and finally, the most relaxed area with no dress code is the Windsor Enclosure.
Queen Elizabeth Had 24 Winners At Royal Ascot
Queen Elizabeth attended every Royal Ascot during her 70-year reign until the COVID-19 pandemic.
She had 24 winners at Royal Ascot, and her first victory was in 1953 when her horse, Choir Boy, won the Royal Hunt Cup. Charles and Camilla inherited some of the Queen’s horses and entered a few in the races.
The British five-day event kicked off on Tuesday, June 18th this year, and King Charles and Camilla arrived together in a carriage.
Lady Gabriella attended, which is significant because it was her first royal event without her husband, Thomas Kingston, who died in February of this year.
This year, His Majesty has five horses competing in Royal Ascot. Seven races are held daily, and thirty-five are in total during the five-day event.
Prince William attended, but Kate Middleton was not with him. On June 19th, her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton were there.
Princess Anne, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Zara and Mike Tindall, Sarah Ferguson, and her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, were also present.
This year, the King’s horses that will take off in the race include Gilded Water, Treasure, Crown Estate, Hard to Resist, and Desert Hero.
Last year, their horse, Desert Hero, won in the King George V Stakes. Charles and Camilla were incredibly proud.
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