King to keep his mother's Royal Ascot tradition alive

Such was Elizabeth II’s devotion to British horse racing that there was a time when a Royal Ascot meeting without her was simply unthinkable.

The late Queen was besotted with the sport, taking obvious delight in her extensive breeding operation and even more so in attending the races.

But fears that her death might signal the demise of such a valuable Royal connection appear unfounded, with the King determined to take up the mantle.

His Majesty is expected to attend every day of this year’s Royal Ascot, which starts on Tuesday, marking a return to tradition for the first time since 2019.

The King’s presence will be warmly received by industry insiders, breeders, managers and racegoers alike.

Conelius Lysaght, the racing expert and broadcaster, said: “Commercially, the Royal Ascot brand is a massive success.

“Part of it is the top hats and the horses but the Royal family is at the centre of it and is absolutely fundamental. People don’t want to come to Ascot, they want to come to Royal Ascot.

“Inevitably, part of that brand has been the Queen but the King is a pragmatic figure. He knows that some things you do because it’s part of your role to showcase UK PLC.”

The King did not inherit the racing bug, although he and the Queen have jointly owned several horses and it is said that he has been “trying to really learn about the whole industry”.

However, claims that he was “absolutely smitten” with the sport appear wide of the mark, with even his wife acknowledging that it would never be a great passion.

“He’s somebody who likes partaking rather than watching, he likes to be part of the sport,” she said in 2021.

Experts insist it does not matter.

The King does not need to love racing as much as his mother did, albeit his wife’s enthusiasm for the sport should hopefully help to maintain his interest,” wrote Lee Mottershead in the Racing Post.

“What is crucial is that he keeps the Royal connection alive and well.”

Mr Lysaght agreed. “It doesn’t matter if they’re besotted,” he said. “What does matter is that the support of the Royal family is there. The Queen was an aficionado and absolutely adored every minute of it but others go and still thoroughly enjoy it.

“I think the King is still pretty keen. He won’t be nipping into the anteroom to watch Homes Under the Hammer. The Queen is also very enthusiastic about it.”

Other senior Royals who will undoubtedly make an appearance are the Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Tindall, both huge fans of racing. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are also regular attendees.

Experts suggest that while those with racing connections are happy with the Royal patronage for the time being, the next generation might pose more of a concern.

Neither the Prince nor the Princess of Wales is known to be a particular fan of the sport.

The couple are expected to attend on one day this week, as they did last year, when Mr Lysaght said “the place went mad for them” – something they cannot fail to have noticed.

There could be as many as eight horses carrying the famous purple and scarlet colours of the King and Queen over the course of this year’s five-day meeting.

One of them, Saga, will be ridden in the Wolferton Stakes on Tuesday by Frankie Dettori, the veteran jockey making his final Ascot appearance before retiring.

Dettori himself has acknowledged that the tantalising prospect of him clinching a Royal winner would “raise the roof”.

The late Queen was a fixture at Royal Ascot for seven decades. She attended her first meeting in 1946 and, with the exception of 2020 when it was held behind closed doors, did not miss a single day until 2021.

Last year’s event, which took place less than three months before her death, was the first and only time she missed the entire spectacle.

But even then, it was said that she hosted the traditional lunch for guests at Windsor Castle before watching it on television as they left to join the carriage procession.

Royal Ascot has renamed one of its most iconic races in honour of Elizabeth II.

The Platinum Jubilee Stakes will be called “The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes” in perpetuity, both to honour the late monarch’s “unstinting commitment” to Ascot and the three Jubilee celebrations that began with the inception of the race in 2002.

One tradition that has been reinstated this year – albeit focused on a different Royal – is the betting on the colour of the Queen’s hat, with Ladbrokes offering odds of 3-1 on cream or white.