Harry and Meghan light up Royal Ascot as racing carnival begins
ASCOT, United Kingdom: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, as she has done for over 60 years, led the Royal Procession down the finishing straight on Tuesday to get probably racing’s most famous carnival Royal Ascot under way.
The greatest cheers, though, were reserved for newly-married couple Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who are appearing together at the historic meeting for the first time.
Harry and Meghan — who were in the third of the four carriages — later presented the trophy for the prestigious St James’ Palace Stakes.
The race went to Without Parole — ridden by Italian legend Frankie Dettori and trained by John Gosden — whose Canadian owner John Gunther said it was the best day of his life.
“To meet them in person is like climbing Mount Everest,” Gunther told the media.
“Base camp four is Without Parole winning and the peak is meeting the Royal couple,” added Gunther, who has had quite a season as he bred the US Triple Crown winner Justify.
The Queen for decades has favoured the more sedate carriage to bring her, members of the Royal Family, and guests to the meeting — almost as famous for its fashion than for its racing — compared to when in 1960 she galloped up the course on a racehorse.
The Queen — whose passion for the meeting is reflected by her not having missed a single one since her coronation in 1953 — was wearing a striking yellow ensemble with her yellow hat adorned by a blue flower.
She was accompanied in her carriage by her daughter Princess Anne, also a noted racing enthusiast, and her middle son Prince Andrew.
Princess Anne had become a grandmother for the fourth time on Tuesday as her daughter Zara Tindall, wife of Mike Tindall former England rugby international and a member of the 2003 World Cup winning squad, gave birth to the Queen’s seventh great grandchild.
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, who has several horses in training, were also in the procession. — AFP