One’s got the royal wave down to a T
JOCKEY Frankie Dettori planted a kiss on the Duchess of Sussex’s hand at Royal Ascot yesterday – and received an admonishing finger-wag from her husband.
Punters’ favourite Dettori, who won three races to bring his career Royal Ascot victory total to 59, moved in confidently for the gallant peck.
Harry, however, suggested – perhaps jokingly – that he was unimpressed, much to the amusement of racegoers.
The Duke and Meghan were cheered as they joined the Queen at the race meeting for the first time yesterday.
A month to the day after their wedding, Meghan cut an elegant figure in a white shirt dress by Givenchy, the fashion house that designed her wedding gown, and a glamorous hat by royal favourite Philip Treacy.
It was the American ex-actress’ first experience of the My Fair Lady world of quintessential English Royal Ascot. She had never visited as a private citizen but was greeted as a superstar by crowds along the track and inside the main stand as she and Harry went up to the royal box.
Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, joined the Queen and other senior royals for lunch at Windsor Castle before taking part in the traditional carriage procession down the racecourse.
In the parade ring, the newlyweds constantly touched each other’s arms as they chatted to the Queen and then animatedly to the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, who giggled as he exchanged gossip with his daughter-inlaw. Meghan also provided practical assistance to the Queen’s racing manager John Warren, helping him untangle his binoculars in the parade ring.
Meghan and Harry sat just behind the 92-year-old Queen in the royal box, before presenting trophies to Dettori and the winning connections of his horse Without Parole.
But surprisingly, they left before the Queen’s only runner of the day, Fabricate, raced in the 5.35pm Wolferton Stakes. It finished way back in the field. In a yellow Angela Kelly ensemble, the
Queen watched the race on the big screen in the parade ring, surrounded by Charles and Camilla, who was wearing a Dior outfit and Philip Treacy hat, and Princess Anne. The large royal turnout included Prince Edward and wife Sophie, Prince Andrew and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
A new Royal Ascot dress code rule this year says men must wear socks and there is increased security to crack down on binge drinking and drug use.
Measures include breathalyser tests, more drug sniffer dogs and amnesty boxes for the disposal of illegal substances.
Ascot’s chief executive, Guy Henderson, said: “The use of illegal drugs and their contribution to anti-social behaviour is a significant issue for all major events.
“This year we will continue proactively to address these challenges in order to pre-empt incidents.”
Harry and Meghan will visit Dublin on July 10 and 11 – their first official overseas visit.