Royal Ascot race row

Rule, Britannia! may get axed from singsong

IN FULL VOICE Celebrations at bandstand, 2017

THE Queen’s favourite sporting event Royal Ascot is considering axing Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory from its bandstand celebrations next year.

For more than 40 years hundreds of racegoers have sung popular numbers to celebrate the end of each day.

The performance, belted out by singer John Park for the last 12 years, ends in rousing renditions of old favourites Jerusalem, Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory – with a finale of God Save the Queen.

Her Majesty attends each of the five days of the festival in Berkshire.

This year’s meeting was cancelled because of coronavirus.

Now festival organisers have confirmed they could scrap the controversial songs from the bandstand setlist, in light of the furore over their inclusion, without lyrics, in the upcoming Last Night of the Proms.

Campaigners have argued the songs should be dropped because of their link to colonialism and slavery.

One well placed racing insider said: “Much like the move to remove Rule Britannia! and Land of Hope and

Glory from the Royal Albert Hall festival, there is a rising level of unease among the organisers who fear a backlash. The feeling is that it would draw unwelcome attention to the festival. A decision to remove the singalong is expected to be ratified.” A spokesman for Royal Ascot said last night: “One option is to ban Mr Park from singing the two songs but allow the band to play the music.” Boris Johnson yesterday again waded into the controversy. On a visit to Castle Rock School in Coalville, Leics, the PM said it is politically acceptable to sing Rule, Britannia! Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

PATRIOTIC Flags at Ascot