It’s Royal Ascot... but not as we know it!
Fashion displays at home and no cheering crowd for Covid Ascot
THERE were no thronging crowds dressed to the nines, no champagne corks popping at picnics.
And instead of rapturous cheers from punters as each winner passed the finishing post, there was an eerie silence in the empty grandstands.
As Royal Ascot got under way yesterday, it was bereft of the glamour associated with one of Britain’s most famous sporting occasions – most notably the royal carriage procession along the track to open the meeting.
For the first time in her 68-year reign, the Queen was absent. Instead, she watched ‘avidly’ on television at Windsor Castle, where she is isolating with Prince Philip.
The event is one of the highlights of her calendar and, aside from any urgent state papers she needs to deal with, her diary is cleared of engagements so she can attend each day. Yesterday the Queen, who has a number of runners this year, paid tribute in her annual message to the ‘valiant’ efforts of those working to make it a success in the face of Covid-19 and social distancing.
And while there was no carriage procession, the National Anthem was still performed – in a special online rendition by soprano Laura Wright, accompanied by the Choir of Royal Holloway, featured in ITV’s coverage. Racegoers may have had to watch at home, but it did not stop them dressing up and showing off their Ascot fashions on social media.
The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall, 39, wore a brilliant blue dress by Beulah London and Juliette Botterill hat, while husband Mike, 41, dressed in traditional top hat and tails. He captioned the photo, posted on Instagram: ‘When it’s day one of Royal Ascot and you have nothing else on!’ Mrs Tindall told ITV that the Queen ‘will be glued to the television as always and really sad not to be there’ when her horse First Receiver runs today.
Model Rosie Tapner wore a white dress by Catherine Walker, while TV host Charlotte Hawkins went for a mix of pink, turquoise, lilac and yellow. Rainbows, a symbol of hope and support for the NHS, were a popular theme. Sir Bruce Forsyth’s widow Wilnelia, 62, shared a photo of herself in a rainbow fascinator, while Nazer Bullen wore a headdress in the colours of the rainbow and Alexandra Wood, a PR manager at Ascot, had a rainbow bow on top of her hat. Punters are being urged to dress up at home as part of the #StyledWithThanks charity initiative.