The Royal Ascot carriage procession made its much-anticipated return on Tuesday, providing one of the most iconic spectacles of the British summer season as King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the royal party onto the racecourse.
The daily procession, which has become synonymous with Royal Ascot since it was introduced by King Edward VII in 1825, arrived under bright skies as racegoers gathered to welcome members of the Royal Family and their guests for the opening day of the five-day meeting.
The return of the procession will come as a welcome sight to racing fans after concerns were raised earlier this year when an outbreak of equine influenza cast doubt over whether the traditional display could go ahead. However, organisers were ultimately able to proceed with one of Royal Ascot’s most cherished traditions.
Leading the procession in the first carriage were The King and The Queen, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.
The Princess Royal travelled in the second carriage alongside her son, Peter Phillips, and his wife Harriet.
Peter and Harriet, who married only a week ago, were joined by Queen Camilla’s nephew Sir Ben Elliot, who sat alongside Princess Anne.
In the third carriage were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who will present a trophy to winners of a race on day one. They were accompanied by businessman Gus Christie and internationally acclaimed soprano Danielle de Niese.
The fourth carriage carried businessman Matt Ramsden and his wife, together with Luke Irwin and his wife. Irwin is widely recognised as one of Britain’s leading interior and textile designers.
The carriage procession remains one of the defining moments of each day at Royal Ascot, with thousands of spectators lining the route to catch a glimpse of the royal party as they make their way down the straight before racing begins.
