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British Royals

The royals are back in town – The Queen is absent, but members of her family flock to a sunny Royal Ascot

A sense of normality returned to the royal calendar on Tuesday as members of The Royal Family attended the first day of the Royal Meeting at Ascot racecourse.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were the most senior royals in attendance, arriving as Ascot just before 2pm.

There are no carriages at Royal Ascot this year, with State Limousines being deployed to transport the royals to and from the Berkshire racecourse.

The Queen did not attend the meeting in person on Tuesday, but is expected to take up her seat in the Royal Box later this week.

Alongside Prince Charles and Camilla on Tuesday were the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The Princess Royal also attended the opening day of the festival, alongside Zara and Mike Tindall.

A variety of royals will attend the five-day meeting this week, with alternate members attending on different days.

Both the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall entered the Winners’ Enclosure on Tuesday to present the trophy presentation of the day’s feature race.

Their Royal Highness presented the trophy to the connections of Poetic Flair who won the St James’s Palace Stakes.

79-year-old Jim Bolger owns, trains and bred Poetic Flair – a hugely impressive operation.

The horse also won the 2000 Guineas and came 2nd in the Irish 2000 Guineas earlier this year.

54-year-old Kevin Manning rode the horse, and is pictured below receiving the winning trophy.

The Queen also had a runner on Tuesday in the King’s Stand Stakes.

Unfortunately for the monarch, King’s Lynn did not win, but finished in a respectable 7th place.

Her Majesty has a number of other runners later in the week.