King Charles and Queen Camilla experienced a disappointing start to Royal Ascot as their horse Reaching High finished last in the Ascot Stakes, dashing their hopes for a victory on the opening day of the prestigious meeting.
Heavy Defeat for Royal Horse
The King and Queen watched from the royal box as the Willie Mullins-trained Reaching High was well beaten, with 25-1 outsider Kizlyar claiming victory. The royal couple were joined by the Princess Royal, her son Peter Phillips and his wife Harriet Sperling, as well as the Queen's son Tom Parker Bowles.
First Carriage Procession for Newlyweds
Peter and Harriet enjoyed their first Royal Ascot carriage procession as a married couple and appeared delighted, sharing a laugh in the royal box.
Celebrity racegoers included Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and her husband Christian Horner, TV chef Mary Berry, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and American singer Vanessa Williams.
Challenges of Winning at Royal Ascot
In the official programme, the King and Queen acknowledged the difficulty of winning at the world-famous Berkshire meeting. They wrote: "As owner breeders ourselves, we know how hard it is to win races at Royal Ascot and wish our fellow breeders, both at home and abroad, the best of luck in this most fascinating of challenges."
Charles and Camilla inherited the late Queen's stable of horses and have become passionate racehorse owners. They celebrated their maiden Royal Ascot triumph in 2023 when Desert Hero won the King George V Stakes. The royal party hopes for better fortune later in the week, with four more horses entered.
King Presents Trophy
Despite the disappointment, the King presented the trophy for the King Charles II Stakes, won by Mission Central, trained by Aidan O'Brien.
