A tribute to Ascot’s ‘greatest supporter’: Organisers display heartwarming photo exhibition of late Queen’s racing highlights to mark first event since her death
- The Queen attended the event almost every year of her 70 year reign
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The organisers of Royal Ascot have paid heartwarming tribute to the Queen with a photo exhibition of her racing highlights.
Following her Coronation in 1953, the Queen travelled to the racecourses in Berkshire at least once a year to attend the event – and only missed it in 2020 due to Covid lockdowns.
The Duke of Kent was asked to replace the Queen in the Royal procession at the event last year, which took place just three months before her death.
To mark the first Ascot since her passing, organisers have displayed a heartwarming collection of photos of the Queen visiting Ascot over the years.
These include a black-and-white photo of the royal riding on the tracks in 1960 when she was 34 years old.
Pictured: The exhibition of the Queen’s racing highlights that has been put on display at this year’s Ascot
The mother-of-four was pictured with a headscarf and riding boots on on as hwe horse galloped along the track.
The Queen was taking part in an unofficial race with others members of her royal party and ended up finishing fourth.
What’s more, the organisers also selecting a photograph of the Queen beaming at Ladie’s Day in 2013.
The event turned out to be one of the Queen’s most successful Ascots as her horse Estimate won the Gold Cup – making her the first monarch in 200 years to scoop the prize.
The late royal was pictured beaming at her trophy, which was presented to her by her son Prince Andrew.
The Queen was dressed in one of her signature coat dresses in a pretty shade of purple.
Underneath her jacket, the monarch wore a pretty floral dress – which perfectly complimented the flowers on her hat.
In the image, the Queen is seen wearing a three-strand pearl necklace – which she also wore to her final ever Ascot in June 2021.
Pictured: The Queen appeared in high spirits as she arrived at Royal Ascot in June 2021, which would be her last time visiting the races
The Ascot tribute, which was written by royal photographer Chris Jackson, read: ‘Queen Elizabeth II loved Ascot. Ascot loved Queen Elizabeth.’
Left: The Queen rides on the tracks at Royal Ascot in 1960. Right: The Queen with a trophy after her horse Estimate won the Gold Cup during Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot in 2013
The full Ascot tribute, which was written by royal photographer Chris Jackson, read: ‘Queen Elizabeth II loved Ascot. Ascot loved Queen Elizabeth.
‘For over 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, Ascot remained the epicentre of the late Monarch’s life, a highlight of the summer season that saw her late Majesty at her happiest among crowds of adoring racegoers and in the vicinity of some of the world’s most beautiful racing horses.
‘For someone who received her first horse Peggy, a gift at the age of four, horse racing and breeding became the love of her life.
‘The late Queen rode into her 90s and, an accomplished horsewoman who in the later years drew huge pleasure from being around her splendid and much-adored horses.
Pictured: The late Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne pose with Her Majesty’s horse Estimate, after winning the Gold Cup at Ladies Day in 2013
Pictured: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie celebrate after their grandmother’s horse won the Gold Cup in 2013
‘This love that was evident in her face as she was presented with the Gold Cup trophy, the first monarch in over 200 years to win this coveted award and something that so clearly meant so much to her.
‘As someone who has documented Queen Elizabeth at Ascot for almost 20 years, I will never forget the moment as the crowd got behind Estimate, cheering as the filly charged across the finish line to the delight of everyone present.
‘As someone who photographed the Queen throughout the year, I always knew that it would be scot where we saw this famously stoical and professional Royal at her most relaxed and genuine, clearly enjoying being in the presence of horses as she studied their form on the race-card with intense and knowing expression before bursting into laughter as she chatted to her racing manager or was greeted by a exuberant jockey.
‘Ascot was also somewhere where The Queen was surrounded by family, the support and enjoyment she received from their presence is evident in many of the photographs you will see in this exhibition as is the sheer delight on the Monarch’s face.
‘Looking through the images from this exhibition, it will be clear that Ascot was a life-long love of the Monarch – from the grainy but atmospheric black-and-white shots from the 50s that include a young Princess Elizabeth galloping down the racetrack to the crisp digital images of recent years, one constant remains throughout the decades, that clear and evident love of the moments she spent near the hallowed turf of the world’s most famous horse-racing meeting.
The King and Queen Camilla offer a wave to crowds at Trooping the Colour on Saturday ahead of their first Ascot since the Coronation
The joint cypher is similar in design to Queen Camilla’s own individual cypher but adds an additional swirling C to represent the King
Following the Queen’s death last September, Ascot described Her Majesty as the sport’s ‘greatest supporter’.
They wrote in a poignant statement: ‘The nation mourns the loss of a much loved and respected Monarch. The world of racing has lost one of its greatest supporters.
‘We at Ascot are privileged to have so many memories of Her Majesty The Queen at this her racecourse, including some wonderful victories in the Royal colours.
‘We offer our deepest sympathies to His Majesty The King and the whole Royal Family.’
What’s more, the event has also renamed an event in the Queen’s honour. The Platinum Jubilee Stakes, a six-furlong sprint which is staged on the Saturday of Ascot’s five day meeting, will from now on be known as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Queen Elizabeth II had 24 winners in total, having been a keen racehorse owner, with her final triumph coming by way of Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes three years ago.
Choir Boy raced home as her first ever winner during the 1953 Royal Hunt Cup, which occurred during the same week of Her Late Majesty’s coronation at Westminster Abbey.
Royal Ascot 2023 is scheduled to run from Tuesday June 20th until Saturday June 24th.
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