Heir he is! King Charles leads royal arrivals at Ascot for second day of the festival

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Royal Ascot were dashed this afternoon as two of their horses missed out on trophies. 

The royal couple entered their thoroughbred Reach For The Moon in the Royal Hunt Cup, which took place at the Berkshire racecourses this afternoon. 

Their other horse Circle of Fire also participated in the Queen’s Vase – but was beaten by jockey Frankie Dettori riding a horse named Gregory.

The newly-crowned King and Queen watched the race intently from the royal box with other members of the Royal Family, including Zara Tindall and the Duchess of Edinburgh. 

Before the Royal Hunt Cup got underway, the King was seen engaging in conversation with one of his guests on the balcony – unaware that his horse was about to appear. 

Reaching across Lady Sarah Keswick, one of her oldest friends, Camilla tugged at the sleeve of Charles’ morning suit to alert him to the action on the tracks.

During the nail-biting race, the couple put on an animated display and were both seen clutching binoculars at time. 

However, they couldn’t hide their disappointment when Reach For The Moon missed out on the title to gelding Jimi Hendrix, named after the legendary 1960s’ musician.

Before the Queen’s Vase got underway, the Queen was seen nervously swaying in anticipation.

Frankie Dettori was cheered as he won the Queen’s Vase and performed his trademark celebration of jumping out of the saddle onto the ground.  

Despite their losses on the racecourse, the royal couple appeared in great spirits as they met with other members of their family. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla left Zara Tindall in stitches this afternoon as the Royals gathered for the second day of Royal Ascot.

The newly-crowned monarch, 74, opted for a classic charcoal morning suit with a purple tie for the event considered the jewel in the crown of the racing calendar.

Camilla looked elegant in a Anna Valentine pink dress coat for the second day, which appeared to be the same outfit she wore to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018.

After arriving at the Berkshire races in a horse-drawn carriage, the couple made their way up to the royal box – where they were joined by niece Zara Tindall. 

Princess Anne’s daughter, 42, was pictured in hysterics as she caught up with King and Queen today.

The royal trio were seen standing on the balcony enjoying the sunshine as they waited for the races to begin. 

Later in the afternoon, Camilla – who is a lifelong fan of the sport – was all smiles as she presented the trophy for the Prince of Wales Stakes. 

Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh followed the king and queen in a second procession, while Prince Michael and Princess Michael of Kent were also in attendance. 

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh also opted for a crisp white look and large brimmed hat.

Meanwhile, keen equestrian Zara Tindall and her rugby pro husband Mike were also in the procession, with the Olympian daughter of Princess Anne opting for a navy blue look with a green hat.

The king was joined in a carriage by The Earl & Countess of Halifax, who is Camilla’s former sister-in-law through her first marriage to Richard Parker Bowles. 

Lord Soames of Fletching, Charles’s former Equerry and Lady Sarah Keswick, a friend of Camilla joined Sophie and Edward.

Mother-of-two Sophie, 58, beamed as she sported a brilliant white silk frock with bow detailing and buttons down the front from Suzannah, costing £3,450, as she took part in the carriage parade. 

William and Maureen Haggas, a horse trainer, joined Zara and Mike in the third carriage. 

The procession was finished out by Lady Jane Spencer-Churchill, a friend of the Queen’s, Sir Michael Stoute, a horse trainer, and Lord Andrew & Lady Madeleine Lloyd Webber.

Meanwhile, Princess Anne decided to skip the procession, but attended the day in a Tiffany blue gown and white jacket.

Elsewhere, Zara and Mike looked as loved-up as ever.

The pair shared a sweet moment as Mike was seen wiping something off his wife’s cheek as their carriage toured the racecourse. 

Princess Anne’s daughter, an Olympic silver medal-winning equestrian, and her former rugby player husband shared the intimate moment as they took part in the traditional royal procession this afternoon. 

Zara looked stunning in a dark eggplant dress from Laura Green, matched with a bespoke teal fascinator from Juliette Botterill, her blonde locks neatly pinned back into a low bun.

As the pair arrived, they were joined by other royals including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

As the festivities continued for its second day in the baking summer sunshine, partying racegoers looked merry as they celebrated for a second day.

The opening of Royal Ascot 2023 saw plenty of royals descend on the racecourse to celebrate King Charles’s first event as monarch.

Included in the royal line-up was King Charles and Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Keen racegoers brought glamour to Berkshire once more this morning as they arrived at the second day of Royal Ascot 2023. 

In this year’s pamphlet, the newly-crowned King and Queen took the opportunity to write a special message to guests.

They wrote: ‘We are delighted to welcome you to Royal Ascot in this, the year of our Coronation. 

‘Five days oh highly competitive racing will again be watched and enjoyed by millions, both here and abroad.

‘We are happy in the knowledge that this historic race meeting continues to be a key influence on the global racing and breeding industries.

‘The Royal Meeting always played a central role in Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s calendar and the naming of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes will be a most appropriate way to mark this lifelong interest. 

‘A photographic exhibition in the Grandstand will also celebrate The late Queen’s close association with Royal Ascot, including images of some of her twenty four winners. 

‘We are sure his exhibition will prompt many happy memories.

‘As improving sustainability is crucial to all events and businesses, we were pleased to hear that the Village Enclosure at Ascot will be net carbon zero this year and that the racecourse is making renewed efforts to minimalise waste.

‘Finally, we wish the very best of good fortune to all the owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and hardworking stable staff with runners this week.

‘It is a huge and rare achievement to have a runner at Royal Ascot and we very much hope that you all enjoy the experience.’ 

This year, organisers of the race have paid tribute to Royal Ascot’s ‘biggest fan’, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last September.

During her 70-year reign, Her late Majesty attended almost every single Royal Ascot festival, with the exception of last year.

This year, organisers have displayed a heartwarming collection of photos of the Queen visiting Ascot over the years. 

They include a black-and-white photo of the royal riding on the tracks in 1960 when she was 34-years-old. 

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 Ladies 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.