King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared in high spirits as they lovingly greeted members of their family at their first Royal Ascot since the Coronation.
The couple were seen arriving at the event in a horse-drawn carriage with the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.
The monarch, 74, was dressed in traditional grey morning suit for the annual sporting event in Berkshire.
Along with a double-breasted waistcoat, the King donned a light pink tie, a blue patterned pocket square and was seen carrying a black top hat.
The Queen, 75, looked effortlessly elegant in cream coat dress, matching hat and gloves.
King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured arriving at their first Royal Ascot since the Coronation
King Charles pictured greeting his niece Zara Tindall with an affectionate kiss on the cheek as he arrived at Ascot
Underneath her smart coat, Camilla wore a white dress with a silver neckline – which offset the Queen Mother’s Shell Brooch pinned on the lapel.
The sophisticated royal styled her hair in her signature bouncy blow-dry and opted for a pair of chic dangly pearl earrings.
The couple were joined by other members of the Royal Family – including Princess Anne, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Camilla’s recently widowed sister Annabel Elliot.
After stepping out of the carriage, Charles was pictured greeting his niece Zara warmly and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Meanwhile, Camilla was also seen greeting Mike Tindall in a similarly warm fashion.
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, starts today with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Ladies’ Day on Friday.
Around 300,000 people are set to attend the prestigious event, some of them royalty and world-famous celebrities.
The day is a much a social occasion as a sporting event and racegoers take the opportunity to turn on the style, from chic hats and summer dresses to sharp suits.
It’s the first year the event, a favourite of the late Queen, will go ahead since her death in September.
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.
Queen Camilla greeted Mike Tindall with a kiss on the cheek as the first day of Royal Ascot got underway
The couple were seen arriving at the event in a horse-drawn carriage with the Duke and Duchess of Wellington
Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli pictured at the Royal Ascot this afternoon
Heir they are! Charles and Camilla pictured in the Royal Box at Ascot this afternoon
King Charles and Queen Camilla seen after leaving the carriage and making their way to the royal box
Princess Anne wore a pretty teal coat dress and hat for the occasion. Pictured: The royal following Charles and Camilla in another carriage
The Princess Royal styled her hair in an elegant updo and wore a pretty pink lipstick for her first Royal Ascot without her late mother
Pictured: King Charles wore a grey morning suit and black top hat for Ascot while Camilla was elegant in a cream coat dress
Stylish spectators Zara and Mike Tindall pictured at the first day of Royal Ascot this afternoon
The King’s niece wore a £660 Cecilia pale green floral midi dress by Leo Lin for the occasion, matching the look with a chic straw boater with pink ribbon
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Meanwhile, ex England rugby star Mike, 44, opted for traditional attire, wearing a top hat and tails, waistcoat and pinstripe trousers – and a cream rose on his lapel
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.
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 full Ascot tribute, which was written by royal photographer Chris Jackson, read: ‘Queen Elizabeth II loved Ascot. Ascot loved Queen Elizabeth.
The King and Queen Camilla offer a wave to crowds at Trooping the Colour on Saturday
The joint cypher is similar in design to Queen Camilla’s own individual cypher but adds an additional swirling C to represent the King
‘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.’
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.
Following the Coronation of King Charles, the racecards now carry a new cypher, replacing the late Queen’s official royal emblem with a joint one to reflect both the King and Queen.
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
On social media, Royal Ascot shared a photograph of the new look, writing: ‘We are delighted to unveil the racecard cover for the opening day of Royal Ascot 2023, the first displaying the joint cypher of Their Majesties The King & Queen.’
Both the King and Queen have individual cyphers. The joint cypher is more similar in design to Queen Camilla’s own emblem but adds an additional swirling C to represent the King.
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.
