Princess Anne and daughter Zara Tindall.Photo: SplashNews.com
WhileQueen Elizabethhas yet to make an appearance at the iconic horse race (one of her favorite events of the year!), her daughter and former Olympian equestrian Princess Anne led the carriage ride of royals around the track. Accompanying the women were Anne’s husband Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and Zara’s husband Mike Tindall.
Zara is also an accomplished equestrian. At the London 2012 Olympics, the granddaughter of the Queen won a silver medal as a member of the Great Britain equestrian eventing team.
“Zara always says she’s so pleased she wasn’t given a title,” Phil Tindall, the father of Zara’s husband, Mike, previously told theSunday Times, adding that the lack of a title has enabled Zara and Peter “to live their own lives.”
Zara Tinall and Mike Tindall.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images
In the next carriage were lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of the Queen’s late sister Princess Margaret, and her husband Daniel. The Queen’s passion for horses was reflected in the inclusion of her racing manager John Warren and his wife Lady Carolyn, who were in the fourth carriage.
Thursday is the landmark Gold Cup Day of Royal Ascot, which traditionally sees the most eye-catching attire from attendees (expect morebold and beautiful hats!).
James Veysey/Shutterstock
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.SplashNews.com
The Queen has three horses running in races on Thursday. Her horse Saga will take part in the Britannia Stakes, while Reach for the Moon is in the Hampton Court Stakes, and Tactical is entered into the Buckingham Palace Stakes.
The Queen, who has a well-known love of horses, has attended every single Royal Ascot for the last seven decades and often has her own horses competing. The only exception was in 2020 when the famous event was held behind closed doors for the first time in history amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the start of the race event on Tuesday, the Queen issued a statement in the event’s program, welcoming the full-capacity crowds back to the course for the first time since 2019. She praised the planting of new trees close to the course, in tribute to her Jubilee marking 70 years on the throne.
Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
source: people.com
