Queen misses the whole of Royal Ascot for the first time in her 70-year reign: Monarch is replaced by the Duke of Kent in a royal procession on the last day of the famous race meeting
- The Queen was replaced by the Duke of Kent in the royal procession
- This is the first time in her 70-year reign that she has missed the final day of Royal Ascot
- The Queen chose to watch at home in Windsor Castle – a 15-minute drive away
The Queen missed the last day of Royal Ascot yesterday, meaning she missed the famous race meeting for the first time in her reign.
The monarch was replaced in the royal procession by the Duke of Kent, followed by Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew’s elder daughter, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
The Queen, a lifelong racing enthusiast, chose to watch at home at Windsor Castle, just a 15-minute drive from the Berkshire course.
The monarch was replaced in the royal procession by the Duke of Kent, followed by Princess Beatrice. She stunned the Ascot crown in a polka dot dress similar to the one worn by Princess Diana in 1988
But her absence couldn’t dampen the roaring atmosphere as thousands of glamorous racegoers flaunted their finery – including Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and his partner, oil heiress Lindsay Wallace, a mother of two.
Beatrice’s outfit appeared to be inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge, who stunned the Ascot crowd on Friday in a polka dot dress similar to the one worn by Princess Diana in 1988.
In place of the scorching heat of earlier in the week, yesterday’s procession took place under a metal sky and a brisk breeze that forced Beatrice, 33, to cover her lap with a blanket and other members of the procession to grab their hats.
Lady Victoria Hervey during day five of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. In addition to members of the royal family, celebrities and sports stars also flocked to Ascot
Georgia Toffolo wears an all white suit during day five of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse
The royals were greeted by an honor guard of 70 children dressed in the Queen’s famous purple, red and gold racing silks.
Beatrice has been fulfilling an increasing number of commitments after it was reported that Andrew wanted his daughters to be given more chores.
The Duke of York himself skipped one of the most colorful events on the royal calendar amid speculation he wanted to avoid embarrassing other royals.
Race-goers included celebrities Georgia Toffolo and Lady Victoria Hervey, who dazzled in all-white outfits. Ex-soccer player Rio Ferdinand was also there for the first time
In addition to members of the royal family, celebrities and sports stars also flocked to Ascot.
These included celebrities Georgia Toffolo and Lady Victoria Hervey, who dazzled in all-white outfits. Ex-soccer player Rio Ferdinand was also there for the first time. He said: “The atmosphere is crazy. I love it.’
In a note for the Royal Ascot 2022 programme, the Queen wrote: “I have been very grateful for the continued kindness shown to me by the racing community.”