Royal Ascot welcomes Queen
and mourns training legend

She rode in a carriage with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the head of a procession which travelled past stands packed with punters.

The famous five-day meeting is as much a social event as sporting fixture and attracts some of the best thoroughbreds, jockeys and trainers in the world.

Among the famous faces at the Berkshire racecourse were opera singer Katherine Jenkins, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and BBC sports presenter Gary Lineker.

Jenkins said: “I love Royal Ascot, it’s just so old-fashioned - old-fashioned glamour, old-fashioned traditions.”

The star wore a bright orange and pink hat by milliner Philip Treacy and a matching dress.

The Queen’s horse Estimate will run in the Gold Cup on Thursday and is a favourite with some bookmakers. A victory would be a boost for the Queen who will attend without the Duke of Edinburgh, who is convalescing at Windsor Castle after exploratory abdominal surgery.

Also riding in the carriage procession was the Duke of York and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The Queen waved to the racegoers and when the National Anthem was played Charles, who wore a morning suit, took off his top hat.

A minute’s silence was observed for the Sir Henry Cecil who died last week from cancer aged 70, widely regarded as one of the greatest trainers in history.

The royals stood in a semi circle and observed the silence before taking their seats in their box for the first race.