King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the opening day of Royal Ascot, where members of the royal family gathered at the historic Berkshire racecourse for the prestigious annual horse racing event. The royal procession marked the formal start of the celebrated fixture, which attracts global attention and a large international audience.
During the event, several senior royals joined the King and Queen, including Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall, Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling, all appearing in the traditional carriage procession. The gathering highlighted the continued importance of Royal Ascot as both a sporting and social occasion for the British monarchy.
A notable moment occurred when Zara Tindall greeted King Charles with a respectful curtsy followed by a warm kiss on arrival. The gesture quickly drew attention from spectators and media, standing out as one of the most discussed highlights of the opening day celebrations.
Other members of the royal household, including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Queen Camilla’s niece Alice Elliot, also participated in the procession. Their presence reinforced the family tradition of attending Royal Ascot and engaging with the public during key national events.
Ahead of the races, King Charles and Queen Camilla issued a written message welcoming guests to the event. They expressed hope for an exciting week of racing featuring top horses from Europe, North America and Australasia, with global audiences expected to follow the competition across nearly 200 countries.
Royal Ascot continues to serve as a major highlight of the British summer calendar, combining elite horse racing with royal tradition and international attention. This year’s opening day once again reflected the event’s ceremonial significance and its strong connection to the royal family’s public engagements.