The royal family has been out
in force at Royal Ascot, with Prince Charles and Princess Anne leading
the members who arrived.
And when the Prince of Wales
met up with his nieces, Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall, he
greeted them in the sweetest way. As Charles met with Beatrice, he removed
his top hat before kissing her on both cheeks, and he did the same with Zara as
well. Meanwhile, Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi also removed his top
hat in order to greet the heir to the throne.
Beatrice and Zara weren’t the
only royals to whom Charles gave a kiss, as he did the same when he met up
with Sophie Wessex, the wife of his brother, Prince Edward.
Members of the royal family
typically step out in force for Royal Ascot although the Queen, who suffers
from mobility issues and uses a walking stick, did not make an appearance
at Tuesday’s event.
She did, however, write a
message in the official programme. “After the challenges of recent times,
this year’s royal meeting provides a long-awaited opportunity for supporters of
racing from all over the world to come together for five days of outstanding
sport,” she penned.
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Prince Charles gave a proper greeting to Beatrice
“Once again, it is
thrilling that horses from around the globe have traveled to Royal Ascot to
compete at the highest level.”
The Queen has more than ten
horses entered over the five days of the event and, with her Windsor Castle
home just a 15-minute drive away, there is still some hope that she will attend
during the week.
The royals usually take part
in a carriage procession around the racecourse at 2pm before the first race
begins and Tuesday’s opening day was no different.
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Charles also gave a kiss to Sophie Wessex
Over the course of the week,
other members of the royal family are expected to make an appearance at the
races. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge usually attend once, with Kate even
bringing her mother Carole Middleton one year.
Royal Ascot runs from 14 to 18
June and promises another spell of unparalleled racing from some of the
industry’s finest horses.
It is also a chance for
spectators to don their finest and show off their sartorial elegance and
magnificent millinery creations, often taking the lead from the royal family.
