Wash-out at Royal Ascot: Defiant race-goers brave rain as Queen attends events first day

Washout: Race-goers arriving at Ascot for day one of the 2016 event
PA
Robert Jobson14 June 2016

The Queen today attended the first day of Royal Ascot, as defiant racegoers said: “We won’t let the rain bother us.”

Fresh from her birthday celebrations, the 90-year-old monarch - who has attended every royal meeting during her reign - joined 40,000 fans at the annual racing event in Berkshire.

There was no sign of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but it is hoped they may attend the racing later this week

As a passionate horse owner the Queen will no doubt be hoping for a win when her horse, Dartmouth, runs in the Hardwicke Stakes on Thursday.

Showers: Well-dress race-goers shelter under umbrellas
PA

However, the best tip to racegoers at the annual flat race meeting was - bring a brolly.

It will not dampen Her Majesty’s spirits because this week is her favourite in the royal diary.

To mark her birthday The Gold Cup has been renamed “The Gold Cup in honour of The Queen’s 90th Birthday”.

Wet wait: Royal enclosure members queue outside
PA

Horse racing fans heading out of Waterloo to Ascot declared “it will be fabulous” despite the drizzle.

Flora Macdonald Johnston, 23, a stylist and Milja Kljajic, 25, a student, had donned hats for their day out.

Ms Kljajic said: “We can’t wait to get there. It’s going to be a fabulous day out. We couldn’t be happier - despite the rain.”

Darting for cover: Race-goers at Ascot on Tuesday
PA

Her friend added: “It’s great to dress up like this. We are very pleased with our hats, we feel marvellous.”

Lawyer Barry Baines was heading to Ascot with his wife Melodie and was sporting a top hat.

He said: “We have been several times there is nothing quite like it. The rain does not bother is. I will have a little bet.”

Beth Pridham and Ashleigh Mason, who both work in sales and marketing were heading out for a day of corporate hospitality.

Beth, 25, said: “It’s going to great and we get to wear hats it couldn’t be better!”

An aerial photo from Royal Ascot 1926, the year the Queen was born, was on display and information on The Queen’s winners over the years was also on show in the Windsor Enclosure.

The weekly Royal Enclosure badges were themed with The Queen’s racing colours – a jacket of purple body with scarlet sleeves and gold braiding.

Flowers across the site, including the Royal Box Parade Ring Balcony, were also inspired by The Queen’s colours.

Johnny Weatherby, Her Majesty’s Representative at Ascot, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating The Queen’s 90th birthday in the race title of The Gold Cup.

“The Gold Cup, recently won of course by The Queen herself, is the historic centrepiece of Royal Ascot, and is very much the race which resonates most with the public.”

William Hill have made blue the 2-1 favourite for the colour of the Queen’s hat on the opening day.

Jon Ivan-Duke, spokesman for the bookmakers, said: “Almost 85 per cent of bets are for blue. We think the gamble is based on the chilly weather forecast when blue would perhaps be more appropriate than yellow.”

Known for its strict dress code in the Royal Enclosure, Royal Ascot is one of the highlights of the racing and social calendar.

The style spectacle is known for its strict dress code in the Royal and Queen Anne enclosures, where ladies must wear hats.

Around 300,000 race-goers descend on the racecourse over the week and drink their way through 51,000 bottles of champagne, eat 5,000 kilos of salmon, 2,900 lobsters and 7,000 punnets of berries.

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