Amid the pageantry and glamour of Royal Ascot yesterday, there was disappointment for King Charles and Queen Camilla as one of the monarch’s runners finished second on the track.
Footage of the animated royal couple urging on their horse, Warrant Holder, ridden by William Buick, has since been widely shared online.
The drama came in the closing stages of the 3.40pm Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, where Warrant Holder was locked in a tight duel with Opportunity, partnered by James McDonald.
But McDonald, the New Zealand jockey, managed to get Opportunity home in front, leaving the King’s runner narrowly beaten and the couple’s hopes of a victory dashed.
The result means none of the King’s five horses entered at this year’s meeting has managed to win, despite several attracting strong support from bookmakers.
Charles, wearing a grey morning suit with a pale yellow waistcoat and blue tie, was seen in the stands appearing to shout “Go on!” as he bounced with excitement, almost as if riding Warrant Holder himself. The horse had started at odds of 16-5.
Queen Camilla, equally absorbed in the action, stood alongside him in a pale blue dress and matching brimmed hat, seemingly following the race on a screen behind the railing of their box.
When Opportunity surged ahead to claim the win, Charles’ expression briefly tightened into a grimace before he quickly smiled again, acknowledging the result in sporting spirit.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were so close to Ascot victory yesterday and watched on with great excitement as their horse Warrant Holder neared the finish at the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at 3.40pm
But their hopes were dashed by New Zealand jockey aboard Opportunity, who clinched the victory ahead of the royal horse and foresaking their final hope of racing success this year
Though Camilla appears more grief-stricken than her husband and can’t bear to take her eyes off the screen below them or wipe away her disappointed expression.
Charles and Camilla own dozens of thoroughbred racing horses together, having inherited around 100 from Queen Elizabeth II, but sadly, they have not seen much glory at Ascot this year.
He occasionally auctions some of them off, selling 14 in 2022.
On the opening day of this year’s festival on Tuesday, another of the King’s horses Reaching High finished a disappointing dead last at the Ascot Stakes despite being a hot favourite.
The horse – trained by Willie Mullins, who dominates National Hunt racing – was sent out as a 13-8 favourite but still could not deliver the royals success.
It would have been the first win for them since 2023, when Desert Hero won the King George V handicap for the trainer-jockey partnership of William Haggas and Tom Marquand.
Reaching High lost the Ascot Stakes last year too.
A video of the couple in the stands has circulated of the moment the couple’s excitement turned to agony at their loss
None of the five royal horses at Ascot has won a race this year. The last victory they had at the festival was in 2023
The King and his horse Warrant Holder who just lost out at first place yesterday
The second of the three royal horses was Point Of Law, who raced on Wednesday in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase, ridden by James Doyle.
The horse is worth £150,000 to His Majesty and fared better than Reaching High, securing fourth place.
Point Of Law is a well-thought-of horse, winning its most recent race beforehand at Newbury last month at 4-7 odds, but still no Ascot podium for the royals.
Golden Orbit took on the Ribblesdale Stakes this year on Thursday, but she finished in 10th place out of 12 runners.
She had not been well fancied by the bookies however, setting off at 33-1. She dropped to the rear after three furlongs and weakened two furlongs from the finish.
Earlier on from Warrant Holder’s nail-biting finish yesterday, another royal horse – King’s Prize – failed to bring home a victory for the King and Queen.
With Rossa Ryan at the helm, she sadly stayed towards the back of the pack most of the race and finished 22nd out of 25 on the Albany Stakes at 2.30pm on Friday.
She came out of the paddock at 28-1, so was expected to do much better in the race. The least favourite horse – Magnesium at 300-1 – finished ahead of King’s Prize, coming in at 18.
Warrant Holder – ridden by William Buik – set off with 16-5 odds to win
Charles and Camilla own dozens of thoroughbread racing horses together after inheriting more than 100 from the late Queen Elizabeth II
Royal horse Point Of Law – ridden by James Doyle – finished a respectable fourth at Group 2 Queen’s Vase on Wednesday
Golden Orbit took on the Ribblesdale Stakes this year on Thursday, but she finished in 10th place out of 12 races
There are seven more races at Ascot today between 2.30pm and 6.10pm – The Norfolk Stakes, Hardwicke Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Jersey Stakes, Wokingham Stakes, Golden Gates Stakes Handicap and the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
None of Charles and Camilla’s horses will be racing in any of them, sadly, as Warrant Holder represented the last opportunity for racing success yesterday.
