40 Photos From the Royal Ascot, the Queen's Favorite Event of the Year

  • <p><a href="https://www.ascot.co.uk/Royal-Ascot" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:The Royal Ascot" class="link ">The Royal Ascot</a> races are a highlight of the British social calendar, not only for the Queen, who loves nothing more than to watch a little horse racing, but also for anyone who loves to wear a good hat, as toppers are a must.</p><p> In honor of the annual event, we're taking a look back at the Royal Ascot throughout history. </p>
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    40 Photos From the Royal Ascot, the Queen's Favorite Event of the Year

    The Royal Ascot races are a highlight of the British social calendar, not only for the Queen, who loves nothing more than to watch a little horse racing, but also for anyone who loves to wear a good hat, as toppers are a must.

    In honor of the annual event, we're taking a look back at the Royal Ascot throughout history.

    Stuart C. Wilson - Getty Images
  • <p>The Prince Of Wales at the Ascot races with <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a9967591/wallis-simpson-prince-edward-wedding/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:his future wife, Wallis Simpson" class="link ">his future wife, Wallis Simpson</a>. </p>
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    1935

    The Prince Of Wales at the Ascot races with his future wife, Wallis Simpson.

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  • <p>Queen Elizabeth cheers on her horse from the royal box.</p>
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    1951

    Queen Elizabeth cheers on her horse from the royal box.

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  • <p>Queen Elizabeth II with her horse, Aureole, after it came in first.</p>
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    1954

    Queen Elizabeth II with her horse, Aureole, after it came in first.

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  • <p>Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret in front of the crowds.</p>
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    1955

    Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret in front of the crowds.

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  • <p>The Queen and Prince Philip on their way to the races.</p>
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    1957

    The Queen and Prince Philip on their way to the races.

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  • <p>The Queen and Princess Margaret with the Queen's racehorse, Restoration.</p>
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    1958

    The Queen and Princess Margaret with the Queen's racehorse, Restoration.

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  • <p>In 1966, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco attended the annual event.</p>
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    1966

    In 1966, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco attended the annual event.

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  • <p>Princess Margaret and her mother arrive at the Ascot.</p>
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    1967

    Princess Margaret and her mother arrive at the Ascot.

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  • <p>Princess Anne in a jockey cap alongside her escort, the Duke of Beaufort.</p>
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    1969

    Princess Anne in a jockey cap alongside her escort, the Duke of Beaufort.

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  • <p>Prince Charles and Princess Anne arriving at the event.</p>
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    1972

    Prince Charles and Princess Anne arriving at the event.

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  • <p>The Queen swaps her brimmed hat for a turban-inspired style.</p>
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    1973

    The Queen swaps her brimmed hat for a turban-inspired style.

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  • <p>Diana, Princess of Wales, with the Duchess of York</p>
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    1987

    Diana, Princess of Wales, with the Duchess of York

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  • <p>Diana at the Royal Ascot.</p>
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    1988

    Diana at the Royal Ascot.

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  • <p>Diana in the center of a crowd of hatted racegoers.</p>
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    1989

    Diana in the center of a crowd of hatted racegoers.

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  • <p>Diana, Princess of Wales, arrives on the first day of the Royal Ascot.</p>
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    1990

    Diana, Princess of Wales, arrives on the first day of the Royal Ascot.

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  • <p>Princess Diana with Sarah Ferguson.</p>
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    1991

    Princess Diana with Sarah Ferguson.

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  • <p>The Queen Mother and <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/g3198/princess-margaret-life-pictures/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Princess Margaret" class="link ">Princess Margaret</a> in the carriage procession.<br></p>
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    1996

    The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret in the carriage procession.

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  • <p>Sophie, the Countess of Wessex arrives by carriage.</p>
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    2002

    Sophie, the Countess of Wessex arrives by carriage.

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  • <p>Queen Elizabeth II presents Prince Harry with a gift after a polo match during the Royal Ascot.</p>
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    2003

    Queen Elizabeth II presents Prince Harry with a gift after a polo match during the Royal Ascot.

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  • <p>Prince William gives his gran a kiss at the polo match following the second day of the Royal Ascot.</p>
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    2004

    Prince William gives his gran a kiss at the polo match following the second day of the Royal Ascot.

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  • <p>The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh wave to the crowds.</p>
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    2005

    The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh wave to the crowds.

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  • <p>Zara Phillips in a leopard-print style.</p>
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    2007

    Zara Phillips in a leopard-print style.

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  • <p>A sea of hats on Ladies Day.</p>
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    2007

    A sea of hats on Ladies Day.

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  • <p>Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive by carriage at the event.</p>
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    2009

    Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive by carriage at the event.

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  • <p>Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice of York attend Royal Ascot Ladies Day.</p>
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    2010

    Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice of York attend Royal Ascot Ladies Day.

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  • <p>Princess Eugenie of York and her grandmother attend Day 1 of Royal Ascot.</p>
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    2013

    Princess Eugenie of York and her grandmother attend Day 1 of Royal Ascot.

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  • <p>Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend day 2 of Royal Ascot</p>
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    2013

    Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend day 2 of Royal Ascot

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  • <p>The Queen with Princess Anne and her horse, Estimate.</p>
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    2013

    The Queen with Princess Anne and her horse, Estimate.

  • <p>The Royal Procession</p>
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    2014

    The Royal Procession

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  • <p>Her Majesty talks with jockeys Jamie Spencer and Sean Levey before they ride her horses.</p>
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    2015

    Her Majesty talks with jockeys Jamie Spencer and Sean Levey before they ride her horses.

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  • <p>Duchess Kate in a gorgeous cream-colored fascinator at the 2016 event. </p>
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    2016

    Duchess Kate in a gorgeous cream-colored fascinator at the 2016 event.

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  • <p>The Queen presenting a jockey with an award at the 2017 races.</p>
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    2017

    The Queen presenting a jockey with an award at the 2017 races.

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  • <p>The Duchess of Sussex made her royal ascot debut just a few weeks after the royal wedding in 2018.</p>
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    2018

    The Duchess of Sussex made her royal ascot debut just a few weeks after the royal wedding in 2018.

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  • <p>Sophie, the Countess of Wessex appears to be disappointed in how a race turned out.</p>
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    2018

    Sophie, the Countess of Wessex appears to be disappointed in how a race turned out.

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  • <p>Racegoers take shelter from the rainstorm.</p>
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    2019

    Racegoers take shelter from the rainstorm.

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  • <p>The Duchess of Cambridge arrives in a carriage on day one of the races.</p>
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    2019

    The Duchess of Cambridge arrives in a carriage on day one of the races.

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  • <p>After a year break due to COVID-19, the royals returned to Ascot in 2021. Here is Princess Anne, masked up and speaking with her daughter Zara. </p>
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    2021

    After a year break due to COVID-19, the royals returned to Ascot in 2021. Here is Princess Anne, masked up and speaking with her daughter Zara.

    Andrew Matthews - PA Images - Getty Images
  • <p>Camilla, Charles, and Edward, taking in the races</p>
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    2021

    Camilla, Charles, and Edward, taking in the races

    Andrew Matthews - PA Images - Getty Images
  • <p>While the Queen wasn't at the opening day, several of her family members were in attendance to kick off the event, including Zara and Mike Tindall.</p>
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    2022

    While the Queen wasn't at the opening day, several of her family members were in attendance to kick off the event, including Zara and Mike Tindall.

    Chris Jackson - Getty Images
  • <p>Prince Charles and Sophie having a laugh one day one of this year's races.</p>
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    2022

    Prince Charles and Sophie having a laugh one day one of this year's races.

    Chris Jackson - Getty Images
<p><a href="https://www.ascot.co.uk/Royal-Ascot" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:The Royal Ascot" class="link ">The Royal Ascot</a> races are a highlight of the British social calendar, not only for the Queen, who loves nothing more than to watch a little horse racing, but also for anyone who loves to wear a good hat, as toppers are a must.</p><p> In honor of the annual event, we're taking a look back at the Royal Ascot throughout history. </p>
<p>The Prince Of Wales at the Ascot races with <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a9967591/wallis-simpson-prince-edward-wedding/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:his future wife, Wallis Simpson" class="link ">his future wife, Wallis Simpson</a>. </p>
<p>Queen Elizabeth cheers on her horse from the royal box.</p>
<p>Queen Elizabeth II with her horse, Aureole, after it came in first.</p>
<p>Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret in front of the crowds.</p>
<p>The Queen and Prince Philip on their way to the races.</p>
<p>The Queen and Princess Margaret with the Queen's racehorse, Restoration.</p>
<p>In 1966, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco attended the annual event.</p>
<p>Princess Margaret and her mother arrive at the Ascot.</p>
<p>Princess Anne in a jockey cap alongside her escort, the Duke of Beaufort.</p>
<p>Prince Charles and Princess Anne arriving at the event.</p>
<p>The Queen swaps her brimmed hat for a turban-inspired style.</p>
<p>Diana, Princess of Wales, with the Duchess of York</p>
<p>Diana at the Royal Ascot.</p>
<p>Diana in the center of a crowd of hatted racegoers.</p>
<p>Diana, Princess of Wales, arrives on the first day of the Royal Ascot.</p>
<p>Princess Diana with Sarah Ferguson.</p>
<p>The Queen Mother and <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/g3198/princess-margaret-life-pictures/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Princess Margaret" class="link ">Princess Margaret</a> in the carriage procession.<br></p>
<p>Sophie, the Countess of Wessex arrives by carriage.</p>
<p>Queen Elizabeth II presents Prince Harry with a gift after a polo match during the Royal Ascot.</p>
<p>Prince William gives his gran a kiss at the polo match following the second day of the Royal Ascot.</p>
<p>The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh wave to the crowds.</p>
<p>Zara Phillips in a leopard-print style.</p>
<p>A sea of hats on Ladies Day.</p>
<p>Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive by carriage at the event.</p>
<p>Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice of York attend Royal Ascot Ladies Day.</p>
<p>Princess Eugenie of York and her grandmother attend Day 1 of Royal Ascot.</p>
<p>Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend day 2 of Royal Ascot</p>
<p>The Queen with Princess Anne and her horse, Estimate.</p>
<p>The Royal Procession</p>
<p>Her Majesty talks with jockeys Jamie Spencer and Sean Levey before they ride her horses.</p>
<p>Duchess Kate in a gorgeous cream-colored fascinator at the 2016 event. </p>
<p>The Queen presenting a jockey with an award at the 2017 races.</p>
<p>The Duchess of Sussex made her royal ascot debut just a few weeks after the royal wedding in 2018.</p>
<p>Sophie, the Countess of Wessex appears to be disappointed in how a race turned out.</p>
<p>Racegoers take shelter from the rainstorm.</p>
<p>The Duchess of Cambridge arrives in a carriage on day one of the races.</p>
<p>After a year break due to COVID-19, the royals returned to Ascot in 2021. Here is Princess Anne, masked up and speaking with her daughter Zara. </p>
<p>Camilla, Charles, and Edward, taking in the races</p>
<p>While the Queen wasn't at the opening day, several of her family members were in attendance to kick off the event, including Zara and Mike Tindall.</p>
<p>Prince Charles and Sophie having a laugh one day one of this year's races.</p>
In this article:
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  • Diana, Princess of Wales
    Diana, Princess of Wales
    First wife of Charles, Prince of Wales (1961-1997)
  • Elizabeth II
    Elizabeth II
    Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
  • Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
    Younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
  • Anne, Princess Royal
    Anne, Princess Royal
    Daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
  • Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
    Queen consort of King George VI, mother of Queen Elizabeth II
  • Charles, Prince of Wales
    Charles, Prince of Wales
    Eldest son and heir-apparent of Queen Elizabeth II (born 1948)
  • Grace Kelly
    American actress and Princess consort of Monaco
  • Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
    Duke of Cambridge

Take a look back at Royal Ascot with photos of the annual horse racing event from 1935 until now.

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