King Charles and Queen Camilla Attend Their First Royal Ascot as Monarchs

The Queen's family was present for the occasion, joining the royal couple in continuing one of Britain's most cherished traditions for the first time since being crowned.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a stately entrance at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, leading the Royal Procession on the opening day of the historic horse racing event. This marked their first Royal Ascot as reigning monarchs, further cementing their place in a tradition deeply cherished by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Camilla paid tribute to her late mother-in-law by wearing the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, a piece previously owned by the Queen Mother and worn by Queen Elizabeth II during Royal Ascot in 2019. The fashion choice served as a poignant nod to the former monarch's enduring legacy at Ascot, where 24 of her racehorses famously claimed victories over the years.

Continuing a tradition they upheld in 2022, King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, rode in the first horse-drawn landau of the Royal Procession, waving to crowds as they paraded along the track at Ascot Racecourse.

The Royal Ascot spans five days and is regarded as one of the highlights of the British social calendar. With origins dating back to 1711 when Queen Anne founded the racecourse, Ascot has maintained its royal ties for over three centuries.