Royals celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot 2025
It was a glorious start to Royal Ascot 2025 today.
The sun shone down brightly on the racecourse throughout the day and the Royal Family was out in force for the impressive Royal Procession, which has been taking place for 200 years, and marks the start of the racing day.
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal Procession, King Charles was joined by Queen Camilla in the first of the carriages that arrived in the parade ring.
Princess Anne was also part of the Royal Procession, with Peter Phillips accompanied in one of the carriages by his girlfriend Harriet Sperling.
Zara and Mike Tindall arrived on foot, rather than in one of the four carriages, and they were seen holding hands as they made their way across the parade ring, closely followed by Sarah Ferguson.
Sarah’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, was also in attendance with her husband Edoardo Mapelli.
There is no occasion quite like Royal Ascot when it comes to turning up the style stakes.
Guests dared to impressed with an array of stunning hats and fascinators, which were paired with some beautiful dresses.
The fashion on show throughout Day One of Royal Ascot was striking, unique and vibrant.
The sun accentuated the vivacious colours, with rich pinks, turquoise blues and bright yellows popular among the crowds. Many guests also opted for a touch of sparkle this year, too.
The carparks were full of delicious and often extravagant picnics.
The trend for tablescaping has grown in recent years and many of the alfresco dining setups now feature beautiful floral centrepieces and tableware. Champagne and rose were the drinks of choice.
Inside the gates, the Queen Anne Enclosure was extremely busy.
Meanwhile, the Royal Enclosure was relatively calm in comparison. This is to be expected on day one of Royal Ascot. It is customary on both the first and second days of this globally renowned racing fixture to only allow members into the Royal Enclosure, with guest passes reserved for later in the week.
The action on the track was fantastic and the first race ensured that proceedings began with a bang.
A slow start failed to deter the ambitions of Docklands, who ran an extraordinary race that resulted in a photo finish and a thrilling win for this Harry Eustace-trained horse.
The weather forecast is excellent for the coming week and this year’s Royal Ascot promises guests more fantastic racing, fabulous fashion and fervent fun over the coming days.
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