In a mix of anticipation and disappointment, King Charles and Queen Camilla experienced an emotional moment at Royal Ascot yesterday when their horse fell short, finishing in second place.
A video making rounds on social media captures the royal couple’s fervor as they cheered for their prized horse, Warrant Holder, masterfully ridden by William Buick.
The thrilling Duke of Edinburgh Stakes climaxed in a fiercely competitive final stretch, where Warrant Holder contended against James McDonald piloting Opportunity at 3.40 pm.
However, New Zealander McDonald clinched victory, overtaking the King’s favored horse, leaving Charles and Camilla to watch their dreams dim with the last hope slipping from their grasp.
Unfortunately for the royal stable, none of King Charles’s five horses managed to clinch a win this year, even though the bookmakers had placed high odds on their triumphs.
The King – dressed in a grey morning suit with a pale yellow waistcoat and blue tie – was filmed across the stands, appearing to call out ‘Go on!’ while bobbing up and down as if he was riding Warrant Holder, who set off at 16-5 odds with the bookies.
An equally enthralled Queen Camilla stood beside him, dressed in a light blue dress and a matching brimmed hat, and looked to be watching the race on a screen behind the railing of the box they stood in.
As Opportunity pulled out ahead and took victory, Charles’ face turned to a grimace before quickly reverting to a grin – appreciating the sportsmanship.
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.