With summer in full swing, all eyes turned once again to Berkshire as the second day of Royal Ascot brought a vibrant blend of high fashion, royal tradition, and world-class horse racing.
Guests stepped out in style, turning the prestigious event into a runway of color, couture, and confidence.
Guests Go All Out with Bold Style Choices
The crowds certainly didn’t disappoint on the fashion front.
Women dazzled in flowing maxi dresses, floral prints, and figure-hugging numbers, while the men looked especially sharp in their classic top hats and morning suits.
Eye-catching hats were the order of the day, with extravagant headpieces featuring feathers, lace, and floral accents drawing attention from all directions.
It was a celebration of elegance, with every attendee seemingly competing for the title of best dressed.
Royals Share the Spotlight at the Racecourse
Royal Ascot wouldn’t be complete without the presence of the Royal Family—and they delivered once again.
King Charles and Queen Camilla returned to the famous Berkshire racecourse, this time joined by a familiar yet new face in royal circles.
Harriet Sperling, an NHS nurse and the girlfriend of Peter Phillips (Princess Anne’s son), made her debut in the royal carriage procession, marking her official entrance into the public royal fold.
The King and Queen were seated in the first carriage alongside Prince Faisal from the Saudi royal family and Lady Sarah Keswick, one of Camilla’s companions.
Behind them rode Princess Anne, Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot, and the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.
In another carriage, Peter Phillips and Harriet sat together, looking every bit the graceful royal couple-in-waiting.
Familiar Royal Faces Among the Festivities
Other royals also mingled with the stylish crowd.
Princess Beatrice, her mother Sarah Ferguson, and Zara and Mike Tindall were all spotted enjoying the festivities.
While the late Queen Elizabeth II had long been associated with Royal Ascot, King Charles and Queen Camilla have continued her legacy, maintaining a strong presence at the event.
However, luck didn’t favour their stables on this particular day.
Their horse, Reaching High, failed to make a mark in the Ascot Stakes.
Still, their involvement continues a passionate tradition started by Queen Elizabeth, who celebrated more than 20 Royal Ascot wins during her 70-year reign.
Charles and Camilla enjoyed their first big win just last year when Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.
Racing Tradition Runs Deep at Royal Ascot
Beyond the glitz and glamour, the heart of Ascot remains the racing.
One of the main attractions on the second day was The Prince of Wales’s Stakes—an elite Group 1 race with a prize purse of £1 million.
First introduced in 1862 and named after Queen Victoria’s son (later King Edward VII), this race is known for testing both speed and stamina.
Last year, Auguste Rodin delivered a standout performance to win, following in the hoofprints of legendary horses like Muhtarram and Mtoto.
The race is notoriously tough on older horses—only two six-year-olds have managed to win it since 1995, making each run a dramatic showdown of younger talent against experienced contenders.
Packed Schedule of High-Stakes Racing
The day wasn’t just about one race.
A trio of Group 2 events—the Queen Mary Stakes, the Queen’s Vase, and the Duke of Cambridge Stakes—brought more high-stakes action to eager racegoers.
Wrapping up the day were the ever-popular Royal Hunt Cup, Windsor Castle Stakes, and Kensington Palace Stakes.
Altogether, Royal Ascot is offering over £10 million in prize money this week, with each race awarding at least £110,000 to its winners.
The Group 1 contests alone promise no less than £650,000 each, ensuring that every race is fiercely contested and worth watching.