It was eerily quiet at Royal Ascot today as the world famous race meeting began behind closed doors with no crowds, pomp or presentations.
More than 300,000 guests, dressed in their finery, usually gather for the five-day sporting and social highlight in Berkshire, but coronavirus safety measures mean no one is allowed to attend.
Pictures taken today showed the usually bustling grandstands and hospitality enclosures empty aside from the occasional member of staff.
At Windsor Castle, the Queen, 94, who has attended every meeting of her 68-year reign, will be watching her runners on television. The first race, The Buckingham Palace Stakes, begins at 1.15pm.
More than 300,000 guests, dressed in their finery, usually gather at Royal Ascot for the annual race meeting, but its grandstands were eerily quiet today (pictured) as the event was held behind closed doors
A woman takes a photo outside the Ascot Racecourse as the meeting geared up to open with the first races taking place in the afternoon
Pictures taken this morning showed the usually bustling grandstands and hospitality enclosures empty aside from the occasional member of staff. The first race, The Buckingham Palace Stakes, will begin at 1.15pm
At Windsor Castle, the Queen, 94, who has attended every meeting of her 68-year reign and has a number of runners, will be watching the coverage on television
Her Majesty has a number of runners including First Receiver, ridden by Frankie Dettori in the Queen’s racing colours, who will feature in the 1.50pm Ascot Hampton Court Stakes tomorrow.
The colt secured the Queen a win on the anniversary of her coronation at Kempton on June 2.
Later on Wednesday, the Queen also has Tactical riding in the 4.10 Ascot Windsor Castle Stakes.
She is also hoping her horse Punctuation will run in the 4.10 Ascot Queen’s Vase on Friday.
As an owner, the monarch will have access to a virtual Royal Ascot parade ring to be able to view her horses from the safety of Windsor where she has been staying for the past 13 weeks during the pandemic.
The new online Racing Hub has been set up in light of the restrictions this year, and features real time weather data and a live 360 degree parade ring camera feed.
Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot, said: ‘Whilst the ultimate experience of being at Royal Ascot sadly isn’t possible this year, we hope that what we are planning will make ownership at home as special as possible.
‘We are particularly pleased to be able to provide owners with a feed to the Parade Ring, and to be housing all the data that all horsemen need from real time weather and going reports to post race sectionals in one, convenient place.’
The Queen is known for her love of horses, her equestrian knowledge and her breeding of racehorses, and she traditionally attends Ascot each year.
In 1955, the event was postponed because of the national rail strike and held in July instead, but the Queen still attended with her sister Princess Margaret.
Royal Ascot last year, where the stands were full of spectators enjoying its famous hospitality – arguably as much of an attraction for spectators as the racing itself
The empty stand at Ascot this year, where coronavirus social distancing measures mean allowing in crowds would be impossible
The organisers of the Cheltenham Festival were criticised for going ahead with the event in March. Pictured is Ascot Racecourse today
A welcome to Ascot sign at the Ascot Racecourse, which would usually be thronging with visitors coming to watch the historic race meeting
In 1955, the event was postponed because of the national rail strike and held in July instead, but the Queen still attended with her sister Princess Margaret. Pictured is one of the racecourse’s car parks today
These ticket collection and sales booths at Ascot will remain unused this year as everyone is forced to watch the event on TV from home
In 2017, the Queen had to dash from the State Opening of Parliament to Ascot when her speech in the House of Lords fell on the second day of the meeting.
The Queen has won around £7 million in prize money from horse racing over the past three decades.
While there will be no royal carriage processions when the monarch and accompanying royals arrive along the track in horse-drawn landaus before heading to the Royal Enclosure, the National Anthem will be played 15 minutes before the first race each day.
As part of its Royal Ascot at Home campaign, the racecourse is inviting fans across the globe to dress up and wear a hat – whether a ladies’ hat, men’s top hat, panama, trilby or other racing hat – and share a selfie on social media using the hashtags #StyledWithThanks and #RoyalAscot.
Participants are being encouraged to donate £5 to support for four frontline charities – The National Emergencies Trust Relief Fund, NHS Charities Together, The Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund.
Only a jockey, groom and trainer or their representative are allowed per horse at the racecourse, and the traditionally strict dress codes have been suspended, with those allowed admission requested simply to dress smartly.
Royal Ascot flags on the high street in Ascot as the Royal Ascot meeting takes place behind closed doors during the coronavirus outbreak
The event usually features lavish displays of royal pomp. Pictured is the front gate, complete with a gold crown and union flags in the background