King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in a carriage to attend the first day of Royal Ascot 2023. Photo: WireImage/Samir Hussein
This Of course, this was not the first year that the King had been to Royal Ascot, but it was his first appearance as the chief man of the place. On Tuesday, he had one racehorse who was beaten by a horse that was named King's Champion.
Did this day turn a man who is said to be something of a racing agnostic? He had a significant advantage in having an experienced horse-loving campaigner by his side, and his wife made an early attempt to win over the favorites by introducing a stylish white tifera to bet on the «color of the queen's hat» at 3 -1.< /p>
Both she and the king seemed to enjoy the royal procession. The king took off his top hat during the national anthem and, once the band had finished, waved it in a suave, rather reserved motion under his arm, suggesting that a person could be downplayed while being applauded in a giant horse-drawn carriage while listening to a song about God highlighting them for special protection .
The welcome he received upon his arrival at the parade arena was warm and crowded, with people stretching out to watch, hundreds also watching from the hall above. He waved his hand, he seemed rather pleased; perhaps it's fair to assume that he might also be thinking of his dead mother.
He climbed out of the precariously tall wagon with a buoyant confidence, not bad for a guy in his seventies who's been tackling these obstacles for a long time. the first time, or at least the first time at the head of the herd.
Was the reception a degree or two less adoring than that of Elizabeth II? It's hard to say for sure, but the new monarch's attachment or indifference to the sport seems to be important for racing in general and for Royal Ascot in particular.
Racing under the pressure of protests needs its champions< p>It is said that one of the strengths of Elizabeth II was that she gave the public very limited access to her feelings and opinions, a blank canary-yellow canvas onto which people could project their thoughts about her, the monarchy, perhaps also the older generation or previous Britain.
< p>She liked bright hats, corgis, especially horses and horse racing. We know this, and so many people in the sport spoke warmly about her passion, her depth of knowledge. Racing under the pressure of protests and perhaps gambling legislation needs its stars and champions.
The king, in contrast to his mother's carefully controlled emotional abstinence, made his likes and dislikes public: organic food, modern architecture, that pen that made him a little hysterical during the coronation. Also, the woman who once bore the simple Camilla Parker-Bowles and reputedly the love of his life and finally his wife and queen.
He is not an incomprehensible person and is not afraid to express his displeasure, and even if it was not immediately noticeable from a distance on Tuesday, it is reasonable to assume that the races will know depth or other royal patronage soon enough. Will it be done out of a sense of duty or out of love?
The choice of other participants in the procession was cause for optimism, horse lovers cheer: trainer Willie Mullins was later called twice to the steward's room after the races, which may have distracted him from afternoon tea at the Royal Box. Let's hope the first and second places in the last race were tonic.
Also, Ralph Beckett, now coaching King's four two-year-olds; and the Princess Royal, who, as always, looked as if she was keen to get the hype out of the way and get down to the really important horse business. Some of the Queen's family members were also involved.
It wasn't all kinds of racing, though: the King's other interests were represented by Lady Bamford (an organic food preacher and racehorse owner/breeder) and the Duke of Gloucester (architect, but not a carbuncle).
After the death of Elizabeth II, the nation has a new head of state; It is not yet clear if racing has found its new face and we are waiting to see if the sport of kings will become the sport of this king.
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