King Charles is overcome with emotion as he watches his horse Hero of the Desert win at Royal Ascot. Photo: Max Mumby
The late Queen has rarely looked happier than when she had a winning horse at Royal Ascot.
So when her son saw one of his runners cross the finish line for the first time on Thursday damn a race winner, it was only natural for his first thought to be his mother — and it brought tears to his eyes.
The King was visibly moved as he watched the Desert Hero, an 18-1 shot, bred by the deceased monarch, won King George V's stakes and «kept his dream» at his favorite racing event.
The emotional king honored his winner at the Royal Box alongside Queen Camilla, who wiped her tears next to a smiling Princess Anne in a touching show of solidarity.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are delighted that Tom Marquand, dressed in the colors of the king, wins King George V's bets in the Hero of the Desert game. /06/f0a55cdc39c9dd799fabccee3b91d7f1.jpg» /> The Queen wipes her eyes after her victory, accompanied by the Princess Royal and Royal Race Manager John Warren. Photo: Max Mumby
His niece Zara Tindall noted that it was a «bittersweet» moment for the family because their thoughts would have been «how proud and excited our grandmother, the Queen, would have been.»
«But get a winner for Charles and Camilla and keeping that dream alive was incredible,” she said.
The late queen was crazy about the sport, enjoying 24 Royal Ascot winners over six decades and always proudly celebrating her horses.
She was a keen Thoroughbred owner and breeder during her 70-year reign and visited every ascot until last year when she decided to watch the horse races on TV from Windsor Castle.
For the first time in her reign, she did not attend the event in person, and now her son is demonstrating his determination to take up the mantle.
Thursday's race was a thrilling victory for king and queen as the three-year-old Hero of the Desert fought head to head in the final stages.
In his apparent post-race excitement, The Monarch tipped over the trophy the winner on a pedestal, and then grinned happily and lifted him with the help of the Duke of Kent.
The Duke of Kent presents the winner's cup to the King and Queen. Photo: The Telegraph/Eddie Mulholland
On this occasion, the king became the first winner of the week, having lost the previous three races on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Winning his first Ascot since ascending the throne was probably especially sharp for a king. The king, like his mother, also won his first horse racing victory immediately after his coronation.
She won two weeks and four days after she was crowned in 1953, while His Majesty's victory came six weeks and five days after his coronation on May 6.
Their Majesties celebrated with pleasure victory, and then descended into the winners' enclosure to congratulate jockey Tom Marquand and thank coach William Haggas.
which Marquand rides (on the right), marks the valiant king on the line. Photo: PA/David Davies. .
The Queen is known to be a big fan of racing and paid tribute to her late mother-in-law on the first day of the Royal Ascot by wearing the family's diamond brooch previously worn by Elizabeth II.
The King, however, did not inherit from his mother her passion for racing.
He and the Queen have jointly owned several horses over the years, but in 2021 his wife said «he's the kind of person who likes to participate rather than watch, he loves being part of the sport.»
Despite this, it is said that he was «trying to really learn about the entire industry.»
The monarch's visible look of emotion and excitement on Thursday may now help ensure his sustained interest in racing , even if it is not yet in the interest of the late Queen.
Mrs Tyndall, daughter of the Princess Royal, said: “Like all these owners who come here and win a horse, to have this dream, this hope and actually to pull it off is incredible.
“And the horses are really the main game. That's why we participate and love them and the competition. That adrenaline. It's indescribable.»
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