At precisely 2pm the Royal Procession arrives ahead of an afternoon of world-class racing. The stage is set for an extraordinary five days. For the racing purist, this is undeniably the most unmissable day of the whole week, and is spearheaded by three impeccable Group 1 contests – The Queen Anne Stakes, King’s Stand Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes.

Those in the know adore this day - one that is both relaxed off the track and intense on it, with the highlight of a competitive card the prestigious Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. It ends to be a more gently-paced occasion than the opening day of the Royal Meeting, yet there is no compromise on quality in terms of both the racing and the enjoyment away from the track. 

Vibrant, celebratory and steeped in tradition, the third day of Royal Ascot, colloquially known as Ladies Day, is a day to see and be seen. It is a glorious occasion, when high fashion and millinery masterpieces take centre stage alongside Flat racing’s most elite stayers locking horns in the historic Gold Cup.

The penultimate day of Royal Ascot features two Group 1 races, as Europe’s finest three-year-old fillies do battle in the Coronation Stakes and a field of exciting young sprinters contest the Commonwealth Cup. The Friday has a personality all of its own, guaranteeing plenty of drama for the racing enthusiast as well as a wonderfully sociable occasion for all.

Amidst the unique whirlwind of excitement and colour that makes Royal Ascot so special, an exceptional card featuring the £1m Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes, one of the world’s greatest international sprints, ensures a fitting finale to an unforgettable week.