The King and Queen braved sweltering temperatures as they patiently wait for the first winner at Royal Ascot in 2026.

The royal couple led the royal carriage procession for the fourth day in a row, with King Charles wearing a suit despite soaring temperatures of 28 degrees. Queen Camilla wore blue for the sunny occasion, as she wore a sky blue long-sleeved dress with matching hat, as she accessorised with a silver and blue brooch.

Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall was also at the Berkshire race course today, although she did not join her uncle Charles in the royal carriage procession.

It comes after Camilla hailed Royal Ascot as the “Best of British” after a day at the races with Hollywood star Stanley Tucci yesterday.

The King and his wife hosted guests in the royal box and alongside the Devil Wears Prada actor and his wife Felicity Blunt were the Princess of Wales’ parents Carole and Michael Middleton and the Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Tindall.

Camilla said “I love it” when asked by ITV Racing about the enduring appeal of world-famous Berkshire meet but lamented her luck on the track after seeing two of her horses well beaten earlier this week, saying “you can but hope”.

The Queen praised the sartorial elegance of the female racegoers, when quizzed about Royal Ascot’s charm: “Well it’s the best of British really, isn’t it.

“I mean it doesn’t matter whether you love horses, don’t know much about horses, you come here for a really good day to experience a bit of fun, the best racing in the world, the best horses – the elegant women.

“And I think, the world we live in, it’s wonderful just to get away and enjoy yourself and that’s what Ascot does. You get the pageantry and the procession – I love it, it’s five days of pleasure.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla have taken on the late Queen Elizabeth’s role as racing’s most high-profile supporters and are expected to attend every day of the five-day meet.

They have continued to race the late Queen’s stable of horses and have become enthusiastic and passionate horse owners and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot win in 2023 when their thoroughbred Desert Hero won the King George V Stakes.

When offered good luck for her remaining runners yesterday, Camilla replied: “Oh goodness me we need that, a long shot today but maybe tomorrow, you can but hope.”