History was made on Thursday when King Charles and Queen Camilla had their first ever winner at Royal Ascot.
Their majesties, attending the world famous race five-day meeting for the first time since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, were the centre of joyous scenes when Desert Hero got up on the line in a thrilling climax to the King George V Stakes.
The King and Queen, who now jointly own the royal string of thoroughbreds, had endured a winless first two days of the fixture.
They had had three runners with their best finish a fourth place from Circle Of Fire in Wednesday’s Queen’s Vase.
Desert Hero, trained by William Haggas, son-in-law of the late Lester Piggott, was an 18-1 chance and had a lot to do from the turn yet flashed home under Tom Marquand to win by a head.
It was the royal family’s most significant winner since Estimate won the Gold Cup in 2006 for Queen Elizabeth II, for whom Royal Ascot was a personal highlight
The colt was paraded in front of a cheering packed grandstand and the Royal Box by Marquard.
An emotional jockey said: “Genuinely this is probably one of my proudest moments in the saddle so far.
“It’s not of the same level of Estimate in the Gold Cup but I grew up watching horses like that win for Her Majesty the Queen and to ride His Majesty the King’s first Royal Ascot winner is a dream.
“Royal Ascot is the pinnacle and riding a royal winner is so so special.”
The King and Queen were accompanied by the Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Tindall to the trophy presentation, made by the Duke of Kent
Zara Tindall, speaking to ITV, said: "It's bitter-sweet. How proud and excited our grandmother the Queen would have been.
"To have a winner for Charles and Camilla and keep that dream alive was incredible. Besides all of that what a race!
"It's a new excitement. Like all those owners that come here, have a horse here. Having that dream, that hope and actually fulfilling it is incredible. That adernaline when you win is undescribable"
