The Queen does love a sunny day at the track!
The British monarch was spotted beaming and having an animated discussion on the races in the royal box at the Epsom Derby in Epsom Downs on Saturday, while wearing a cheerful lemon-coloured coat over a floral dress, with a matching lemon, flowered hat and a three-string pearl necklace.
Queen Elizabeth studied the racing guide closely while discussing the form with her racing manager John Warren. The monarch was at the races without Prince Philip, but accompanied by her cousin Princess Alexandra, who looked continues to be a working royal at the age of 80.
The Queen very familiar with the course at Epsom, having missed the annual event only twice in her 65-year reign. The Epsom Derby is Britain’s richest race, with a $2.6 million prize purse, and the Queen has run at least 10 horses in the derby herself over the years, although she’s never had a winner. The closes she’s come has been a second place in 1953 and a third in 2011.
Security was high at the racecourse yesterday, following the recent terror attack in Manchester, with chief superintendent Jerry Westerman from the Surrey Policy telling The Express that the force had reviewed its approach to policing the event.
“People attending will notice tighter security measures and firearms officers in and around the Derby grounds which we feel people have a right to expect and are commonly seen at large events of this type,” he said.
It’s been a busy few days for Queen Elizabeth, who on Friday hosted her second garden party of the summer at Buckingham Palace, on that occasion wearing a light blue matching coat and dress, with a ruffled parasol and hat to protect her from the sun.