THE SPORT OF KINGS ~ Royal Ascot 2012

The bunting by The Bandstand at Ascot Racecourse

Having looked forward to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and Royal Ascot for so long it's now nearly over. Let's hope that summer returns after this winter like weather intermission!

The day that we attended Royal Ascot the weather was kind and the sun shone on proceedings. Not only is the location beautiful and the horses magnificent but people watching is wonderful. We saw some fabulous outfits and you have to look at all the little details, there are small treasures dotted all about. Especially crowns! 

A pile of champagne coloured silk cushions to rest on in the Moet Stand

The beautiful geraniums by the table areas

'Rembrandt' lions flank the crown gates

A little like Alice in Wonderland
A signpost topped by a crown in the Royal Enclosure

There are crowns everywhere! The crown gates into the racecourse

The Royal Box from the parade ring side

You can just make out the Royal Box balcony, with the flower trim and heraldry

Even the saddlecloths are adorned with a crown.
This one is worn by the star of the meeting -
FRANKEL.

A bit of fun - the Budgie in the flowers on this hat!

Just one stunning colourful hat, there were so many

UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
and his wife Princess Haya in the parade ring with their horse

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the main parade ring

The traditional sing along in the bandstand after racing

The song book

  

The band - don't you love her hat?

All over for another year
Catching the parking lot bus back to the car

And ... for a meeting which has it all, the most perfect ending to Friday. A winner for the Queen when her 3 year old filly 'Estimate', who was favourite for the race, wins the Queen's Vase. It's her first winner at the meeting since Free Agent landed the Chesham in 2008 and her 21st winner at the royal meeting overall. And as she usually gives the winner of this race the award, her husband The Duke Of Edinburgh presented it to her. Something that has never happened before.

The meeting ends tomorrow, and the Austalian superstar unbeaten mare Black Caviar makes her debut in England. We are not there but it would be such fun to see all of her fans who have travelled over from Oz en masse to cheer her on. Good luck to them all!

THE SPORT OF KINGS ~ June is for Royal Ascot

Anne Marie O'Brien.
Wearing his colours on the day Yeats made it 4 Gold Cups.

For me June is all about weddings, garden parties, Pimms, lovely floppy blossoms, big hats and of course a Midsummer Nights Dream. But just before the Shakespeare comes another great pageant. Royal Ascot. Next week. I would not miss it for anything.

Most of these photos are from an article we did for a magazine in 2009.

The Queen and the royal party arriving in the parade ring

It's a week long heady combination of fashion and the best horseracing in the world on the most stunning racecourse imaginable. It's a week where dreams come true and extraordinary things do happen to ordinary people - like us! The Queen attends every day and her arrival heralds the first race. Both the people and the horses appreciate temperate weather for this week, nothing too hot, or too cold and definitely not rainy. 

In the great scheme of matters much more important it is a week of frivolity - but it is often the small things in life which give us the greatest pleasure and long lasting memories.

Last year Ascot Racecourse celebrated the 300th anniversary of it's creation. Every year those of us who follow horseracing, fashion and the royal family look forward to the week. We always attend at least one day and we had 4 of the most glorious years of our lives there with one great horse, named Yeats,  who won year after year on Ladies Day, setting a record. We will never forget him. A bronze of him now resides in the main parde ring where he will overlook proceedings forever.

But Royal Ascot is full of great horses and each year we hail the current heroes and heroines. This year everyone is looking forward to the presence of an Australian legend, an unbeaten mare named Black Caviar.

This current weather is not fuelling the familar anticipation as I wonder if I own anything suitable  which I would be allowed onto the racecourse wearing. There is a strict dress code, especially in the Royal Enclosure where either well connected friends or your ancestors gain you entry. 

A wonderful old Royal Enclosure badge. Sadly they are now not so beautiful.

This beauty attended on Ladies Day in the 1920s.
But she would never be allowed into the Royal Enclosure with those pretty, but bare shoulders!

I fear I will end up a bedraggled wraith on the day whatever I wear. Our usual picnic in the car park will resemble a Mad Tea Party. Brollies will turn inside out in the wind. But on the day the racing will still be grand. Despite the celebrities who attend, the horses are the real stars all week.  

The wonderfully talented and beautiful opera singer Katherine Jenkins
singing in the bandstand after racing.

Prince Phillip presents a trophy to owners Mr and Mrs Derek Smith.

It is a perfect place to people watch. You see everything from ridiculously expensive outfits to those lovingly sewn and resourced vintage. There are celebrities galore, serious couture and fun in equal measure.

A couple we snapped one year.

Dapper gentlemen.
Two of the Queen's guards pose for us. 

It all kicks off next Tuesday when we will be there. It's always spectacular and so much work goes into it by so many people. This year, with the Diamond Jubilee as well it will be a once in a lifetime event and I feel very lucky to be able to be there. I hope my spirits rise to the occasion - and that the sun shines just a little more than it is doing today.

CELEBRATIONS - Diamond Jubilee

The flotilla of boats by Tower Bridge.
Photo by Facunda Arrizabalaga - EPA

We live in a very peaceful little patch of English countryside and seldom venture out of it. It was madness of course, but we are glad that we went to London to see the Queen. It is not often that you have the opportunity to witness a Diamond Jubilee.

It was quite a pilgrimage. We drove halfway, to a station, to catch the train to Paddington and then a tube to Sloane Square. It was like stepping into the Tardis - so many memories came flooding back.  We headed for the Embankment just by Chelsea Bridge. 

Once upon a time, before I resided in this green and pleasant land I only visited and when I did,  I stayed just off the King's Road. Years later we were married at Chelsea Registry Office. Being there made me feel nostalgic for those days. It was a magical time and place in the 60s and 70s  It's still magical, and despite the weather (more on that later) it was wonderful to have a walk around my old haunts. Although I no longer want to live with the pace of life in London, there are some enchanting places there that will always be special to me. I fairly skipped up the King's Road towards the river.

The shops in the King's Road were well decorated. 

Cath Kidston's window

Ted Baker's window

I loved this window!

It is typical that the weather before the Diamond Jubilee week was warm and wonderful and on the day it rained ..... and rained. But Britain is green for a reason and all those lovely little patchwork squares of land would not be so pretty if they were brown. So, we just took our umbrellas, like everyone else.

Patriotic rain macs

The perfect pub to come across on the way.

These ladies were fabulously attired, wonderful to see people make an effort.

It was very crowded, the news estimated that a million people went. So much to see, both on the streets and the river. It was impossible to capture it all, I took many photos, but most of it is just tucked away in the memory now.

Everyone cheered and shouted as the Queen passed in the royal barge. It was a fantastic atmosphere that gave me, a history fanatic, a small glimpse into what it might have been like in the days of Charles II, or Henry VIII when the river played such a huge part in both daily life and good and bad occasions.

The royal barge by the Houses of Parliament
photo by Matt Candy, Getty

The weather forced cancellation of the flypast finale along The Thames and once the Queen had passed us the rain came down in buckets. We dashed back to the King's Road to a few favourite haunts for cover, shopping and coffee,  and then we had a long journey home.

This young boy watching the pagentry with wonder is the image I will most remember.

CELEBRATIONS ~ The Diamond Jubilee Long Weekend

Downing Street decorated for the Diamond Jubilee
photo from the Prime Minister's Office



Diamond Jubilee Decorations in our village

The official logo

There are some things in life which you know you will only have the privilege to witness once. We should not miss them.

Having always loved history, and especially British history I feel privilged to be here for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

For a nation who normally show reserve it is heartwarming to see how so many are celebrating and have made the effort to show their support for their monarchy, their families, friends and neighbours - and their country. 

Cities, towns and villages are decorated like I've never seen them. On Sunday there are fetes all over Britain where people will be sharing food, drinks and good company with neighbours and friends at picnics and street parties. Grandmothers have been asked to share their secret recipes for trifle and the Pimms will be ready. Gardens are in full bloom and hopefully the sun will shine for everyone.

It all kicks off on Saturday with her usual visit to The Derby where Her Majesty is always warmly welcomed by the racegoers. Well, it is, after all, The Sport of Kings. (And Queens, of course!)  And who should win it this year? The Queen does not have a runner in the race this year but should the favourite Camelot win, it would be quite an appropriate name in this Diamond Jubilee year.

The Queen celebrating a winner at Epsom on Derby day. Photo by Kent Gavin.

We feel sad to miss the celebrations in our own little village, but we're going to London on Sunday to see the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, which should be spectacular. Imagine the possibility of nearly 1,000 boats from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in the 'Gloriana', the Royal Barge as the centrepiece of the flotilla.  The flotilla will include Venetian gondolas, a Chinese dragon boat, kayaks, motorboats and a 19th century French trading ship. A million people are expected to line the riverbanks during the three-hour event. A sight like this has not been seen since 1662 when King Charles II used The Thames to introduce his country to his new bride, Queen ­Catherine of Braganza.

 Read more about the pageant here:

But this does not take anything away from the humble celebrations of Her Majesty's subjects.

Getting out the bunting!
Photo from the Daily Mail