The Queen absent from royal procession as it returns following pandemic

The Queen was not part of the royal procession on day one of Royal Ascot 2022 on Tuesday.

Racing's most famous owner-breeder, who missed the Derby meeting that formed part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations this month, has long played a central role in racing's most fashionable week, but was not among those in the carriages for the traditional royal procession.

Not staged since 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it featured the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandson, in its first carriage.

"I am delighted to welcome you to the first Royal Ascot with a full attendance since 2019," the Queen wrote in the raceday programme for day one of the meeting.

"After the challenges of recent times, this year's royal meeting provides a long-awaited opportunity for supporters of racing from all over the world to come together for five days of outstanding sport.

"Once again, it is thrilling that horses from around the globe have travelled to Royal Ascot to compete at the highest level.

"I have been most grateful for the continued kindness shown to me by the racing community. In my Platinum Jubilee year, I was interested to learn that in support of The Queen's Green Canopy initiative, Ascot Racecourse and the Crown Estate have planted seventy oak trees in Windsor Great Park, each of which is linked to a local school.

"I hope you all have an enjoyable and memorable time, and I wish connections of the horses running this week the very best of luck."

Successful in 24 races at Royal Ascot, the Queen has an interesting contender in the King's Stand Stakes (3.40) on Tuesday in the form of the Andrew Balding-trained King's Lynn, a sprinter long held in high regard who produced a career-best when landing Haydock's Temple Stakes last time.

The mount of David Probert, he is a general 12-1 to provide connections with a famous victory, while the Queen's distinctive purple and red silks are also due to be on show on Wednesday when recent Newbury winner Perfect Alibi contests the Queen's Vase.

Further interest comes on Thursday via Saga (Britannia Stakes), Reach For The Moon (Hampton Court) and Tactical (Buckingham Palace Stakes).

Her first success at the royal meeting was Choir Boy in the 1953 Hunt Cup, while her most memorable was arguably Estimate in the Gold Cup nine years ago.

Now 96, the Queen recently became the second longest-serving monarch of all time behind Louis XIV of France.

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