She only missed one Royal Ascot in her 70-year reign, and as King Charles celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s birthday, he reportedly told aides he wanted to attend the 5-day horseracing event despite his ongoing cancer treatment as a way of honoring his mother the late monarch.
Sunday, April 21, 2024, would have been Queen Elizabeth‘s 98th birthday. Grant Harrold, who served Charles and Camilla from 2004 to 2011, explained how the King and Queen Consort Camilla would celebrate. “Privately, I have no doubt they’ll raise a toast to her in the evening. I’m sure the day will very much be spent reflecting on the late Queen,” Harrold told Slingo.
“I can almost guarantee that if you were to go to Windsor Castle that day, it’s very likely there’ll be some flowers on the tomb that have been sent by the family members,” he added. “Sometimes on royal anniversaries, flowers are sent to royal graves. It’s very possible there will be flowers on the tombstone.”
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It comes after the King, who is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed kind of cancer, reportedly told royal aides he plans to attend Royal Ascot. “Racing is an important part of the legacy that he inherited from his mother and one that he treasures. That’s why he will be so keen to go,” an insider told the Daily Mail.
“Ascot is the perfect event for his current ‘bubble’-style distancing preferences – there will be lots of fresh air and plenty of chances to be seen by Royal fans who will be desperate to get a glimpse. I would bet that he attends on Tuesday, the day of the King Charles III stakes,” another source said.
Johnno Spence, CEO of horse racing firm, JSC Comms, told the Mail: “This is welcome news for racegoers as it means he is on the mend and the King and Queen are a crucial part of Royal Ascot and horse racing in general.”
He continued: “Many people buy tickets to Royal Ascot just to watch the Royal carriage procession, and the prospect of seeing the King and Queen at close quarters is a huge selling point. I expect there will be a sharp rise in ticket sales now. Charles has shown commitment to racing since becoming King and I am sure he will have some great horses running. The executives at Ascot will be absolutely thrilled to see him there, cheering them on.”
