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Queen Elizabeth - Happy & glorious! Never a merrier Monarch ... as smiles and jubilations are the order of Derby day at Epsom
It might be the sport of kings, but the Queen reigned supreme at the Epsom Derby yesterday.
The beaming Monarch acknowledged the rapturous cheers of a sell-out crowd at the Epsom Downs course as, flanked by her family, she devoted the first day of her four-day Diamond Jubilee celebrations to one of her favourite pursuits: flat racing.
The event, which Her Majesty has rarely missed since attending just days after her Coronation in 1953, began in spectacular fashion with a free-fall by the Red Devils parachute display team.
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A picture of happiness: The Queen wearing her grandmother Queen Mary's Russian diamond and sapphire brooch, shares and amusing moment with her racing manager John Warren
Day at the races: Both Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, looked delighted by their warm welcome at Epsom racecourse
Eight of Britain’s finest paratroopers, crimson smoke flaring from their heels beneath patriotically striped canopies, staged a dramatic jump on to the race track, one flying an 1,800 sq ft Union Flag.
The Paras hurtled earthwards at 45mph to join an equally loyal army – that of 150,000 race fans who had rallied behind the Queen’s scarlet and purple racing colours to give her a reception to remember.
She arrived alongside Prince Philip shortly after 1pm in the claret State Bentley, rounding Tattenham Corner to the sight of many of her subjects in the cheap seats wearing gold cardboard crowns.
Down at the finishing line, Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, all caramel tan and upswept honey-blonde hair after a sojourn in Los Angeles, shivered in front of the band of the Royal Marines.
Lady in Royal blue: Queen Elizabeth II makes her first appearance of the Jubilee weekend as she arrives for the Derby Festival at Epsom Racecourse
Delightful: The Queen, pictured left with Prince Philip, looked elegant in a royal blue crepe wool coat by Stewart Parvin and matching hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan
Royal welcome: The Queen greets the cheering crowds as she arrives at the Epsom Derby for a day at the races
Nation's favourite: The Queen appeared to thoroughly enjoy the first of four days of Diamond Jubilee celebrations which she spent at Epsom for the Derby
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Later the singer was presented to Her Majesty in the Paddock.
Katherine’s silk dress, with its lace overlay, was designed to shimmer in sunlight.
‘I wanted it to have a diamond theme,’ she explained, before rushing off to put on a blue Roland Mouret pencil dress and a Philip Treacy hat – and to consider a modest bet on the big race. ‘And after that,’ she smiled, ‘I’m going home to see my family for our own Jubilee celebration.
Singer Katherine Jenkins looked beautiful as she got ready to perform the national anthem in front of the Queen at the start of the Epsom Derby
True beauty: Katherine looked stunning in a lace and silk satin fishtail gown designed by Suzanne Neville
Royal arrivals: Prince Michael of Kent and the Princess Michael of Kent Marie Christine, left, and the Duke of York Prince Andrew arrive at the races
Outfit change: After preforming the national anthem at the Epsom Derby, Katherine Jenkins changed into a blue dress with matching hat to enjoy watching the races
As is increasingly her custom, the Queen wore an eye-catching outfit by Stewart Parvin, choosing a statement coat in Royal blue over a white silk day dress with a floral pattern. Her matching hat was by royal milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan.After the National Anthem, she and Prince Philip made their way up to the Royal box garlanded in red, white and blue blossoms.
They were accompanied by the Duke of York, his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
Beatrice wore an elegant white shift dress while Princess Eugenie tackled the turf in a pair of eye-catching nude court shoes with hound’s tooth-themed heels to match her dress.
Festivities: Organisers of the Epsom Derby this year put on a special display to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year, which the Queen, centre, and the Duke of Edinburgh, second right, enjoyed from the royal box, accompanied by friends and family
The Royal box: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie watch the races from the Royal box at Epsom racecourse that has been covered in flowers
Sisters Princess Eugenie, pictured left, and Princess Beatrice, pictured right, both attended Epsom racecourse with their grandmother the Queen
Enjoying the races: Princess Eugenie of York, left, and Princess Beatrice of York, right, eagerly lean over the rails of the Queen's balcony to watch the races
Patriotic: Princess Euginie, right, showed off her Union Flag decorated nails, which enjoying the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs with sister Princess Beatrice
In the spirit: Princess Eugenie - complete with her Union Flag finger nails - along with the rest of the Royals were treated to an aerial display by members of the British Army's Red Devils parachute team before the main event at Epsom
Family outing: Prince Philip and his granddaughters Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York enjoy the races together
The intimate nature of the party underlined the fact that, although this was the curtain-raiser for the Jubilee weekend, it was for the Royals a family day out.
It was also, of course, the setting of the Derby, the world’s greatest flat race, one of the five Classics, run over a notoriously tough one mile, four furlongs and ten yards of steep inclines and tortuous cambers.
The purse this year was £1.35 million, the prize claimed by the regally named favourite Camelot.
A Jubilee addition to the race card was the third race of the day, the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup, which is usually run as the Coronation Cup on Ladies’ Day at Epsom, the day before the Derby.
Honoured: Singer Katherine Jenkins, pictured greeting the Queen at the Epsom Derby, said it was a huge honour to perform the national anthem at the start of the Jubilee celebrations
Delight: Unlike last year, the Queen did not have a horse entered in the Epsom Derby, but that did not stop her enjoying the day
The Queen visibly enjoyed the racing. Strolling to the Parade Ring with Prince Philip, she clutched a race card and he a rolled umbrella to inspect runners in the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup and the Derby.
She admired the horses with an eye made keen over a lifetime of breeding from the Royal stables before returning to the Royal box. The Derby has been the scene of much disappointment for her – she has never won it with any of her ten hopefuls in a lifetime of trying.
She was absent from the balcony during the race, but came out to peer at Camelot being led into the Winner’s Enclosure.
Wags said she was recovering from her horse Set To Music coming second – despite being 2-1 favourite – earlier in the afternoon at Haydock Park.
But aside from the racing, with its by-a-nose finishes and one terrible fall, this was a day for festivities on both sides of the track, with swing bands, stilt walkers, a hula girl and the winner of Britain’s Got Talent, dancing dog Pudsey, entertaining crowds.
Tribute: The entirety of Epsom racecourse was covered in bunting to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as she attended the Derby
Victory: Eventual winner Camelot, ridden by Joseph O'Brien and trained by Aidan O'Brien, right, leads from Astrology ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O'Brien , centre, and Main Sequence ridden by Ted Durcan and trained by David Lanigan, left, during the Epsom Derby
Triumph: The Queen and around 150,000 watched favourite Camelot, ridden by jockey Joseph O'Brien, win the Derby race on Derby Day
Jubilant: Jockey Joseph O'Brien is congratulated after his mount Camelot won at the Epsom Derby festival
Victorious: Queen Elizabeth II presents a trophy to Joseph O'Brien who won the Epsom Derby on Camelot
Close call: Tom Queally, centre, riding Wrotham Heath on his way to winning The Diamond Jubilee Stakes during the Investec Derby
Group celebration: The team that helped Camelot win the Investec Derby, including trainer Aiden O'Brien, far right, and jockey Joseph O'Brien claim their trophy
Celebrity guests included British actress Mischa Barton, who got into the Jubilee spirit in a blue sequined top hat.
‘It’s so exciting to be here for the Jubilee. It’s my first Derby, my father is a racing man and used to take us to the races. I’ll definitely be placing a bet,’ she said.
Notable by their absence were the Middletons, whose horse Sohraab ran in the Investec Specialist Bank ‘Dash’ race.
However, the Duchess of Cambridge’s parents will be at today’s pageant, aboard the steam paddle the Elizabethan, and have been invited by the Queen to the concert at Buckingham Palace tomorrow night.
Over on The Hill, the open ground where watching the Derby does not necessitate the price of a ticket, the vast funfair and travellers’ camp that attends the Epsom meeting annually added an air of relaxed merriment.
Down there, it was all candy floss and coconut shies, hotdogs and the smell of fried onions, a place where home means a caravan.
What unified them all was patriotism, the flying of the national flag, and, when the sun finally emerged to warm the day at 3pm, a true Jubilee fever.
Derby goers said farewell to the Queen with cheers of ‘Hip-hip hooray’, while crowds packed her route away from the course.
She may not have had a winner to mark her Diamond Jubilee but she looked as if she had enjoyed a few hours of heaven on turf.
Smoking hot display: A Royal Air Force airman floats down onto Epsom racecourse flying a parachute decorated with a huge Union Jack flag
Flying high: A member of The Red Devils parachute display team flies over Epsom before landing in the middle of the racecourse ahead of the Queen's arrival
Now that's what I call an air display: Delighted racegoers watch the Red Devils descending on Epsom racecourse as part of the Jubilee celebrations
Perfect landing: Members of the Red Devils parachute display team land at Epsom race course amid an excited crowd
Cat that got the cream: Racegoers photograph the Royal arrival, left, and a spectator with a flamboyant hat relaxes with strawberries and cream
Hat's off to that: This racegoer slipped in a subtle Jubilee theme to his smart outfit by placing a Union Jack flag in his hat
Royal fan: The Queen has always loved the races as this picture of Her Majesty and husband Prince Philip at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 2007 demonstrates
Passion for horses: Queen Elizabeth arrives at Epsom racecourse with the Duke of Edinburgh in 1948, pictured left, and visiting the Epsom Derby in 1963, right
Standing to attention: Queen Elizabeth pictured in 1951 visiting the paddock at Epsom racecourse
Height of fashion: Hollywood starlet Misha Barton drew admiring looks as she headed to the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs wearing a glittery top hat and tail
Britain's Got Talent winners Ashleigh and Pudsey, in a doggy pram, arrive at Epsom racecourse before performing in front of 30,000 spectators
Now that's a show!: Ashleigh Butler, 17, and her dancing dog Pudsey performing their routine that delighted the nation and saw the duo win Britain's Got Talent
That's entertainment: Ashleigh Butler, 17, and six-year-old Pudsey delighted the crowds at Epsom racecourse
Ladies that lunch: A group of young women enjoy a picnic ahead of the start of the Derby meeting today
Flying the flag: One racegoer donned a United Jack blazer at Epsom racecourse while another spectator Renata Sevcikova waves from an open-topped bus
United Jacks: Racegoers Carole and Roger Peck, both wearing Jubilee themed fancy dress, eagerly await the arrival of the Queen at Epsom Racecourse
Summer of love: Racegoer Paul Bryant goes all out in a Union Jack fancy dress at Epsom Racecourse
Bowling good: Marcella Ross wears a Queen Elizabeth II face mask as bowlers get in the Diamond Jubilee party spirit ahead of their mixed triples match at Fintry Bowling club
Fire!: Soldiers of the Honorable Artillery Company fire blank rounds during a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London in front of Tower Bridge to mark the start of Diamond Jubilee weekend
Off with a bang: Gunners from 105th Regiment Royal Artillery Volunteers fire a 21-Gun Royal Salute at Edinburgh Castle at 12 noon to mark the official start of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations
Soldiers from 103rd Lancashire Artillery Volunteers Regiment Royal Artillery fire a Royal Salute for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the Museum Gardens, York
Tall order: Ships too tall to travel the length of the Thames have started mooring up next to Tower bridge in preparation for the River Boat Pageant to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee on Sunday
Tall order: While the Queen enjoyed a day at the races, preparations among the Tall ships were still underway for tomorrow's River Thames pageant in London
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