Royal Ascot 2026: The King, The Contenders, The Landaus, The Royal Box
Key takeaways
- Forbes Life Royal Ascot 2026: The King, The Contenders, The Landaus, The Royal Box King Charles and Queen Camilla opened the traditional Royal Ascot meeting, which hosts $25 million in premier flat races.
- At precisely 2 p.m. each day this week the royal procession will strike out on its same route with a rotating cast of characters, titled and not, wending its way around the course’s oval to the Royal Box’s entrance.
- But Charles’ opening-day Royal Ascot guests, the Wellingtons, bear considerably more historical tradition than any guests, titled or not, in the landaus or in the royal box later in the week.
Forbes Life Royal Ascot 2026: The King, The Contenders, The Landaus, The Royal Box King Charles and Queen Camilla opened the traditional Royal Ascot meeting, which hosts $25 million in premier flat races. A third of a million racegoers closely minded their manners, and their dress.By Guy Martin,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Guy Martin covers culture, travel, and Thoroughbred racing.Follow Author Jun 19, 2026, 04:58pm EDTUpdated Jun 19, 2026, 04:59pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.King Charles III, Queen Camilla & The Duke and Duchess of Wellington arrive by royal carriage on day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire. Picture date: Tuesday June 16, 2026. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)PA Images via Getty ImagesTo say that the British royal family is practiced at public display is an understatement. Pictured above, the June 16 Royal Ascot opening-day procession, traditionally carried out in the open-Landau spring-and-summer carriages, each classically powered by a team of four horses under the command of two postillions, the first one of which in this image above carries King Charles III and Queen Camilla and their opening-day guests, the 9th Duke of Wellington and the Duchess of Wellington.
At precisely 2 p.m. each day this week the royal procession will strike out on its same route with a rotating cast of characters, titled and not, wending its way around the course’s oval to the Royal Box’s entrance. This year, Royal Ascot’s finale takes place on Saturday, June 20.