I tend to believe that Andrew Morton is right: we’re currently witnessing the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Not with a bang but a whimper. A tone-deaf whimper at that. The Queen has been holed up in Windsor Castle since late March. She’s only made a handful of “appearances” via video, and then this past weekend, she enjoyed a mini-parade for Trooping the Colour, which was so tone-deaf and needlessly extravagant, it still makes my head spin to think about how the palace thought that was a good idea. Again, I’m not saying that QEII should be out and about. She has every right to look after her own health in a global pandemic. But it shouldn’t be *this* hard to avoid making a 95-year-old woman look like an out-of-touch a–hole. Unless that’s what she actually is.
So in lieu of actually hearing the Queen make substantive remarks on race or on the pandemic, what we’ve gotten is a series of updates about how the Queen spends her days riding horses and thinking about horses. Any other time, the Queen would be attending Royal Ascot this week. But alas, the poor old a–hole has to watch the horse races from her castle.
It was eerily quiet at Royal Ascot today as the world famous race meeting began behind closed doors with no crowds, pomp or presentations. More than 300,000 guests, dressed in their finery, usually gather for the five-day sporting and social highlight in Berkshire, but coronavirus safety measures mean no one is allowed to attend. Pictures taken today showed the usually bustling grandstands and hospitality enclosures empty aside from the occasional member of staff, while the roads surrounding the venue were largely deserted.
At Windsor Castle, the Queen, 94, who has attended every meeting of her 68-year reign, will be watching her runners on television. The first race, The Buckingham Palace Stakes, begins at 1.15pm. Her Majesty has a number of runners including First Receiver, ridden by Frankie Dettori in the Queen’s racing colours, who will feature in the 1.50pm Ascot Hampton Court Stakes tomorrow.
As an owner, the monarch will have access to a virtual Royal Ascot parade ring to be able to view her horses from the safety of Windsor where she has been staying for the past 13 weeks during the pandemic. The new online Racing Hub has been set up in light of the restrictions this year, and features real time weather data and a live 360 degree parade ring camera feed.
Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot, said: ‘Whilst the ultimate experience of being at Royal Ascot sadly isn’t possible this year, we hope that what we are planning will make ownership at home as special as possible. We are particularly pleased to be able to provide owners with a feed to the Parade Ring, and to be housing all the data that all horsemen need from real time weather and going reports to post race sectionals in one, convenient place.’
This is actually the first time QEII has missed Royal Ascot in 68 years. Think about that. She can’t be bothered to speak about her multiracial, multiethnic, multifaith commonwealth and the legacy of colonization and white supremacy, but this is the first time in SEVEN DECADES that she’s missing her favorite horsey race. UGH.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid and WENN.
So a lady at my yoga class yesterday was convinced that QEII has already passed, and all of this is “planning” for the succession.
well there was that photoshopped photo of her anniversary with Phillip so I guess the royal courtiers are part of the problem fostering these silly stories.
I missing Ascot for the first time in 5 years, I’m sad too! It’s such a special event and she loves the ponies. The world is such a hellscape right now, and as each of these events are cancelled and their dates roll by – like the French Open – it’s another reminder that the world will never be the same. Between COVID and non-stop police brutality (smirking at the camera as they murder our fellow Americans – WTAF) racism and hate, it’s incredibly sad, horrifying, overwhelming and awful. Perfect time to have a baby 🥺
Congrats on your baby, Catherine.
Thank you!! Ugh- it’s a bit of a mess being separated from friends and family but he’s super healthy and happy. THANK GOD!! How to raise him in this country? I do not know. It’s horrifying, everyday.
This horse girl (and a large chunk of the horsey community) gives zero sh!ts about Petty Betty’s horsey exploits (or lack thereof), and would rather hear more about badass Brianna Noble ❤️
If anyone deserves a little grief in their life, it’s her.
Grenfell Tower anniversary – so who cares? Go away.
😩
Poor pampered poodle has to watch her expensive horses from her castle. How sad.
An absolute tragedy. /s
Poor old racist b*** doesn’t get to watch her elite horse races. What an evil collection of villains this family is. No sympathy from me when she passes.
Whatever.
My goodness, a broken tradition of the richest woman in UK attending a rich person dress up gala.
How much money does she make on racing?