The British social calendar has no equal to Royal Ascot — a five-day convergence of elegance, athleticism, and old-world prestige. From June 17 to June 21, the storied Berkshire racecourse comes alive once more, promising the sport’s most competitive showdowns paired with the season’s most photographed fashion.
As thoroughbreds thunder down the track and fascinators flutter in the summer breeze, this year’s event marks not just another page in the Ascot legacy — it celebrates a milestone: 200 years since the Royal Procession first made its ceremonial debut.
The numbers tell their own tale. With more than 270,000 spectators expected, seven races a day, and 36 Group-level contests, Royal Ascot 2025 isn’t just horse racing. It’s Britain’s definitive week of tradition, triumph, and spectacle.
Tuesday’s curtain-raiser brings immediate drama with three Group One races set to ignite the track. In the Queen Anne Stakes, Lead Artist returns for a fiery rematch against Lockinge Stakes rivals Dancing Gemini, Rosallion, and Notable Speech — a clash dripping with tactical tension and bloodline pride.
Speed reigns supreme in the King Charles III Stakes, where sprinters Asfoora and Believing set the turf ablaze. And in the St James’s Palace Stakes, two Guineas giants Ruling Court and Field of Gold meet again, their rivalry promising a new chapter in racing lore.
Champion jockey William Buick, who rides both Notable Speech and Ruling Court, puts it bluntly:
“Royal Ascot is the be-all and end-all. It’s where everyone brings their best — horse, jockey, trainer, everything”
With dry skies forecast and fast ground expected, Ascot’s signature turf conditions will cater to precision runners like Ruling Court, withdrawn from the Derby at Epsom due to soft going. “Royal Ascot should suit a lot better,” says Buick. “The forecast looks like it’s in our favour.”
Beyond the starting gates, Royal Ascot continues its reign as the pinnacle of British fashion theatre. Each day is a masterclass in luxury style from daring millinery to bespoke morning suits. Ladies’ Day on Thursday is especially dazzling, where the paddock becomes a runway.
While the outfits command camera flashes, the sport retains its spotlight. Buick is chasing more than fashion headlines he’s hunting the elusive title of top jockey at Ascot. With 36 wins to date, he stands just behind greats like Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori.
“I think Ryan beat me on seconds one year,” he recalls. “That’s one I’d love to tick off”
Perhaps the most timeless spectacle of all is the Royal Procession, which this year marks its 200th anniversary. A tradition initiated by King George IV in 1825, the procession sees King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in regal grandeur — an image as iconic as the racing itself.
The Royal Family will also be hoping for glory on the turf. Their runner Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins and bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, headlines the Ascot Stakes. Victory would be both emotional and historic.
The drama doesn’t slow after Tuesday. Wednesday features powerhouse trainer Aidan O’Brien, eyeing more wins in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes with Los Angeles. Thursday’s Gold Cup brings Buick aboard Trawlerman, now facing O’Brien’s new challenger Illinois.
By Friday, all eyes turn to future sprint star Shadow of Light in the Commonwealth Cup, while Zarigana chases Coronation Stakes glory.
The crescendo arrives Saturday with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, a field boasting heavyweights like Storm Boy and Lazzat, while More Thunder electrifies the Wokingham Stakes.
As Royal Ascot gallops into its 200th year of royal tradition and racing excellence, one truth remains: no week so seamlessly unites regal pageantry, world-class sport, and society’s elite like this. Whether you’re in the grandstand or watching from afar, Ascot isn’t just an event it’s a statement.
