The Queen's Passion

Camilla salutes ‘the expert’ as Royal Family take the reins at Ascot

- Mark Reynolds

SHE wasn’t even there but the Queen still made her presence felt at Royal Ascot yesterday as she armed her son Prince Charles with her very top tips.

The Prince attended the first day of racing with wife Camilla while the monarch chose to watch events closely on television at Windsor Castle seven miles away.

And, in doing so, the Queen will have seen the Duchess of Cornwall describe her love for the sport in a TV interview.

Encyclopaedic

The Duchess said: “The Queen is the biggest expert of all time. There is nothing she doesn’t know about it. You wouldn’t want to think you knew better, because she does have all the answers.”

She added: “This is her passion in life. She loves it and you can tell how much she loves it. She can tell you every horse she has bred and owned, from the very beginning. She doesn’t forget anything. I can hardly remember what I bred a year ago. She’s encyclopaedic about her knowledge.”

Camilla clearly loves Royal Ascot herself, adding: “For everybody who loves racing, it is the most special week.”

She revealed Charles enjoyed his days as a jockey, even though he never won. The Duchess said: “He was second. He really enjoyed doing it. He’s someone who likes partaking rather than watching.”