Royal Procession at Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot kicks off each day at 2pm (9am ET) in England with the royal procession parading down the turf course and through the parade ring. Racegoers pack the grandstand and surround the paddock to get a glimpse of the Queen, her outfit of the day, the entourage that accompanies her, and the horse drawn carriages.

The royal procession began in 1825 when England was ruled by King George IV. The King would leave Windsor Castle with a parade of horses and carriages, making his way to Ascot Racecourse. It began a tradition that would withstand the test of time, with Queen Elizabeth II still starring in the royal procession from Windsor to Ascot today.

Once the Queen arrives, the gold-crowned gates at the head of Ascot’s turf course open up. The royal procession rolls in, marking the official start to the day’s races.

“It still makes the hairs on my neck stand up every day,” Julie Slot told Melissa Hoppert of The New York Times. Slot oversees Ascot’s commercial operations.

More on the history of the royal procession can be viewed in Ascot’s video below:

Royal Ascot can be viewed on NBC Sports Network from 8:30am-1pm ET, with the cameras following the royal procession beginning at 9am. Saturday is the final day of the meet.

By Christine Oser