King Charles III and Queen Camilla Parker are well known for being hippophiles and having a great competitive spirit when it comes to horse races. However, the royal couple faced disappointment at Royal Ascot after their horse Reaching High finished last in the Ascot Stakes.
Despite entering the race as the 13-8 favourite, King Charles III’s horse disappointed the royal community. The horse is trained by leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins and ridden by accomplished jockey Ryan Moore. The five-year-old horse had been widely expected to deliver a great performance at Britain’s most prestigious horse-racing event for months now.
🏇🎩 The King and Queen have arrived for the first day of Royal Ascot.
The day began with the traditional Royal Procession, where members of the Royal Family arrive along the track in horse-drawn landaus.
🌸 @Ascot Racecourse was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, and has since… pic.twitter.com/JLJC6ukHTi
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 16, 2026
The horse raced close to the front of the 20-runner field but struggled in the latter stages, making it to finish at the last place in the Royal Ascot. This time, the victory went to Kizlyar, a 25/1 outsider trained by Joseph O’Brien. This result was a setback for the King and Queen, who had hoped for another Royal Ascot success after Desert Hero secured a win for the royal racing operation in 2023. The Berkshire celebrations might not be as bright for King Charles III this time around.
