Queen 'will not go to Epsom Derby' and will watch it at home instead

June 5, 2021

The Queen ‘will miss the Epsom Derby for only the fourth time in 75 years over fears Covid restrictions will mean it’s not a traditional Derby day’

The Queen will stay at home and watch the Derby on the television at Windsor
Sources say she fears it will not be same due to Covid restrictions, say Telegraph
The monarch, 95, may also miss Royal Ascot next month for just the second time

The Queen has decided to skip her trip to the Epsom Derby because she fears it won’t be the same with Covid restrictions in place, reports suggest.

Her Majesty – an avid horse racing fan – believes it will not be a ‘traditional Derby day’ this year due to restrictions, royal sources have reportedly said.

Instead, the monarch, 95, will watch the famous race on television from the comfort of Windsor Castle, according to the Telegraph.

One source told the paper: ‘It’s a Derby, but it’s not a traditional Derby day.

‘It’s not going to be what it normally is so the Queen has decided she would rather watch it at home.’

The Queen is also likely to miss Royal Ascot later this month, the paper adds, though it is believed she may attend on specific days if one of her own horses is running.

Her Majesty – an avid horse racing fan – believes it will not be a ‘traditional Derby day’ this year due to restrictions, royal sourced reportedly say. Pictured: The Queen with racing manager John Warren and Princess Michael of Kent at Epsom in 2015

Instead, the monarch, 95, will watch the famous race on television from the comfort of Windsor Castle, according to the Telegraph. Pictured: Yesterday’s Cazoo Derby Festival Handicap at Epsom

The event was held behind closed doors last year, meaning it was the first time in the Queen’s reign she had not attended the event.

Meanwhile, if she does miss the Derby at Epsom, it will be for just the fourth time in 75 years.

Though an avid watcher of the Derby, it remains the only major classic British race not won by one of the Queen’s horses.

The closest she came to having a winning horse in the famous race was in 1953 – the year of her coronation – when her horse Aureole finished second.

She has only missed three Derby events in person in the last 75 years – one of which was last year due to Covid.

The monarch also missed the 1984 Derby, when she was in France for a D-Day anniversary and in 1956, when she made a state visit to Sweden.

Held at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, the Derby was first run in 1780.

It is Britain’s richest flat horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics – the other four of which are the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Oaks, and the St Leger Stakes.

This year’s event will be restricted due to Covid. The famous hill, where up to 100,000 people normally stand to watch the race, will be closed.

And the ticketed area will be limited to just a quarter of its usual size.

But that – and a deluge of rain – did little to puit of thousands of glamorous racegoers who flocked to Epsom Downs for Ladies’ Day yesterday.

Racegoers cheered during a ‘Beaten by a Length’ race during the Oaks day of the Derby Festival at the Epsom Downs Racecourse (pictured)

Some braved the downpour in bare legs and open toe heels while trying desperately to keep their hair dry by taking cover underneath an umbrella

Prince Charles to host the first major investiture ceremony since the pandemic began at St James’s – NOT Buckingham Palace

Knighthoods and MBEs will be given out in person at the first major investiture ceremony since the start of the Covid pandemic, it has today been announced.

But the event, in which Prince Charles will hand out the honours, will not take place at Buckingham Palace.

Instead, the event, due to take place on June 23, will be staged a short distance away at St James’s Palace.

Buckingham Palace – the Queen’s official London residence – is normally the venue for many of the ceremonies.

But the first is being held at St James’s Palace because of on-going work to update the services at the royal residence.

Around 100 recipients are usually awarded their honours, from knighthoods to MBEs, at investitures.

But it is understood the groups will be smaller to comply with Covid guidelines.

Windsor Castle, where the Queen has spent much of the pandemic, will also be the venue for a number of ceremonies.

Letters have been sent to recipients of honours informing them investitures will be resuming.

With umbrellas in hand, many refused to let the rain dampen their spirits and were seen getting into the party spirit early, with glasses of Pimms and mini bottles of Moet Champage flowing.

Yesterday was the first of two days of racing at Epsom Downs. Derby Day, one of the biggest occasions of the summer calendar, will take place today.

The news of the Queen’s decision to stay at home for Derby Day came as Buckingham Palace last night revealed that Knighthoods and MBEs will be given out in person next month, at the first major investiture ceremony since the start of the Covid pandemic.