18-22 June 2002: The Queen and members of the Royal Family attend a specially extended Royal Ascot
European Sovereigns joined The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh for Jubilee year's Royal Ascot, the week of horse racing at Ascot racecourse traditionally attended by the Royal Family. The monarchs had travelled to Windsor for the annual Service of the Garter in St. George's Chapel, and for a special dinner at Windsor Castle to mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee.
The first day of racing, Tuesday, 18 June, began with the traditional Royal carriage procession round the racetrack. The Queen and Prince Philip were accompanied in their carriage by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and King Harald V of Norway.
The Prince of Wales and Prince Andrew accompanied Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Queen Silvia of Sweden in the second carriage, while in the third Prince Andrew sat with Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, Queen Sonja of Norway, and the Grand Duke Henri of Luxenbourg.
Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa of Luxembourg and Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark, joined The Countess of Wessex and Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg in the fourth, and The Princess Royal, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxenbourg, Peter Phillips and Vice-Admiral Tom Blackburn, Master of the Household, sat in the final carriage.
Once the carriages had passed in front of the grandstand and entered the Royal Enclosure, the races got underway.
Ascot Racecourse, founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, is one of the world's most famous racecourses. The first race meeting ever held at Ascot took place on 11 August 1711, when horses competed for Her Majesty's Plate, worth 100 guineas. Racing at Ascot became very popular and, in 1813, Parliament passed an Act of Enclosure to ensure that Ascot Heath would be kept as a racecourse for the public in the future.
Royal Ascot usually takes place over four days in June. To mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee, the 2002 meeting was extended to five days to include the Saturday of Ascot week. Royal Ascot is renowned for the fashions and millinery on display as well as for the racing. Most of the ladies wear hats, often of a flamboyant nature, while many men wear top hats and tail coats.
The Queen is a keen horsewoman, with an interest in owning and breeding thoroughbreds. In addition to Royal Ascot, Her Majesty often attends the Derby at Epsom, one of the classic flat races in Britain.
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