The King and Queen handed out the prestigious Epsom Derby trophy this afternoon, just hours after attending his nephew’s wedding some 90 miles away.
It was Christmas Day and jockey Ronan Whelan who came out victorious in Saturday’s famed Derby.
King Charles was keen to continue his mother’s tradition, who very rarely missed a Derby day, and deliver the trophy to the winners.
This came despite the King and Queen being in the Cotswolds just two hours before the Derby kicked off, as Peter Phillips tied the knot with NHS nurse Harriet Sperling.
Departing immediately after the ceremony and travelling via helicopter, the King and Queen arrived with time to spare as they took their seats.
Their presence at Epsom represented a notable moment for British racing, marking the first occasion a reigning monarch has graced Derby day since Queen Elizabeth II’s final visit in 2019.
A Palace source explained the delicate balancing act required to honour both commitments.
“Their Majesties were eager to show support for one of the racing industry’s most important days, which as it turned out, unfortunately fell on the same day as a family occasion they were equally keen to be a part of,” the source said.
The King and Queen handed out the prestigious Epsom Derby trophy this afternoon, just hours after attending his nephew’s wedding some 90 miles away
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It was an early Christmas for Irish horse trainer Aidan O’Brien after he received the trophy from King Charles as his horse, Christmas Day, comfortably ran out victorious
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“Thankfully, a workaround was evolved that meant it was just about possible to attend both, and I know they were very much looking forward to each element of a very special but very busy day; one that featured a bit of a race of their own.”
It was an early Christmas for Irish horse trainer Aidan O’Brien, who was immortalised in the British Champions Series Hall of Fame in 2024, after he received the trophy from King Charles as his horse, Christmas Day, comfortably ran out victorious.
The result marks Mr O’Brien’s fourth consecutive Derby victory and his 12th overall.
Jockey Mr Whelan, who rode Christmas Day to the £1million jackpot, said: “It was just so easy. Aidan told me just keep it simple. I had Wayne [Lordan on Action] to do the fractions.
Jockey Ronan Whelan rode Christmas Day to the £1million jackpot, and collected his prize from the monarch
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Ronan Whelan and Christmas Day took the lead with just a few furlongs remaining, but won the race comfortably in the end
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“When Wayne is in front, he never gets it wrong, so I knew if I was alongside him I was in safe hands.
“The horse just did it so easy, it just felt so effortless for him.”
As was the case with the wedding ceremony earlier in the afternoon, the gloomy and wet weather failed to dampen the mood, with guests and spectators resorting to umbrellas and ponchos, but still beaming excitement.
However, it did affect the race, with today’s winning time the slowest to run out victorious since 1983.
As joint Patrons of The Jockey Club, King Charles and Camilla continue a tradition deeply associated with the late Queen Elizabeth II, who served as Patron for 68 years.
The infamous event is now fast approaching its 250th anniversary, after it began back in 1780.
King Charles has increasingly embraced horse racing since his mother’s passing, hosting Royal Ascot and celebrating his first winner there with Desert Hero in 2023.