His Majesty The King struggled to contain his emotions at Royal Ascot this afternoon, as his horse, Warrant Holder, finished a close second in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes race.
The four-year-old thoroughbred, trained by John and Thady Gosden, appeared destined for glory before being overhauled in the closing stages.
Sent off as the 16-5 second favourite, Warrant Holder moved powerfully through the field before jockey William Buick asked him to quicken with two furlongs remaining.
The horse had seized command of the mile-and-a-half handicap and looked certain to provide the royal colours with their first winner of the meeting.
The grandstands erupted as the royal runner struck the front, with spectators sensing a breakthrough moment for Their Majesties at the Royal Meeting.
Yet Opportunity, under New Zealand jockey James McDonald, swept past on the inside rail to claim victory by almost two lengths for trainer William Haggas.
Watching on from the Royal Box, the King and Queen could be seen displaying a range of emotions.
His Majesty The King struggled to contain his emotions at Royal Ascot this afternoon
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PA
King Charles could barely watch as Warrant Holder fell to second in the final lengths
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PA
At times, the couple shouted encouraging messages; at others, they looked weary and anxious, and sometimes even in despair.
King Charles could barely watch as Warrant Holder fell to second in the final lengths.
Mr Gosden expressed satisfaction with his charge despite the narrow defeat, praising the horse’s effort from an unfavourable position.
“That was a super run, and I’m really thrilled with him,” the trainer said.
At times, the couple shouted encouraging messages; at others, they looked weary and anxious, and sometimes even in despair
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“He did everything right and as you know being drawn 17 you do lose ground – you’re wide and then you’re three wide around Swinley Bottom, but he came with a lovely run.”
He acknowledged the winner’s tactical advantage, noting: “Unfortunately for us, the horse-drawn one, saving every inch, wriggled through and not only were we giving him 5lb, but he’s gone a lot shorter route.”
He added: “Full marks to the winner, I know they fancied him a lot, and it was a long way back to the third. But I couldn’t be more pleased with our horse, he’s been brilliant.”
Despite the disappointment, the atmosphere remained warm as the King and Queen made their way to greet Warrant Holder and his connections.
However, the defeat means the royal wait for Ascot success continues, with Desert Hero’s 2023 triumph remaining their most recent victory at the prestigious fixture – although that particular triumph was special.
The thoroughbred had been inherited from his late mother a year before, and the rank outsider’s victory left King Charles visibly moved by his sensational victory.
Poignantly, that victory came in the first Royal Ascot since Queen Elizabeth II’s death.