Racegoers on day one of Royal Ascot 2022.
Photographer: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Queen Absent as Big Crowds Flock to Ascot for First Day of Races
Royal Ascot has opened its doors to a full-capacity crowd for the first time since 2019.
The Royal Ascot kicked off on Tuesday as a full-capacity crowd flocked to the racecourse for the first time since before the pandemic. The meeting was held behind closed doors in 2020 and daily capacity was limited to 12,000 last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Queen Elizabeth II was not in attendance for the first Ascot meeting amid ongoing mobility issues, but could still make an appearance across the five-day event. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were in attendance as the battle for a record £8.65 million ($10.4 million) in prize money got underway.