Queen Elizabeth marked the first day of Royal Ascot by unveiling a statue of legendary horse Frankel.
The 89-year-old monarch smiled as she admired Mark Coreth’s bronze sculpture of Frankel – the greatest flatracing horse of all time – at the first day of the annual race meeting.
The sculpture is one of four of the horse, who retired unbeaten in October 2012, which will be situated at significant sites, including the National Museum of Horse Racing at Newmarket, York Racecourse, and Banstead Manor Stud, where Frankel stands as a stallion.
Lady Cecil, the widow of the horse’s trainer Sir Henry Cecil was thrilled by the Ascot tribute.
She said: “Ascot played a special part in Frankel’s career as five of his 14 wins came at the course. It is fitting that such a magnificent statue will stand at the course to celebrate his achievements.
“Mark Coreth has captured the presence, power and strength of Frankel. I cannot imagine a more fitting or appropriate testament to his talent.”
The queen was joined by several members of her family at the first day of the annual event, with their horse-drawn procession seeing the monarch, her husband Prince Philip, son Prince Andrew and grandson Prince Harry taking the second carriage.
In a second carriage was her eldest son Prince Charles, his wife Duchess Camilla, and Andrew’s daughter Princess Beatrice.
The queen’s daughter Princess Anne also attended along with her children Peter and Zara Phillips and daughter-in-law Autumn.
