Race-goers excited at prospect of William and Kate for Royal Ascot
Punters have been betting on the prospect of William and Kate joining the Queen in her carriage as the royal procession makes its way along the famous course.
William Hill bookmakers have even suspended the book on the Cambridges making an appearance at the racing meet, which begins today.
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Hide AdJon Ivan-Duke, a spokesman for the bookmakers, said: “We were offering odds of 2-1 that the Duchess would be in the Queen’s carriage this week - this now looks a certainty.
“The question now is will Prince George be going too.”
The firm is offering odds of 10-1 that William and Kate’s toddler son will join them at the famous Berkshire racecourse.
The Royal Family – especially the colour of the Queen’s hat – are usually the basis for novelty bets during the five-day racing event.
William Hill have made blue the 2-1 favourite for the colour of the Queen’s hat on the opening day.
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Hide AdMr Ivan-Duke added: “We have had our first gamble on the Queen’s hat today with almost 85 per cent of bets for blue. We think the gamble is based on the chilly weather forecast when blue would perhaps be more appropriate than yellow.”
Known for its strict dress code in the Royal Enclosure, Royal Ascot is one of the highlights of the racing and social calendar.
Each year around 300,000 race-goers descend on the racecourse and drink their way through 51,000 bottles of champagne, eat 5,000 kilos of salmon, 2,900 lobsters, 7,000 punnets of berries and bet thousands on the horses.
The Queen is a passionate horse owner and breeder and has watched more than 20 of her thoroughbreds triumph at Royal Ascot. Her thoroughbred Estimate won the Gold Cup in 2013, when the monarch could not contain her delight as it romped home.
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Hide AdOn Sunday, rain soaked revellers celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday in London as the Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to his grandmother “for everything you’ve done for your family”.
With typical British stoicism, 10,000 well-wishers enjoyed the Patron’s Lunch street party as they braved heavy downpours in The Mall that left them sodden.
The Duke thanked the guests for not letting “a little rain spoil a good day out” and praised his “granny” as someone “we all look up to in good times and in challenging moments to set an example”.