The King and Queen’s hopes for racing glory were swiftly extinguished on Royal Ascot’s opening day as their horse Reaching High finished well off the pace.From the royal box, Charles and Camilla observed their thoroughbred’s disappointing performance in the Ascot Stakes.The race was instead won by Kizlyar, a 25-1 outsider that defied the odds to cross the finish line first.Thousands of spectators had gathered at the prestigious Berkshire racecourse to witness the action.The couple, who inherited the late Queen Elizabeth II’s racing stable, have developed a genuine passion for the sport since taking on her horses.Princess Anne joined the royal party, accompanied by her son Peter Phillips and his new wife, Harriet.The newlyweds experienced their inaugural Royal Ascot carriage procession as a married couple, appearing thoroughly delighted throughout proceedings.The King and Queen’s hopes for racing glory were swiftly extinguished on Royal Ascot’s opening day as their horse Reaching High finished well off the pace | PAPhotographs captured the pair sharing moments of laughter in the royal box.Tom Parker Bowles, the Queen’s son, was also among the distinguished guests, along with Annabel Elliot, her sister, and Sir Ben Elliot.While Ms Elliot did not take part in the procession, Sir Ben, who has made a habit of featuring in the carriages in recent years, joined the second carriage. Harriet shared a carriage with her husband Peter, new mother-in-law Princess Anne, and Sir Ben Elliot | PAThe King, who has attended Royal Ascot every year since he assumed the throne, encouraged racegoers to enjoy a “thrilling” week of action ahead.Writing the foreword to the official race-day programme, the King and Queen said: “We wish you a very warm welcome to Royal Ascot, which promises to deliver another spectacular week of racing.“Some of the best horses from Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia are expected to run this week and they will be watched by viewers in close to 200 countries.”They also acknowledged the difficulties trainers can face in winning at the prestigious racecourse: “As owner breeders ourselves, we know how hard it is to win races at Royal Ascot and wish our fellow breeders, both at home and abroad, the best of luck in this most fascinating of challenges.”The royal couple secured their maiden Ascot triumph in 2023 when Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.Four additional royal horses remain entered for the remainder of the week’s racing.Charles did manage to handle silverware, presenting the trophy for the King Charles II Stakes, which was won by Aidan O’Brien’s Mission Central.