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127-548: Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse , located in Ascot, Berkshire , England, about 25 miles west of London . Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing , and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races and three Grade 1 Jumps races. The current racetrack's grandstand was completed in 2006. Ascot Racecourse is visited by approximately 600,000 people a year, accounting for 10% of all UK racegoers. The racecourse covers 179 acres (72 ha) leased from

254-512: A racecourse , is a nonpermanent track for sports, particularly road running , water sports , road racing , or rallying . Many sports usually held on race tracks also can occur on temporary tracks, such as the Monaco and Singapore Grands Prix in Formula One . Some evidence remains of racetracks being developed in several ancient civilizations. The most developed ancient race tracks were

381-517: A "brilliant suite" drove from Windsor Castle to witness it, with the first race being a seven horse £50 plate, won by a horse called Doctor owned by the Duke of St Albans . The original racecourse was laid out by William Lowen for the first meet. Queen Anne's gift to racing, founding the Royal Racecourse, is marked by the tradition of opening Royal Ascot with The Queen Anne Stakes run over

508-648: A Tuesday, with the first race traditionally being the Queen Anne Stakes . Two further Group 1 contests normally take place on this day, the King Charles III Stakes and the St James' Palace Stakes round off the feature races on the card. The highlight of Wednesday's racing is the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes , won in 2019 by superstars Crystal Ocean and Frankie Dettori. On Thursday,

635-461: A ball, and threw the other end. The Queen Mother stopped and picked these up as though somebody had misplaced them. [Returning them to the students she said,] 'Was this yours? Oh, could you take it?' And it was her sang-froid and her absolute refusal to be shocked by this, which immediately silenced all the students. She knows instinctively what to do on those occasions. She doesn't rise to being heckled at all; she just pretends it must be an oversight on

762-717: A cost of £10,000. The administration of the Royal Racecourse is handled on behalf of the Crown by a representative appointed by the Monarch. Up until 1901, the racecourse was managed by the Master of the Royal Buckhounds. Lord Churchill was appointed His Majesty's Representative in 1901, responsible for running the course and determining entrance to the Royal Enclosure. The Ascot Authority was established in 1913 by

889-533: A fall that kept her recuperating at home over Christmas and the New Year. On 1 August 2001, Elizabeth had a blood transfusion for anaemia after suffering from mild heat exhaustion, though she was well enough to make her traditional appearance outside Clarence House three days later to celebrate her 101st birthday. Her final public engagements included planting a cross at the Field of Remembrance on 8 November 2001;

1016-458: A family of British nobility , Elizabeth came to prominence in 1923 when she married Prince Albert, Duke of York , the second son of King George V and Queen Mary . The couple and their daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret , embodied traditional ideas of family and public service. The Duchess undertook a variety of public engagements and became known for her consistently cheerful countenance. In 1936, Elizabeth's husband unexpectedly ascended

1143-631: A fat Scots cook. Claims that Elizabeth remained embittered towards Wallis were denied by her close friends; the Duke of Grafton wrote that she "never said anything nasty about the Duchess of Windsor, except to say she really hadn't got a clue what she was dealing with". In summer 1938, a state visit to France by the King and Queen was postponed for three weeks because of the death of Elizabeth's mother. In two weeks, Norman Hartnell created an all-white trousseau for Elizabeth, who could not wear colours as she

1270-470: A further Act of Parliament , the Ascot Authority Act 1913 ( 3 & 4 Geo. 5 . c. lxxxiv), with His Majesty's Representative becoming Senior Trustee. Today, as Ascot Authority (Holdings) Limited, Ascot has a formal board chaired by Sir Francis Brooke Bt. who also serves as Her Majesty's Representative (Senior Trustee) at Ascot. Between 1940 and 1943 racing was not run at Ascot. The racecourse

1397-485: A gala, she mounted a staircase lined with guards. Noticing Coward's eyes flicker momentarily across the soldiers, she murmured to him: "I wouldn't if I were you, Noël; they count them before they put them out." After being advised by a Conservative minister in the 1970s not to employ homosexuals, Elizabeth observed that without them, "we'd have to go self-service". On the fate of a gift of a nebuchadnezzar of champagne (20 bottles' worth) even if her family did not come for

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1524-554: A keen interest in racing. The jockeys riding the Queen's horses could be identified by her racing colours: purple body with gold braid, scarlet sleeves, and a black velvet cap with gold fringe. The Queen attended the annual Royal Meeting from her Coronation in 1953 to 2021, and traditionally presented The Gold Cup and The Diamond Jubilee Stakes each year. In 2013, The Queen's filly, Estimate, triumphed in Ascot's showpiece race, The Gold Cup –

1651-510: A love of racing in younger generations. Ascot Racecourse launched the Colts and Fillies club, a free club for children aged 17 and under, in 2002. It has 20,000 members and promotes making racing more accessible for younger audiences. The club owns a racehorse and organises trips, competitions, days out and special activities on Family Racedays. Ascot Racecourse has become a popular venue for events, with 300+ meeting and conference rooms as well as

1778-537: A lump was removed from her breast. Her bouts with cancer were never made public during her lifetime. During her widowhood, Elizabeth continued to travel extensively, including on over forty official visits overseas. In 1975, she visited Iran at the invitation of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi . The British ambassador and his wife, Anthony and Sheila Parsons, noted how the Iranians were bemused by her habit of speaking to everyone regardless of status or importance, and hoped

1905-607: A mark of respect, an honour similar to the Vigil of the Princes at the lying in state of King George V. On the day of Elizabeth's funeral, 9 April, the governor-general of Canada , Adrienne Clarkson , issued a proclamation asking Canadians to honour Elizabeth's memory that day. In Australia, Governor-General Peter Hollingworth read the lesson at a memorial service held in St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney . In London, more than

2032-422: A member of a royal family, though the daughter of a peer, was considered a gesture in favour of political modernisation; previously, princes were expected to marry princesses from other royal families. They selected a platinum engagement ring featuring a Kashmir sapphire with two diamonds adorning its sides. The couple married on 26 April 1923, at Westminster Abbey . Unexpectedly, Elizabeth laid her bouquet at

2159-760: A million people filled the area outside Westminster Abbey and along the 23-mile (37 km) route from central London to Elizabeth's final resting place in the King George VI Memorial Chapel beside her husband and younger daughter in St George's Chapel. At her request, after her funeral the wreath that had lain atop her coffin was placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, in a gesture that echoed her wedding-day tribute 79 years before. Known for her personal and public charm, Elizabeth

2286-426: A parade on 27 June that involved many of the 300 organisations of which she was a patron. In 1995, she attended events commemorating the end of the war fifty years before, and had two operations: one to remove a cataract in her left eye, and one to replace her right hip. In 1998, her left hip was replaced after it was broken when she slipped and fell during a visit to Sandringham stables. Elizabeth's 100th birthday

2413-401: A person whose indomitable optimism, zest for life, good manners, mischievous sense of humour, and interest in people and subjects of all kinds contributed to her exceptional popularity and to her longevity. Sir Hugh Casson said Elizabeth was like "a wave breaking on a rock, because although she is sweet and pretty and charming, she also has a basic streak of toughness and tenacity. ... when

2540-530: A politician as "the most unconstitutional act by a British sovereign in the present century". However, historians argue that the King only ever followed ministerial advice and acted as he was constitutionally bound to do. In May and June 1939, Elizabeth and her husband toured Canada from coast to coast and back, the first time a reigning monarch had toured Canada. They also visited the United States, spending time with President Franklin D. Roosevelt at

2667-675: A reception at the Guildhall, London, for the reformation of the 600 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 15 November; and attending the re-commissioning of HMS  Ark Royal on 22 November. In December 2001, aged 101, Elizabeth fractured her pelvis in a fall. Even so, she insisted on standing for the national anthem during the memorial service for her husband on 6 February the following year. Just three days later, their second daughter Princess Margaret died. On 13 February 2002, Elizabeth fell and cut her arm in her sitting room at Sandringham House; an ambulance and doctor were called, and

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2794-427: A short course and a longer course which uses part of the shorter one, usually the main straight, such as Brands Hatch . The Le Mans road race venue is centred on a smaller permanent circuit within its complex. Surfaces include: Race tracks are primarily designed for road racing competition through speed, featuring defined start-finish lines or posts, and sometimes even a series of defined timing points that divide

2921-516: A socialist heaven on earth" as fading and presumably describes those who voted for him as "poor people, so many half-educated and bemused. I do love them." Woodrow Wyatt thought her "much more pro-Conservative" than other members of the royal family, but she later told him, "I like the dear old Labour Party." She also told the Duchess of Grafton , "I love communists." During the 1947 royal tour of South Africa , Elizabeth's serene public behaviour

3048-686: A successful royal visit to Northern Ireland in July 1924, the Labour government agreed that Albert and Elizabeth could tour East Africa from December 1924 to April 1925. The Labour government was defeated by the Conservatives in a general election in November (which Elizabeth described as "marvellous" to her mother) and the Governor-General of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan , Sir Lee Stack ,

3175-514: A truly unique day of quality racing. The meeting also has a strong social atmosphere, with a post-racing after party seeing off the flat season in style. The Shergar Cup is an annual event, taking place in August, at Ascot since 2000. Named in honour of Shergar , who won the 1981 Epsom Derby , the day was originally sponsored by Shergar's owner, the Aga Khan . Now sponsored by Dubai Duty Free ,

3302-515: A wave breaks on a rock, it showers and sparkles with a brilliant play of foam and droplets in the sun, yet beneath is really hard, tough rock, fused, in her case, from strong principles, physical courage and a sense of duty." Sir Peter Ustinov described her during a student demonstration at the University of Dundee in 1968: As we arrived in a solemn procession the students pelted us with toilet rolls. They kept hold of one end, like streamers at

3429-630: A wheelchair (which she hated being seen in) could be taken—she insisted that she be shielded from the press —she travelled to the service in a people carrier with blacked-out windows, which had been previously used by Margaret. On 5 March 2002, Elizabeth was present at the luncheon of the annual lawn party of the Eton Beagles, and watched the Cheltenham Races on television; however, her health began to deteriorate precipitously during her last weeks, after retreating to Royal Lodge for

3556-622: A £10 million programme of further alterations was announced to improve the viewing from lower levels of the grandstand using an innovative steel composite product ("SPS" sandwich plate system ) to reprofile the existing concrete terraces. The first major redevelopment of the racecourse came in 1954, when the straight mile was moved to make more room for spectators. The flat season at Ascot is run from April to October, beginning with Royal Ascot Trials Day and finishing with QIPCO British Champions Day . In all, Ascot hosts 18 days of flat racing each year, totalling roughly 115 flat races each summer. Grass

3683-569: Is Nardò where high-speed manufacturer testing often takes place, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway . Some oval tracks are variations on an oval shape, for practical reasons or to introduce varying difficulties such as Talladega (a tri-oval). Most race tracks have meandering circuits with many curves, chicanes and changes in height, to allow for a challenge in skill to the competitors, notably motocross and touring car racing – these tend to predominate throughout most of

3810-524: Is Britain's most valuable race meeting, attracting many of the world's finest racehorses to compete for millions of pounds in prize money (just over £7.3million in 2019). Approximately 500 horses race across the five days. Eighteen Group races, eight of them Group 1, are staged each year and are broadcast to audiences in almost 200 territories around the world. Ascot employees increase by more than 6,500 temporary staff, with over 33,500 items of temporary furniture and 20,000 flowers and shrubs grown especially for

3937-596: Is an alternate term for a horse racing track, found in countries such as the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. Race tracks built for bicycles are known as velodromes . Circuit is a common alternate term for race track, given the circuit configuration of most race tracks, allowing races to occur over several laps. Some race tracks may also be known as speedways , or raceways . A race course , as opposed to

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4064-411: Is cut to a regulation 4 inches exactly for flat racing. Ascot hosts 13 Group 1 Flat races each year including The Gold Cup , St James's Palace Stakes , King's Stand Stakes , Commonwealth Cup and The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes . QIPCO British Champions Day holds the greatest number of Group 1 races of any raceday at Ascot with four races at the top level. Ascot has hosted many of

4191-428: Is cut to a regulation 5 inches exactly for jumps racing. Notable jumps races held at Ascot are The Clarence House Chase , The Ascot Chase and The Long Walk Hurdle , all Grade 1 contests. Ascot has hosted many of the world's most famous jumps horses including Arkle , Desert Orchid , Sprinter Sacre , Sire De Grugy , Kauto Star , Cue Card , Baracouda , Thistlecrack , Cyrname and Altior . Royal Ascot evolved from

4318-660: Is famed for being one of the toughest courses with a 73-foot climb from the lowest point, Swinley Bottom, to the highest point, the Winning Post. Ascot hosts 8 days of jumps racing between October and March, starting with the Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday and finishing with the Spring Family Raceday. Included are both steeplechase and hurdle races, with around 50 jumps races in all being held at Ascot each season. Grass

4445-602: Is said to have called her "the most dangerous woman in Europe" because he viewed her popularity as a threat to German interests. However, before the war both she and her husband, like most of Parliament and the British public, had supported appeasement and Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, believing after the experience of the First World War that war had to be avoided at all costs. After the resignation of Chamberlain,

4572-553: The Crown Estate and enjoys close association with the British Royal Family . Ascot was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne and located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from Windsor Castle . Royal stands have been in use at the sports venue since the late 18th century. The main grandstand has been demolished and rebuilt on many occasions. The first public grandstand was built in 1839 and was again redeveloped over

4699-886: The Earl of Derby created a horse-racing course on his estate at Epsom; the English Derby continues to be held there today. Racecourses in the British Isles are based on grass, known as turf tracks. In the United States, the race tracks are soil. With the advent of the automobile in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, race tracks were designed to suit the nature of powered machines. The earliest tracks were modified horse-racing courses. Racing automobiles in such facilities began in September 1896, at Narragansett Park in Cranston, Rhode Island . The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

4826-528: The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland with Princess Margaret. She laid the foundation stone of the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland—the current University of Zimbabwe . Upon her return to the region in 1957, Elizabeth was inaugurated as the college's president, and attended other events that were deliberately designed to be multi-racial. During her daughter's extensive tour of

4953-719: The Monaco GP , and the Circuit de la Sarthe circuit in Le Mans , France. These are not permanent facilities built for racing (although parts of the Circuit de la Sarthe are purpose-built, and closed to the public). After World War II , many wartime airfields, particularly in Great Britain, were left without further use. This coincided with a post-war boom in motorsport, and many airfields were converted to race tracks, where

5080-601: The Oxford Local Examination with distinction at age thirteen. On Elizabeth's fourteenth birthday, Britain declared war on Germany . Four of her brothers served in the army. Her elder brother Fergus , an officer in the Black Watch Regiment , was killed in action at the Battle of Loos in 1915. Another brother, Michael , was reported missing in action on 28 April 1917. Three weeks later,

5207-582: The Second World War , the royal couple became symbols of the fight against fascism. Shortly after the declaration of war, The Queen's Book of the Red Cross was conceived. Fifty authors and artists contributed to the book, which was fronted by Cecil Beaton 's portrait of Elizabeth and was sold in aid of the Red Cross . She also broadcast to the nation in an attempt to comfort families during

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5334-521: The White House and his Hudson Valley estate . First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said that Elizabeth was "perfect as a Queen, gracious, informed, saying the right thing & kind but a little self-consciously regal". The tour was designed to bolster trans-Atlantic support in the event of war, and to affirm Canada's status as an independent kingdom sharing with Britain the same person as monarch . According to an often-told story, during one of

5461-535: The evacuation of children and the mobilisation of fighting-age men. Elizabeth publicly refused to leave London or send the children to Canada, even during the Blitz , when the British Cabinet advised her to do so. She declared, "The children won't go without me. I won't leave the King. And the King will never leave." Elizabeth visited troops, hospitals, factories, and parts of Britain that were targeted by

5588-759: The hippodromes of the Ancient Greeks and the circuses ( circi ) of the Roman Empire . Both of these structures were designed for horse and chariot racing. The stadium of the Circus Maximus in Ancient Rome could hold 200,000 spectators. Racing facilities existed during the Middle Ages , and records exist of a public racecourse being opened at Newmarket , in London, in 1174. In 1780,

5715-403: The "Queen Mother" or the "Queen Mum". She was devastated by her husband's death and retired to Scotland. However, after a meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, she broke her retirement and resumed her public duties. Eventually, she became just as busy as queen mother as she had been as queen consort. In July 1953, she undertook her first overseas visit since the funeral when she visited

5842-466: The 480 metre long grandstand for the 30,000 seating arrangement, this was designed and built by Austrian specialist contractor Waagner-Biro . The overall capacity of the grandstand was for 80,000 spectators sitting and standing, and for the racecourse to host over 300,000 attendees during Royal Ascot week. For the 2005 season, the Royal Ascot meet was held as York Racecourse . At the end of 2006,

5969-601: The Ascot Racecourse was erected in 1838, seating about 3,000 spectators. Construction continued, and by 1859, the Iron Stand was built, then the Alexandra Stand extension in 1863, and also there was a colonnade entrance built in 1876. Additionally, in 1896, a clock tower was installed. During the reign of King Edward VII , in the 20th century between 1901-02 the three grandstands were demolished, and

6096-444: The British royal family at the time of her death. Her surviving sister-in-law, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester , exceeded that, dying at the age of 102 on 29 October 2004. She was one of the longest-lived members of any royal family. Elizabeth grew camellias in each of her gardens, and before her flag-draped coffin was taken from Windsor to lie in state at Westminster Hall , an arrangement of camellias from her own gardens

6223-607: The Commonwealth over 1953–54, Elizabeth acted as a counsellor of state and looked after her grandchildren, Charles and Anne . In February 1959, she visited Kenya and Uganda. Elizabeth oversaw the restoration of the remote Castle of Mey , on the north coast of Scotland, which she used to "get away from everything" for three weeks in August and ten days in October each year. She developed her interest in horse racing, particularly steeplechasing , which had been inspired by

6350-529: The Duke of Edinburgh were in Kenya on a Commonwealth tour, and with George's death his daughter immediately became Queen Elizabeth II. Shortly after George VI's death, Elizabeth began to be styled as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother because the normal style for the widow of a king, "Queen Elizabeth", would have been too similar to the style of her elder daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. Popularly, she became

6477-682: The German Luftwaffe , in particular the East End near London's docks . Her visits initially provoked hostility; rubbish was thrown at her and the crowds jeered, in part because she wore expensive clothes that served to alienate her from people suffering the deprivations of war. She explained that if the public came to see her they would wear their best clothes, so she should reciprocate in kind; Norman Hartnell dressed her in gentle colours and avoided black to represent "the rainbow of hope". When Buckingham Palace itself took several hits during

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6604-470: The Grandstand Atrium, with over 4,000 square meters of exhibition space. Many parties and weddings are held at the racecourse every year, including large Asian weddings of up to 1,000 guests. The racecourse is also home to Royal Ascot Cricket Club, which was founded in 1883. The club's ground is situated in the middle of the racecourse. Ascot United F.C. is located towards the eastern side of

6731-671: The Jockey Club, Royal, and Royal Enclosure Stands were built at a cost £57,636 (equivalent to £7,900,000 in 2023). Also, the Five Shilling Stand was built in 1908 for the public to attend races at a cheaper price, later known as the Silver Ring Stand, it cost £30,000. Then, in 1926, the Iron Stand was rebuilt, and the Tote Stand was built in 1929, which is still in use today. From the 13th of June 1961,

6858-515: The King asked Winston Churchill to form a government. Although the King was initially suspicious of Churchill's character and motives, in due course the royal couple came to respect and admire him. In the 1945 British general election , Churchill's Conservative Party was soundly defeated by the Labour Party of Clement Attlee . Elizabeth's political views were rarely disclosed, but a letter she wrote in 1947 described Attlee's "high hopes of

6985-575: The King's decision to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson caused a constitutional crisis that resulted in his abdication . Albert reluctantly became king of the United Kingdom and emperor of India on 11 December 1936 under the regnal name of George VI. Elizabeth became queen and empress. Their coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937, the date previously scheduled for Edward VIII's coronation . Elizabeth's crown

7112-458: The King's public engagements in his place. In September, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. After a lung resection, he appeared to recover, but the delayed trip to Australia and New Zealand was altered so that Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh , went in the King and Queen's place in January 1952. George VI died in his sleep on 6 February 1952 while Princess Elizabeth and

7239-434: The Prince Regent, decreed that men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons to the Royal Meeting. The Queen Anne Enclosure is Royal Ascot's premier public enclosure, granting guests access to the parade ring, grandstand and trackside lawns. Guests in the Queen Anne Enclosure are also invited to participate in the daily tradition of singing around the bandstand after racing. The dress code in

7366-536: The Queen Anne Enclosure is still formal, but more relaxed than that of the Royal Enclosure. Women must dress in a manner that befits a formal occasion and must wear a hat or fascinator at all times. Gentlemen are required to wear a full-length suit with a collared shirt, tie and socks covering the ankle. The Windsor Enclosure offers a more informal and relaxed atmosphere. There is no formal dress code, but guests are encouraged to wear "smart daywear"—collared shirts and jackets for men, hats or fascinators for women. Guests in

7493-403: The Royal Meeting features two Group 1 races in the Coronation Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup , whilst the final day, Saturday, offers a relaxed and social atmosphere. The quality of racing is no less top-notch, with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes being the feature race, won in 2019 by Blue Point , who became the first horse since Choisir to win the Diamond Jubilee and King's Stand in

7620-486: The Royal Meeting. There are four enclosures in total at Royal Ascot, three of them open to the public. The Royal Enclosure is the most prestigious, with access strictly limited. First-time applicants must apply to the Royal Enclosure Office and gain sponsorship from someone who has attended the Royal Enclosure for at least four years. Existing members are sent invitations by His Majesty's Representative to request badges each year. Badges are hand written and can only be worn by

7747-516: The Shah's entourage would learn from the visit to pay more attention to ordinary people. Between 1976 and 1984, she made annual summer visits to France, which were among 22 private trips to continental Europe between 1963 and 1992. In 1982, Elizabeth was rushed to hospital when a fish bone became stuck in her throat, and had an operation to remove it. Being a keen angler , she calmly joked afterwards, "The salmon have got their own back." Similar incidents occurred at Balmoral in August 1986, when she

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7874-549: The Suez Canal, Malta and Gibraltar, their transport, HMS  Renown , caught fire and they prepared to abandon ship before the fire was brought under control. The couple's second daughter, Princess Margaret , was born at Glamis Castle in 1930. The couple initially lived at White Lodge, Richmond Park , before moving to 145 Piccadilly . On 20 January 1936, George V died and his eldest son, Edward, Prince of Wales, became King Edward VIII . Elizabeth's husband, Albert, became heir presumptive . Just months into Edward's reign,

8001-483: The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior on her way into the abbey, in memory of her brother Fergus. Elizabeth became styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York . Following a wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace prepared by chef Gabriel Tschumi , Elizabeth and Albert honeymooned at Polesden Lacey , a manor house in Surrey owned by the wealthy socialite and friend Margaret Greville . They then went to Scotland, where she caught "unromantic" whooping cough . After

8128-444: The Windsor Enclosure are the first to view the Royal Procession as the enclosure is positioned to the east of the Grandstand along the Straight Mile. The Village Enclosure has been a successful addition since 2017 and is located on the Heath, in the middle of the racecourse. This enclosure, open from the Thursday to Saturday of the Royal Meeting, offers a combination of exciting street food, al fresco dining, live music and unique views of

8255-464: The advent of armed conflict, the British prime minister Neville Chamberlain was invited onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the King and Queen to receive acclamation from a crowd of well-wishers. While broadly popular among the general public, Chamberlain's policy towards Hitler was the subject of some opposition in the House of Commons , which led historian John Grigg to describe George VI's behaviour in associating himself so prominently with

8382-532: The age of 101, seven weeks after the death of her younger daughter, Princess Margaret. Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the youngest daughter and the ninth of ten children of Claude Bowes-Lyon , Lord Glamis (later the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in the Peerage of Scotland ), and his wife, Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck . Her mother was descended from British prime minister William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland , and Governor-General of India Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley , who

8509-471: The amateur jockey Lord Mildmay of Flete in 1949. She owned the winners of approximately 500 races. Although (contrary to rumour) she never placed bets, she did have the racing commentaries piped direct to her London residence, Clarence House , so she could follow the races. As an art collector, she purchased works by Claude Monet , Augustus John and Peter Carl Fabergé , among others. In February 1964, Elizabeth had an emergency appendectomy, which led to

8636-448: The centuries. Her Majesty Elizabeth II used to visit the Ascot Racecourse quite frequently, and the seating area was reconstructed in 1961 and named in her honour, but the stand was demolished and replaced from 2004. Ascot currently stages 26 days of racing over the course of the year, comprising 18 flat meetings between April and October, and 8 jump meetings between October and March. The Royal Meeting, held in June each year, remains

8763-552: The circuit layout usually combined parts of the runways and the surrounding perimeter taxiways. The famous British track at Silverstone is a former Class A airfield , as are Castle Combe and Goodwood . The long runways were perfect for drag strips such as at Santa Pod Raceway . This type of track also appears on the popular motoring show Top Gear , which is filmed at Dunsfold Aerodrome , in Surrey, United kingdom Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002)

8890-462: The couple had their first child, Princess Elizabeth—"Lilibet" to the family—who would later become Queen Elizabeth II . Albert and Elizabeth, without their child, travelled to Australia to open Parliament House in Canberra in 1927. She was, in her own words, "very miserable at leaving the baby". Their journey by sea took them via Jamaica, the Panama Canal and the Pacific; Elizabeth fretted constantly over her baby back in Britain, but their journey

9017-465: The curtain came down on the career of officially the best horse of all time when he won The Champion Stakes a year later. Sir Henry Cecil 's pride and joy won five of his 14 races at Ascot in all. The culmination of the British Champions Series , QIPCO British Champions Day sees the crowning of the Champion Jockey, Champion Apprentice, Champion Trainer and Champion Owner of each year. The day hosts five Group races, four of them being Group 1, providing

9144-590: The earliest of the royal couple's repeated encounters with the crowds, a Boer War veteran asked Elizabeth, "Are you Scots or are you English?" She replied, "I am a Canadian!" Their reception by the Canadian and U.S. public was extremely enthusiastic, and largely dissipated any residual feeling that they were a lesser substitute for Edward VIII. Elizabeth told Canadian prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King , "that tour made us", and she returned to Canada frequently both on official tours and privately. During

9271-461: The event attracts approximately 30,000 spectators each year. The world's premier international jockeys competition has four teams: Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, The Rest of The World and The Girls. Teams compete for points in each of the six races in an attempt to win the Shergar Cup, presented to the winning team at the closing ceremony. The Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle is also awarded to

9398-422: The family discovered he had been captured after being wounded. He remained in a prisoner of war camp for the rest of the war. Glamis was turned into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers, which Elizabeth helped to run. She was particularly instrumental in organising the rescue of the castle's contents during a serious fire on 16 September 1916. One of the soldiers she treated wrote in her autograph book that she

9525-477: The final time. On 30 March 2002, at 15:15 GMT , Elizabeth died at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, at the age of 101. Her surviving daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, was by her side. The Queen Mother had been suffering from a chest cold since Christmas 2001. At 101 years and 238 days old she was the first member of the British royal family to live past the age of 100 . She was the longest-living member of

9652-458: The first being in A View to a Kill (1985), where Bond (played for the last time by Roger Moore ) was beginning his mission to defeat Max Zorin ( Christopher Walken ), whose horse was racing there. The racecourse was used again in Skyfall (2012) where it stood in for Shanghai Pudong International Airport . Racecourse A racetrack is a permanent facility or building. Racecourse

9779-478: The first four-day race meeting held at Ascot in 1768, although the meeting as it is known today only really started to take shape with the introduction of The Gold Cup in 1807. Until 1939, Royal Ascot was the only race meeting held at the racecourse. The Gold Cup remains the feature race of the third day of Royal Ascot, traditionally the busiest day of the week, when high fashion and exquisite millinery take centre stage alongside flat racing's most elite stayers. During

9906-403: The first time that The Gold Cup has been won by a reigning monarch. Before the public stand for the seating of spectators was built, there was a Royal Stand and betting stand. The Royal Stand was redeveloped from its original foundation in 1793 and subsequently replaced in 1822 when King George IV commissioned a newly built Royal Enclosure with a royal box . Then, the first public grandstand at

10033-495: The first triple winner of the race having also landed the crown in 2019 following an epic duel with Crystal Ocean and as a three-year-old in 2017. There are also two dual winners to date – Dahlia and Swain . Since 2011 Ascot has staged QIPCO British Champions Day annually in October, now the culmination of the European elite flat racing season. The great Frankel won The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day 2011, and

10160-669: The girl who had stolen her son's heart. She became convinced that Elizabeth was "the one girl who could make Bertie happy", but refused to interfere. At the same time, Elizabeth was courted by James Stuart , Albert's equerry , until he left the prince's service for a better-paid job in the American oil business. In February 1922, Elizabeth was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Albert's sister, Princess Mary , to Viscount Lascelles . The following month, Albert proposed again, but she refused him once more. Eventually in January 1923, Elizabeth agreed to marry Albert, despite her misgivings about royal life. Albert's freedom in choosing Elizabeth, not

10287-487: The grass before, as must be certified under the hand of the breeder, carrying 12 St., three heats, to be entered the last day of July, at Mr. Hancock's, at Fern Hill, near the Starting Post. That first meeting was held on 11 August 1711, the original date (and a race scheduled for 6 August) having been postponed for reasons unspecified, although it has been speculated that the course was simply not ready. The Queen and

10414-473: The height of the bombing, Elizabeth said, "I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." Though the King and Queen spent the working day at Buckingham Palace, partly for security and family reasons they stayed at night at Windsor Castle about 20 miles (32 km) west of central London with their daughters. The palace had lost much of its staff to the army , and most of

10541-406: The highlight of the British summer social calendar attracting over 350,000 spectators for the week. The prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is run over the course in July. Over its 300-year history, Ascot has established itself as a national institution, with Royal Ascot being the centerpiece of the British summer social calendar and the ultimate stage for the best racehorses in

10668-488: The holidays, she said, "I'll polish it off myself." Emine Saner of The Guardian suggests that with a gin and Dubonnet at noon, red wine with lunch, a port and martini at 6 pm and two glasses of champagne at dinner, "a conservative estimate puts the number of alcohol units she drank at 70 a week". Her lifestyle amused journalists, particularly when it was revealed she had a multi-million pound overdraft with Coutts Bank. Elizabeth's habits were parodied by

10795-519: The jockey with the most points at the end of the day, with previous winners including Kieren Fallon , Ryan Moore , Sammy Jo Bell and Hayley Turner . A post racing concert is also held at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, with previous acts including Rita Ora , Craig David and All Saints . Ascot Racecourse holds four annual family racedays: Each day hosts a plethora of additional activities for children and aims to promote

10922-641: The main grandstand consisting of the Victorian Grand, Alexandra and Iron stands were demolished to make way for a new grandstand named the Queen Elizabeth Stand, which could seat 13,000 people. It was completed within the following 11 months at the then cost of £1,000,000 (equivalent to £28,100,000 in 2023). Also, the Members' Stand was built in 1964. The Ascot Grandstand was demolished and rebuilt between 2004 – 2006 and

11049-476: The named person. Colours of badges vary for each day of the Royal Meeting. The Royal Enclosure has a very strict dress code, with men wearing grey, navy or black morning dress and top hat , and women wearing formal daywear and a hat with a solid base of 4 inches or more in diameter. The origins of the Royal Ascot dress code can be traced back to the early 19th century when Beau Brummel, a close friend of

11176-530: The oldest and most prestigious race takes place – the Gold Cup staged over two-and-a-half miles, making it a stiff test for even the world's most elite long-distance horses. In 2020, this historic race was taken by reigning champion, Stradivarius , with jockey Frankie Dettori on board, for a third consecutive year. It is also the day where high fashion and millinery masterpieces take centre stage, and has been colloquially termed "Ladies Day". The fourth day of

11303-422: The part of the people doing it. The way she reacted not only showed her presence of mind, but was so charming and so disarming, even to the most rabid element, that she brought peace to troubled waters. Elizabeth was well known for her dry witticisms. On hearing that Edwina Mountbatten was buried at sea, she said: "Dear Edwina, she always liked to make a splash." Accompanied by the gay writer Sir Noël Coward at

11430-405: The postponement of a planned tour of Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji until 1966. She recuperated during a Caribbean cruise aboard the royal yacht, Britannia . In December 1966, she underwent an operation to remove a tumour, after she was diagnosed with colon cancer . Contrary to rumours which subsequently spread, she did not have a colostomy . She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984 and

11557-695: The racecourse's redevelopment in 2005, the Royal Meeting was held at York Racecourse . Each of the five days of Royal Ascot begins with the Royal Procession at 2pm, when the monarch and other members of the royal family arrive down the straight mile in the Royal Landaus, accompanied by the playing of the National Anthem and the raising of the Royal Standard. This tradition was started in 1825 by King George IV . Royal Ascot

11684-662: The rationed food served in the Palace and the limited bathwater that was permitted. Claims that Elizabeth used racist slurs to refer to black people were strongly denied by Major Colin Burgess, the husband of Elizabeth Burgess, a mixed-race secretary who accused members of Prince Charles's household of racial abuse. Elizabeth made no public comments on race, but according to Robert Rhodes James , in private she "abhorred racial discrimination" and decried apartheid as "dreadful". Woodrow Wyatt records in his diary that when he expressed

11811-414: The rooms were shut. The windows were shattered by bomb blasts, and had to be boarded up. During the " Phoney War " the Queen was given revolver training because of fears of imminent invasion. French prime minister Édouard Daladier characterised Elizabeth as "an excessively ambitious young woman who would be ready to sacrifice every other country in the world so that she may remain Queen." Adolf Hitler

11938-426: The same track, or incorporating many tracks in one venue. Commonly, running tracks are incorporated within general use or soccer stadiums, either permanently visible or covered by stands or pitches. Many horse and motorsport tracks are configurable, allowing different routes or sections. Some venues contain smaller tracks inside larger ones, with access tunnels and bridges for spectators. Some racetracks incorporate

12065-588: The same year. The 2020 meeting was held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic . While the grandeur of Royal Ascot takes centre stage in June, Ascot's premier summer race actually takes place in July. As Europe's midsummer middle-distance showpiece, The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes has seen many champions crowned including legends such as Mill Reef , Dancing Brave , Nashwan , Galileo and Enable . In 2020 Enable made history by becoming

12192-954: The satirical 1980s television programme Spitting Image . This was the first satirical depiction on television; the makers initially demurred from featuring her, fearing that it would be considered off-limits by most of the viewing public. In the end, she was portrayed as a perpetually tipsy Beryl Reid soundalike. She was portrayed by Juliet Aubrey in Bertie and Elizabeth , Sylvia Syms in The Queen , Natalie Dormer in W.E. , Olivia Colman in Hyde Park on Hudson , Victoria Hamilton (Seasons 1 and 2), Marion Bailey (Seasons 3 and 4) and Marcia Warren (Season 5 and 6) in The Crown and in The King's Speech by Helena Bonham Carter , who

12319-523: The sisters as dead, apparently because their mother, Fenella (Elizabeth's sister-in-law), "was 'extremely vague' when it came to filling in forms and might not have completed the paperwork for the family entry correctly". When Nerissa died in 1986, her grave was originally marked with a plastic tag and a serial number. Elizabeth said that the news of their institutionalisation came as a surprise to her. In her later years, Elizabeth became known for her longevity. Her 90th birthday—4 August 1990—was celebrated by

12446-606: The site. A new clubhouse, stand and floodlighting have recently been erected. The 1910 Royal Meeting was the inspiration for Cecil Beaton 's Ascot Gavotte scene in My Fair Lady (1964), as, following the death of King Edward VII , Royal Ascot became "Black Ascot" with all occupants of the Royal Enclosure 'dressing in black, save for white flowers or strings of pearls'. The racecourse has been used for filming many times – most notably three times in James Bond productions,

12573-468: The straight mile. The first permanent building was not erected until 1793, and was built by local Windsor builder George Slingsby. Holding 1,650 people, it was used for almost fifty years. In 1813 an Act of Parliament ensured that the Ascot Heath would be kept and used as a racecourse for the public in the future, securing racing at Ascot for future generations. A new grandstand was opened in 1839 at

12700-446: The throne as George VI when his older brother, Edward VIII , abdicated in order to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson . Elizabeth then became queen consort . She accompanied her husband on diplomatic tours to France and North America before the start of the Second World War . During the war, her seemingly indomitable spirit provided moral support to the British public. After the war, her husband's health deteriorated, and she

12827-549: The track and famous Ascot grandstand. The dress code in the Village Enclosure is similar, but slightly less formal to that of the Queen Anne Enclosure, with women wearing formal daywear and a hat and men wearing jackets, full-length trousers, a tie and socks covering the ankle. The annual Royal Meeting takes place over five days, each with a unique offering of racing and atmosphere. The week begins on

12954-574: The track into time sectors. A racetrack for cars (i.e. a car track) is a closed circuit, instead of a street circuit utilizing temporarily closed public roads . Race tracks can host individual or team sports. Racetracks can feature rolling starts , or fixed starts, with associated equipment (starting blocks, cages, wheel traps etc.) They invariably feature a pit lane , and usually timing equipment. Some car tracks are of an oval shape, and can be banked, which allows almost universal spectator views or high speed racing (cycling, stock cars). A famous one

13081-547: The view that non-white countries have nothing in common with "us", she told him, "I am very keen on the Commonwealth . They're all like us." However, she did distrust Germans; she told Wyatt, "Never trust them, never trust them." While she may have held such views, it has been argued that they were normal for British people of her generation and upbringing, who had experienced two vicious wars with Germany. In his official biography, William Shawcross portrays Elizabeth as

13208-548: The way of permanent infrastructure other than the track; others incorporate spectator facilities such as grandstands , hospitality or facilities for competitors, such as pit lanes and garages, paddocks and stables. Several racetracks are incorporated into larger venues or complexes, incorporating golf courses, museums, hotels, and conference centres. Some racetracks are small enough to be contained indoors, for sports such as motocross , track cycling , and athletics . Many racetracks are multi-use, allowing different types of sport on

13335-448: The world's most famous flat horses including Frankel , Nijinsky , Sagaro , Yeats , Mill Reef , Grundy , Dancing Brave , Swain , Galileo and Enable . The first jumps fixture was held at Ascot in 1965. The national hunt course, a right handed triangular shaped course like the flat course, is laid out inside the flat track, and is about 1m 5f round, with ten fences, including two in the straight, and six flights of hurdles. The track

13462-656: The world, but especially in Europe. Flatter meandering motorsport courses are sometimes called 'road circuits', originating in the fact that the earliest road racing circuits were simply closed-off public roads. Some car racetracks are specifically configured in a long straight, namely drag racing . True road circuits are still in use, e.g. the Australian GP has been run in Adelaide and continues to be in Melbourne on regular city streets. The most famous of these are

13589-576: The world. The racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne . When out riding from Windsor Castle, she came upon an area of open heath that looked, in her words, 'ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch'. Her plans for a new race meeting were subsequently announced in The London Gazette of 12 July 1711. Her Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas will be run for round the new heat on Ascott Common, near Windsor, on Tuesday, 7 August next, by any horse, mare or gelding, being no more than six years old

13716-554: The wound was dressed. She was still determined to attend Margaret's funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle , two days later on the Friday of that week, even though the Queen and the rest of the royal family were concerned about the journey the Queen Mother would face to get from Norfolk to Windsor; she was also rumoured to be hardly eating. Nevertheless, she flew to Windsor by helicopter, and so that no photographs of her in

13843-628: Was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952 as the wife of King George VI . She was also the last Empress of India from 1936 until the British Raj was dissolved on 15 August 1947. After her husband died , she was officially known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother , to avoid confusion with her daughter Queen Elizabeth II . Born into

13970-520: Was a public relations success. She charmed the public in Fiji when, as she was shaking hands with a long line of official guests, a stray dog walked in on the ceremony; she shook its paw as well. In New Zealand she fell ill with a cold and missed some engagements, but enjoyed the local fishing in the Bay of Islands accompanied by Australian sports fisherman Harry Andreas . On the return journey, via Mauritius,

14097-426: Was assassinated three weeks later. Despite this, the tour went ahead, and they visited Aden , Kenya , Uganda , and Sudan, but Egypt was avoided because of political tensions. Albert had a stammer, which affected his ability to deliver speeches, and after October 1925, Elizabeth assisted in helping him through the therapy devised by Lionel Logue , an episode portrayed in the 2010 film The King's Speech . In 1926,

14224-402: Was broken, exceptionally, when she rose from the royal car to strike an admirer with her umbrella because she had mistaken his enthusiasm for hostility. The 1948 royal tour of Australia and New Zealand was postponed because of the King's declining health. In March 1949, he had a successful operation to improve the circulation in his right leg. In summer 1951, Elizabeth and her daughters fulfilled

14351-702: Was celebrated in a number of ways: a parade that celebrated the highlights of her life included contributions from Sir Norman Wisdom and Sir John Mills ; her image appeared on a special commemorative £20 note issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland ; and she attended a lunch at the Guildhall, London , at which George Carey , the Archbishop of Canterbury , accidentally attempted to drink her glass of wine. Her quick admonition of "That's mine!" caused widespread amusement. In November 2000, she broke her collarbone in

14478-474: Was closed for a £220 million redevelopment, the single biggest investment in British Racing. The Racecourse was reopened by the Queen on 20 June 2006. The redevelopment was designed by architect firm HOK ( Populous ), and was engineered by Buro Happold and built by Laing O'Rourke . The main part of the redevelopment programme was the construction of the 30m x 300m lightweight parasol roof structure of

14605-648: Was commandeered by the army with the Grandstand providing accommodation for gunners of the Royal Artillery. Racing resumed on 15 May 1943 with an eight-race card. The first post-war fixture was held on 21 May 1945, when the then 19 years old Princess Elizabeth attended Ascot for the first time. The first National Hunt meeting was held at Ascot in 1965, the course having been established using turf from Hurst Park Racecourse , which closed in 1962. As an owner and breeder of racehorses, Queen Elizabeth II took

14732-457: Was educated at home by a governess until the age of eight, and was fond of field sports, ponies and dogs. When she started school in London, she astonished her teachers by precociously beginning an essay with two Greek words from Xenophon 's Anabasis . Her best subjects were literature and scripture. After returning to private education under a German Jewish governess, Käthe Kübler, she passed

14859-620: Was hospitalised at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary overnight but no operation was needed, and in May 1993, when she was admitted to the Infirmary for surgery under general anaesthetic . In 1987, Elizabeth was criticised when it emerged that two of her nieces, Nerissa and Katherine Bowes-Lyon , had been committed to a psychiatric hospital in Redhill, Surrey , in 1941 because they had severe learning disabilities. However, Burke's Peerage had listed

14986-476: Was made of platinum and was set with the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Edward married Wallis Simpson, and they became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but while Edward was a Royal Highness, George VI withheld the style from Wallis, a decision that Elizabeth supported. Elizabeth was later quoted as referring to Wallis as "that woman", and Wallis referred to Elizabeth as "Cookie", because of her supposed resemblance to

15113-496: Was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal. The Cunard White Star Line's RMS  Queen Elizabeth was named after her. She launched the ship on 27 September 1938 in Clydebank , Scotland. Supposedly, the liner started to slide into the water before Elizabeth could officially launch her, and acting sharply, she managed to smash

15240-497: Was one of the most popular members of the royal family , and helped to stabilise the popularity of the monarchy as a whole. Elizabeth's critics included Kitty Kelley , who falsely alleged that she did not abide by the rationing regulations during the Second World War. This, however, was contradicted by the official records, and Eleanor Roosevelt during her wartime stay at Buckingham Palace reported expressly on

15367-570: Was opened in August 1909. Beginning in the early 1900s, motorcycle races were run on high, banked, wooden race tracks called board tracks . During the 1920s, many of the races on the AAA Championship circuit were run on such board tracks. Modern racetracks are designed with spectator safety being paramount, following incidents of spectator and track marshals fatalities. These often involve run-off areas, barriers, and high fencing. Racetracks are used for: Some racetracks offer little in

15494-585: Was placed on top. An estimated 200,000 people over three days filed past as she lay in state in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster . Members of the Household Cavalry and other branches of the armed forces stood guard at the four corners of the catafalque . At one point, her four grandsons–Prince Charles, Prince Andrew , Prince Edward and Viscount Linley –mounted the guard as

15621-575: Was registered at Hitchin , Hertfordshire, near the Strathmores' English country house , St Paul's Walden Bury , which was also given as her birthplace in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. She was christened there on 23 September 1900, in the local parish church, All Saints. Elizabeth spent much of her childhood at St Paul's Walden and at Glamis Castle , the Earl's ancestral home in Scotland . She

15748-481: Was still in mourning . The visit was designed to bolster Anglo-French solidarity in the face of aggression from Nazi Germany . The French press praised the demeanour and charm of the royal couple during the delayed but successful visit, augmented by Hartnell's wardrobe. Nevertheless, Nazi aggression continued, and the government prepared for war. After the Munich Agreement of 1938 appeared to forestall

15875-496: Was the elder brother of another prime minister, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington . The location of Elizabeth's birth remains uncertain, but reputedly she was born either in her parents' Westminster home at Belgrave Mansions , Grosvenor Gardens , or in a horse-drawn ambulance on the way to a hospital. Other possible locations include Forbes House in Ham, London , the home of her maternal grandmother, Louisa Scott . Her birth

16002-653: Was to be "Hung, drawn, & quartered ... Hung in diamonds, drawn in a coach and four, and quartered in the best house in the land." On 5 November 1916, she was confirmed at St John's Scottish Episcopal Church in Forfar . Prince Albert, Duke of York —"Bertie" to the family—was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary . He initially proposed to Elizabeth in 1921, but she turned him down, being "afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak and act as I feel I really ought to". When he declared he would marry no other, Queen Mary visited Glamis to see for herself

16129-487: Was widowed at the age of 51. Her elder daughter, aged 25, became the new queen . After the death of Queen Mary in 1953, Elizabeth was viewed as the matriarch of the British royal family . In her later years, she was a consistently popular member of the family, even at times when other royals were suffering from low levels of public approval. She continued an active public life until just a few months before her death at

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