King Charles III, Queen Camilla Unveil Enable Statue at Royal Ascot 2026

Q: What message did Queen Camilla's historic Cullinan V diamond brooch convey at the world's most famous race meeting?

Queen Camilla’s Cullinan V diamond brooch signaled continuity and the shaping of a new royal tradition at Royal Ascot. By wearing the historic heart-shaped brooch on the opening day of the meeting for a second consecutive year, Camilla appeared to be establishing it as a signature Ascot choice. That gave the jewel a message beyond fashion: it linked her reign to the monarchy’s long ceremonial past while also creating a custom of her own. The brooch carries exceptional royal history. The 18.8-carat stone was cut from the famed 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, one of the most important gems in the royal collection. It passed from Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth II before being worn by Camilla, so its appearance at Ascot underscored dynastic continuity and the endurance of royal symbolism. Its recent use adds to that meaning. Camilla has made the Cullinan V one of her most important jewels, incorporating it into her coronation crown and wearing it at other major public occasions, including a Buckingham Palace garden party and a White House reception. At Royal Ascot, an event defined by pageantry and tradition, the brooch therefore conveyed stability, heritage and a deliberate effort to honor the past while defining her own place within it.

Q: Did the race favorites justify their odds, or did longshots cause major upsets on Royal Ascot's opening day?

Longshots largely stole the show on Royal Ascot’s opening day, with only limited success for the market leaders. The biggest shock came in the Queen Anne Stakes, where Ten Bob Tony won at huge odds—reported as either 50-1 or 80-1 in available coverage—while favorite Notable Speech failed to make an impact. Another major upset followed in the King Charles III Stakes, where Mission Central scored at 14-1, beating more fancied runners including favorite Overpass. The pattern continued elsewhere. Great Barrier Reef took the Coventry Stakes at 7-1 rather than favorite Confucius, and Kizlyar landed the Ascot Stakes at 25-1. Daiquiri Boy also won the Copper Horse Stakes at 13-2 over shorter-priced rivals. The main exception was the St. James’s Palace Stakes, where odds-on favorite Bow Echo justified strong support by beating Gstaad in a tight finish. In the Wolferton Stakes, Map Of Stars won at 6-1 as a co-favorite, so that result was less of an upset. Taken together, the opening day was defined more by surprise winners than by favorites delivering. Bow Echo did uphold expectations, but the broader story was a series of notable upsets, especially Ten Bob Tony’s shock Queen Anne victory.

3 articles · Updated · WWD · Jun 16

King Charles III and Queen Camilla unveiled a statue of racehorse Enable on day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse in England.
Charlie Langton created the sculpture, which was revealed as the royal couple attended the opening day of the annual racing meeting.
Photos from the event also highlighted Royal Ascot’s traditional display of hats, dresses and royal fashion alongside the ceremony.