1of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles, during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (David Davies/PA via AP)David Davies/APShow MoreShow Less2of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II look on, during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (David Davies/PA via AP)David Davies/APShow MoreShow Less3of154of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II looks on, during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)Andrew Matthews/APShow MoreShow Less5of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, talks to Frankie Dettori, left and trainer John Gosden, background left , during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (David Davies/PA via AP)David Davies/APShow MoreShow Less6of157of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, stands with racing manager John Warren, during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Andrew MatthewsPA via AP)Andrew Matthews/APShow MoreShow Less8of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks to Sir Francis Brooke, left and other racegoers, during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)Steven Paston/APShow MoreShow Less9of1510of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, smiles as she arrives, during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)Steven Paston/APShow MoreShow Less11of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives by car during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)Andrew Matthews/APShow MoreShow Less12of1513of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives by car during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)Andrew Matthews/APShow MoreShow Less14of15Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives by car during day five of of the Royal Ascot horserace meeting, at Ascot Racecourse, in Ascot, England, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)Andrew Matthews/APShow MoreShow Less15of15
LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II was smiling broadly as she attended the final day of the Ascot races on Saturday, where environmental protesters urged the monarch to press politicians to act faster against climate change.
The 95-year-old queen, a keen racing fan and racehorse owner, has attended Ascot almost every year of her seven-decade reign. She was absent last year, when the event was held without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. Her return came two months after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, at 99.
Dressed in a mint-green outfit and matching hat, the queen was applauded by the crowd as she arrived to cheer on four horses she owns that were racing on Saturday. She smiled broadly as she inspected one of her horses, Reach for the Moon, after it finished a close second.
The annual racing meeting west of London is a heady mix of horses, extravagant headwear, fancy dress, champagne and strawberries with cream.
Protesters from environmental group Extinction Rebellion unfurled a banner reading “Racing to Extinction” at the racecourse on Saturday. The group said four women glued themselves to their banner and chained themselves to the fence in a protest intended to be seen by the queen. She was not nearby at the time.
