What Really Happens Inside Royal Ascot's Exclusive Royal Enclosure (Exclusive)
What Really Happens Inside Royal Ascot's Exclusive Royal Enclosure (Exclusive)
Kirsty HatcherThu, June 25, 2026 at 8:45 PM UTC
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The Royal Enclosure at Ascot dates back to 1807 and is the most exclusive area at the racecourse
This year, a PEOPLE staffer attended the annual event on the same day as Prince William and Kate Middleton, which marked the Princess of Wales' first appearance in three years
From the Royal Procession to the menu, let us take you inside the traditions of the summer social event loved by the royal family
It's not just the royal family that gets the VIP treatment at Royal Ascot!
PEOPLE is taking you inside the Royal Enclosure at the annual horse racing event, which takes place every June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England, and is a firm favorite on the royal calendar thanks in part to the late Queen Elizabeth II's love of horses.
Full of tradition, a ticket inside the Royal Enclosure, the most exclusive area, is the best way to experience Ascot like the royals and other famous faces. Dating back to 1807, the Royal Enclosure was established when an area was "reserved exclusively for family, guests and the household of King George III to view the first running of the Gold Cup," the oldest and one of the most prestigious races at Royal Ascot, per the Ascot website.
PEOPLE's Kirsty Hatcher and Prince William and Kate Middleton at Royal Ascot 2026Credit: Kirsty Hatcher; Karwai Tang/WireImage
The event itself dates back to 1711, when it was founded by Queen Anne, and each day begins with the tradition of the Royal Procession, which is when King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family arrive along the track in horse-drawn carriages.
The view from the Royal Enclosure at Royal AscotCredit: Kirsty Hatcher
PEOPLE attended the second day of the historic event — which marked Kate Middleton's first time at Royal Ascot in three years — and we viewed the Royal Procession from the Parade Ring, an area where the trophy presentations take place and guests can view the horses before and after each race.
The Princess of Wales, 44, joined her husband Prince William in a carriage behind the King and Queen, Charles' cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto, and her husband, Daniel Chatto.
The annual event comes with a strict dress code, including morning suits for gentlemen and certain styles of dress for ladies, while the array of memorable hats on display has become a standout moment. This year, Princess Kate opted for a hat from British brand Jane Taylor, which featured veil detailing and matched her bold yellow Roksanda Brigitte dress.
Once the carriages in the procession came to a stop, we spotted Kate executing the perfect curtsy to the King and Queen, before she and William, 44, made their way to the Royal Box within the Royal Enclosure.
PEOPLE stood alongside actor Henry Cavill and his girlfriend Natalie Viscuso as we watched the Prince and Princess of Wales enter the Royal Box, while we shared an elevator with the late Queen Elizabeth's former lady in waiting and William's godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, as we headed to the private box where we were spending the day.
Just a few floors above the Royal Box and hosted by Silent Pool Gin, the official gin of Royal Ascot, our day began with a three-course lunch accompanied by champagne and cocktails before bets were placed and the races kicked off.
The box hosted by Silent Pool GinCredit: Kirsty Hatcher
According to the Ascot website, 65,000 bottles of champagne are consumed across the five-day event, while Silent Pool co-founder Ian McCulloch tells PEOPLE roughly 7,500 bottles of their gin are sold each year.
The brand's Royal Ascot Blush — made with strawberry syrup, lemonade and garnished with strawberries and a spritz of their bergamot orange liquid garnish – is the event's bestselling signature cocktail.
A Royal Ascot Blush cocktailCredit: Kirsty Hatcher
The royal family is a huge supporter of the brand, and in 2019, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, opened Silent Pool's new distillery in Surrey, just 20 miles away from Ascot Racecourse.
"Duchess Sophie was absolutely charming on her visit and was so encouraging of the brand which she described as 'beautiful,' " McCulloch tells PEOPLE. "She was so delighted with the range of sustainable practices employed at the distillery and the inclusion of local honey and lavender in the recipe."
PEOPLE enjoyed a three-course lunchCredit: Kirsty Hatcher
Sharing how the brand's royal connection came to be, McCulloch says it has formed in two special ways.
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"Firstly, our landlord, the Duke of Northumberland, has been a passionate supporter of Silent Pool Gin since the very beginning. The distillery is located on the banks of the Silent Pool, within the beautiful Albury Estate owned by the Duke. As a friend of King Charles, the Duke has shared Silent Pool Gin with His Majesty and members of the royal family on various occasions," McCulloch tells PEOPLE. "There is also a more personal connection. Prince William and the Duke of Northumberland's son, George, Earl of Northumberland, studied together at the University of St Andrews and shared student accommodation, and we're told Silent Pool Gin made an appearance on multiple occasions amongst friends."
King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot on June 17, 2026Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage
After taking in the first race of the day from the box, which offered a great view of the finish line, PEOPLE took a tour of the Parade Ring, where King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, had just finished presenting the first trophy of the day.
We stood just a few feet from the royal couple as they chatted to guests, before the horses for the second race were brought out. This included Charles and Camilla's horse, Point of Law, who was ridden by jockey James Doyle and finished in fourth place.
PEOPLE's Royal Enclosure name tagCredit: Kirsty Hatcher
A daily racecard, featuring the race schedule and information on each horse and jockey, also contains a message written by Charles and Camilla to racegoers.
"As owners breeders ourselves, we know how it is to win races at Royal Ascot and wish our fellow breeders, at home and abroad, the best of luck in this most fascinating of challenges," part of this year's message reads.
Charles' love of horses goes back to his childhood and was passed on to him by his late mother, as well as his late father, Prince Philip, who taught him how to play polo. Camilla, meanwhile, also has a lifelong passion for horses and equestrian disciplines, and said in 2023 that while she was no longer riding herself, she had racehorses and had recently watched one of them giving birth to a foal.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's message for Royal Ascot 2026Credit: Kirsty Hatcher
Speaking to ITV Racing at Royal Ascot this year, Camilla shared what she loves so much about the horse racing event.
"It's the best of British really isn't it?" Camilla told the outlet. "It doesn't matter if you love horses, don't know much about horses, you come here and have a really good day out to experience a bit of fun and the best racing in the world and the best horses in the world, and the elegant women."
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"And I think you know the world we live in, it's just wonderful to get away and enjoy yourself and that's what Ascot does," she continued. "You get the pageantry and the procession. I love it. It's five days of pleasure."
Something else some would consider the best of British is strawberries and cream and afternoon tea, which was served in the box following the lunch of cured trout with cucumber and caviar, slow cooked rump of lamb and a passion fruit and orange tart with toasted meringue.
Credit: Rachel Burchfield
Several three-tier cake stands were brought to the table with sandwiches, pastries and buttermilk scones served with clotted cream and strawberry preserve from Highgrove House, the country estate of King Charles, and Fortnum & Mason tea.
The remaining races of the day followed, and while PEOPLE wasn't lucky when it came to the bets that we placed, we did manage to catch Kate and William presenting a trophy, and a rare PDA moment when Kate placed her hand on William's arm.
Each day of Royal Ascot finishes with the "Singing Around the Bandstand" tradition, where thousands of racegoers gather after the final race for a mass singalong and performance by John Park and a military band.
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