The going was good for the Queen, who enjoyed a family day-out at the races as punters packed the stands for the Cheltenham festival.

Camilla, who is a keen horse racing fan, joined her children and other close relatives at the biggest week in the jump racing calendar.

Known to love a flutter on the horses, the Queen took her place in the royal box after arriving at the Cheltenham racecourse and walking past racegoers who stopped to watch her pass.

Royal visit to Cheltenham Festival
The Queen walks to the royal box with Cheltenham racecourse chairman Martin St Quinton (Pete Cziborra/PA)

Zara and Mike Tindall were already in the exclusive spot overlooking the course, as were the Queen’s son Tom Parker Bowles, daughter Laura Lopes and her husband Harry, alongside Camilla’s nephew Sir Ben Elliot.

The Queen is a regular at the Cheltenham festival and an honorary member of the Jockey Club which runs the major sporting event.

Also among the guests in the royal box were Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, and Camilla’s friend and official Queen’s Companion, Lady Sarah Keswick and the Princess Royal.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 – Style Wednesday – Cheltenham Racecourse
Tom Parker-Bowles joined his mother in the royal box (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The day was billed as Style Wednesday by festival organisers, with racegoers encouraged to wear sustainable fashion.

The Queen wore an Anna Valentine ensemble – brown suede skirt, matching leopard print shirt and a dark green cashmere coat, with a wide brimmed Lock & Co hat.

Among the punters were a number of celebrities including Aston Villa and England footballer Tyrone Mings and magician and gameshow presenter Stephen Mulhern.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 – Style Wednesday – Cheltenham Racecourse
Queen Camilla joined owners and trainers in the parade ring at the Cheltenham Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)

Ahead of the second race, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the Queen came down to the parade ring to chat to some of the owners and trainers and cast her eye over the thoroughbreds.

Nearby and not part of the royal party, was former army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as the Duke of Sussex’s mentor, playing the role of a supportive big brother figure for Harry after the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.