Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist
The 2025 Royal Ascot festival starts on Tuesday, 17 June, and ends on Saturday, 21 June.
Taking place at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, the earliest roots of racing’s most glamorous festival date back as far as the 18th century.
More than 250,000 spectators are set to attend across the five days that will see 35 races, including eight Group One races.
Starting with the Queen Anne Stakes, Tuesday’s opening day also includes the King Charles III Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Richard Hannon-trained Rosallion heads into the Queen Anne among the early favourites.
Leading jockey Ryan Moore is on Believing for trainer George Boughey in the King Charles III, while 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court and Field Of Gold are due to renew rivalry in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
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When does it take place?
Royal Ascot is known as being the most glamorous week of the horse racing calendar
Starting from Tuesday, the first of the seven races on each day of Royal Ascot take place at 14:30 BST, with the last starting at 18:10 BST.
Across the festival, a total of £10m prize money will be split across the 35 races.
How to follow across Royal Ascot across the BBC
There will be updates on BBC Radio 5 Live with BBC Radio Berkshire hosting a dedicated programme each day, with live commentaries from 14:00 to 16:45 BST – and until 18:00 on Saturday.
What will the weather and going be like?
Sunshine is forecast, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 27C on Saturday.
On Friday, 13 June, the official going was described as good, good to firm (in places).
Tuesday’s schedule
14:30 Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) one mile
15:05 Coventry Stakes (Group 2) six furlongs
15:40 King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) five furlongs
16:20 St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) one mile
17:00 Ascot Stakes (Class 2 handicap) two miles, four furlongs
17:35 Wolferton Stakes (Listed) one mile, two furlongs
18:10 Copper Horse Stakes (Class 2 handicap) one mile, six furlongs
Other major highlights
Wednesday: The Aidan O’Brien-trained Los Angeles, who recorded back-to-back wins in May at the Curragh, is the early favourite heading into the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
Thursday: Ladies’ Day is headed up by the Ascot Gold Cup. Another O’Brien-trained horse is fancied in Illinois, who has recorded five top-two finishes in the last six outings.
Friday: Shadow of Light, trained by Charlie Appleby, looks to be the early frontrunner for the Group One Commonwealth Cup. The day’s other Group One race, the Coronation Stakes features the in-form Zarigana, a hot favourite for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.
Saturday: The meeting’s final Group One race is the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at 15:40. Lazzat for Jerome Reynier and the Kevin Ryan-trained Inisherin are among those fancied, as is Aidan O’Brien’s Storm Boy.
Will there be a Royal winner?
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are regulars at Royal Ascot
While there has been no official confirmation of what days King Charles and Queen Camilla will be at the meeting, they are expected to attend.
Their horse Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins, is set to run in the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday.
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