A day after Estimate won
the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in the colours of Her Majesty The Queen one subject
dominates her subjects in Britain's national press.
There is competition of
course, with front-page pictures of UKIP leader Nigel Farage, multi-tasking
Myleene Klass, soccer ambassador David Beckham and a cloud of pollution
permeating Asia, but when it comes to column inches the monarch wins by far
more than the neck which enabled Estimate to clinch the Royal Meeting's most
prestigious race.
The Queen had enjoyed 21
other Royal Ascot swinners in a period covering 60 years, but the Gold Cup is a
unique race, one whose standing belies its prize money - swop the cash for a
plate of local sausages and you would still attract the best stayers. And it
clearly meant a huge amount to the head of state, for while decorum invariably
limits Her Majesty to little more than a half smile, Estimate's success saw her
break into beaming happiness, giving media snappers a gold mine of photographic
opportunities that are lapped up by newspaper editors.
'One' is a theme among
headline writers reflecting the momentous triumph, witness 'One's won! The
Queen makes Ascot history', which is the Daily Mail's front-page take,
while in similar vein the Daily Express lauds 'One's won! Queen's
historic Ascot victory'. The Guardian offers 'One's won - Queen triumphs
at Ascot' and the Daily Mirror keeps it snappy with 'One's won!', while The
Daily Telegraph and The Times play down the headlines and allow
photos of the laughing Queen to tell its own story.
'We're all smiles' is the Racing
Post's view under a sub-head that states 'A golden moment in racing
history'. The same paper's spread on pages two and three exclaims 'Send her
victorious' above a photograph of The Queen stroking her filly's head.
Many writers ponder Her
Majesty's role in and importance to racing, although the Racing Post's Alastair
Down quantifies it by saying, 'I would hesitate to suggest she confers
respectability on the game - some of us are beyond even her help on that
front,' although he concludes his point by stating, 'By God, she is good for
us'.
Throw in the fact that
yesterday was ladies' day and newspapers were always likely to give plenty of
coverage to scenes from around the racecourse. The Queen's triumph has probably
upped the ante. The Daily Mirror devotes a colourful spread on pages two
and three depicting numerous racegoers alongside a shot of the monarch. It's
headline, 'Purple reign' reflects Her Majesty's choice of dress.
'Queen gives full rein to
joy at victory' headlines page nine of The Times, involving a report by
racing correspondent Alan Lee and panoramic shot of the Royal Box erupting into
joy. Scenes from that moment decorate page three of The Daily Telegraph
around a headline 'Hats off as royal winner raises Ascot roof'.
'Ladies' Day - Hats on . .
. and hats off to The Queen at Ascot' heads page 15 of The Guardian,
while page three of the Daily Express offers 'Filly that thrilled the
royals', conveying the unashamed delight shown by the Princesses Beatrice and
Eugenie at their grandmother's success. The Daily Mail's page seven
suggests younger royal family members might be screaming 'Now let's go for the
Gran National!'.
The Sun devotes most of page 18
and all of 19 to the Gold Cup victory, showing a beaming monarch apparently
proclaiming in a cartoon bubble 'One's just won £155k in the 3.45 at Ascot',
and it's a similar story on pages 10 and 11 of the Daily Star, where a
sequence of shots is summed up by the sub-headline 'Ladies' Day off in style'.
The Independent stands alone in shunning
the story in its news pages, but leads its racing coverage with the headline
'Glory for Queen - and King of Ascot'. The 'King' refers to the late Sir Henry
Cecil, whose absence - or maybe it was presence - was felt when Riposte
won the Ribblesdale Stakes for his widow, Lady Jane.
It was undoubtedly a day
to remember, for more than one reason.
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