Horse racing fans are gearing up for the start of Cheltenham Festival next week and already, eager punters are trying to guess who will be in the Royal Box. Most years there will be at least one member of the Windsor clan cheering on the horses at the four-day festival. BestofBets.com have listed the Royals most likely to attend the Festival this year.
The Queen
Apart from Prince Andrew, The Queen is the royal who is most unlikely to attend next week’s racing extravaganza. Although the 95-year-old monarch is a massive horse racing fan, she’s early seen at Cheltenham. The last time she was in attendance was in 2009 when she was there to watch Barber Shop, a horse owned by the Queen Mother prior to her death in 2002, in the Gold Cup. Before that, she was pictured enjoying herself with Zara Tindall in 2003 when she unveiled a statue to her national hunt loving mother.
Instead, Epsom and Ascot are said to be her favourites and her doctors have almost certainly ruled out any visit to chilly Cheltenham.
Attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 50/1
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is one of the favourites to attend the Festival. She’s in fact a fairly regular visitor to her local racecourse and often presents a cup to the winner of The Queen Mother Champion Chase. She attended Ladies Day in 2019 and has been snapped there with her children.
Both Charles and Camilla are members of the influential Jockey Club and have two horses, Carntop and Pacify.
Attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 2/1
Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge
Back in 2006, Kate Middleton attended the Festival as a guest of Prince Charles, leading to speculation that he thought the then 24-year-old was future queen material. Last time Kate was spotted at the Festival was in 2013, whilst pregnant with Prince George.
Considering, William and Kate are planning a 12-day tour of the Caribbean next month, they’re unlikely to be at the races next week.
Attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 10/1
Princess Anne
Princess Anne loves Cheltenham and it’d be very surprising if she didn’t attend Festival. The Queen’s daughter’s ties are so close to Prestbury Park that she presents the prizes and even has a building named after her there. The 71-year-old opened the Princess Royal Stand after a £45 million redevelopment of the racecourse in 2015.
The keen equestrian, who is Patron of their charity, Racing Welfare, usually attends with her husband Sir Tim Laurence and can often be seen on the balcony of the royal box enjoying the unique view from the stand bearing her name. It is the only box that boasts a dual view, meaning that guests can look at the side of the racecourse as well as the front-on view.
Attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 1/5
Zara and Mike Tindall
Cheltenham simply would not be Cheltenham without a glimpse of Zara’s posse heading for the enclosures in sensible but classically cut wool coats, boots and fedora hats. The 40-year-old has become as familiar a sight as the horses at Prestbury Park and questions would be asked if she wasn’t there.
She and her husband have even owned, bred and pre-trained several racehorses.
Attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 1/10
Mia Tindall
In January Zara Tindall’s eldest daughter Mia was spotted with her mum at the Cheltenham Festival Trial. The eight-year-old was the star of the show as she hugged her mum while wearing a pretty dress with chunky boots and a hairband.
No doubt royal fans will be hoping to get another glimpse of the little royal who has been riding since the age of two.
Attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 4/1
Prince Harry
Although it’s very unlikely that the Duke of Sussex will turn up to the races next week, the Duke’s favourite charity WellChild has partnered with the Festival this year so there’s a slight chance that he, as a patron of WellChild, that Harry would attend Cheltenham; especially as he’s due to attend a service of thanksgiving for grandfather Prince Philip in Westminster Abbey on March 29…so he may just combine the two.
Prince Harry attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 16/1
Meghan Markle attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 200/1
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex,
Unlikely, but you never know. They might want to raise their profile as Charles looks at ways to slim down the monarchy. They will probably save it for Epsom when the Queen is said to want a three-line whip on all members of the family.
Attending Cheltenham Festival odds: 12/1
