Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed a day at the races on Saturday, June 2, indulging a lifelong passion for horses at the launch of four days of nationwide Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark her 60 years on the British throne.
Epsom Race Track - 5th furlong marker
Queen Elizabeth enjoyed a day at the horse races to begin nationwide Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
© 2012 by R Haworth
The queen, a horse rider and breeder visits Epsom every year. While few personal details are known about the Queen's private life, it is reported that she reads the Racing Post sports newspaper over breakfast each morning.
Only one monarch has celebrated a diamond jubilee before - Queen Elizabeth’s great-great-grandmother Victoria in 1897. The festivities mark the start of a summer of revelry in Britain with London also hosting the Olympic Games in July.
The day at the races saw all ages, all classes mingling together to celebrate. With the Olympics, the queen and the Jubilee coming together, the queen presented trophies to the winning jockey, trainer and owners.