WARRANT HOLDER FINISHES SECOND AT ROYAL ASCOT FOR KING AND QUEEN

The King and Queen did not secure a Royal Ascot victory in 2026 after their horse Warrant Holder finished second in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. The four-year-old, trained by John and Thady Gosden, was ridden by William Buick and had been set as the 16-5 second-favourite for the mile-and-a-half handicap. Buick guided Warrant Holder into the lead two furlongs from home, prompting anticipation in the grandstands, but Opportunity, ridden by James McDonald for trainer William Haggas, surged past to win by nearly two lengths.

Warrant Holder had recently contributed to a successful run for the royal colours, forming part of a treble at York last month alongside stablemates Portcullis and Point Of Law. John Gosden, the trainer, stated that Warrant Holder "did everything right" and praised his performance despite the horse being drawn in position 17, which required it to cover extra ground around the track. Gosden noted that the winning horse had benefited from a more direct route and carried a lighter weight advantage.

The second-place finish means the King and Queen remain without a Royal Ascot triumph since 2023, when their horse Desert Hero won the King George V Stakes during the King's coronation year. Haggas, whose horse Opportunity claimed victory, acknowledged the significance of the moment, stating that "everyone here wants their majesties to have a winner" whilst expressing satisfaction with his own runner's performance.