King Charles III and Queen Camilla's hopes were dashed on the opening day of Royal Ascot as their horse Reaching High finished a disappointing ninth in the Ascot Stakes.
The royal couple watched from the racecourse as their sole runner on day one failed to deliver the £57,000 first-place prize.
Reaching High holds particular significance as the first horse owned by a reigning British monarch to be trained in Ireland.
The Willie Mullins-trained runner was bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II from Estimate, her 2013 Ascot Gold Cup winner.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's faces dropped as their horse failed to impress at Ascot
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Reach Hugh had shown promise earlier this season, narrowly losing in a photo finish to Not Just Any Eagle at Leopardstown.
However, pre-race nerves were evident as Reaching High proved unsettled and required assistance being led into the stalls on what was a sweltering day at the Berkshire course.
Reaching High struggled to find clear running after the final turn as his jockey, Ryan Moore, attempted to navigate through the field.
The 3-1 favourite, ridden by Ryan Moore, became trapped near the rail and never threatened the leaders.
Reaching High finished a disappointing ninth in the race
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Ascending claimed victory at 20-1 odds, winning by a head from Nurburgring, with Comfort Zone third.
Their disappointment contrasts sharply with their triumph in 2023, when Desert Hero won the King George V Stakes, marking their first Royal Ascot victory as monarchs.
Charles and Camilla inherited the late Queen Elizabeth II's extensive stable of thoroughbreds following her death.
The late Queen was a passionate owner and breeder who achieved more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
Her dedication to racing was legendary, and her horses regularly competed at the highest level.
Reaching High was a royal first, being the first horse owned by the monarch to be trained in Ireland
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The current monarchs have maintained this royal racing tradition, taking on the responsibility of continuing the Queen's equestrian legacy at Britain's most prestigious flat racing meeting.
Despite the disappointment, the royal couple will have further opportunities to find success during the five-day meeting.
In the official programme, the royal couple wrote: "Having experienced the thrill of victory at Royal Ascot ourselves in 2023, we can only wish all those competing this week the very best of luck and that everyone watching has a most enjoyable five days."
The monarchs had arrived earlier at the head of the traditional carriage procession, marking the 200th anniversary of this royal tradition.
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Charles and Camilla arrived at the event as part of a historic carriage procession
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The procession dates back to 1825 during George IV's reign, when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
Tens of thousands of racegoers witnessed the historic arrival at the prestigious meeting.
King Charles and Queen Camilla led the procession in the first carriage, accompanied by Saudi royal Prince Faisal bin Salman Al Saud and Lady Sarah Keswick, a lady-in-waiting and close friend to Camilla.
Princess Anne rode with the Duke and Duchess of Wellington and Camilla's younger sister, Annabel Elliot.
Henry Morton Jack and Lady Joanna Morton Jack occupied the fourth carriage alongside Lord Vestey and Lady Vestey, rounding out the formal procession.
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