Zara Tindall turned away at Royal Ascot gates before entry

zara tindall was turned away at Royal Ascot on Tuesday afternoon after a security guard failed to recognise her and redirected her to the ticket office because she did not have a pass. She later entered the Royal Enclosure with her husband, Mike, after a nearby colleague told staff she was entitled to go in.

Royal Enclosure gate

Tindall arrived alongside Mike and his rugby companions, including Austin Healey and former Wales international Nicky Robinson. The group paused to pose for photographs with waiting press and signed autographs for passers-by before she and her husband made their way into the Royal Enclosure ahead of the opening race.

King Charles at Ascot

The incident came on a day when King Charles was anticipated to attend Royal Ascot later on Tuesday and had been named as a race trophy presenter. The Princess Royal was also expected to attend later in the day.

In the official race-day programme, the King and Queen said: "We wish you a very warm welcome to Royal Ascot, which promises to deliver another spectacular week of racing." They also said: "Since last June, over 1,200 solar panels have been installed on the 480-metre-long roof of the grandstand - this marks another important step in the racecourse's sustainability journey."

Royal Ascot programme

Royal Ascot is presented as both a social occasion and a sporting event, with races watched by viewers in close to 200 countries. The day also connected to a longer royal presence at the meeting: King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated their first Royal Ascot victory in 2023 when Desert Hero won the King George V Stakes.