The historic meeting, which begins on Tuesday, is regarded by many as one of England’s last bastions of tradition. In the royal enclosure, gentlemen are still bound by a ludicrously antiquated dress code.
But while many will use the event as a social occasion, the equine excellence on the track is the main focus for racing fans.
Thirty-five races, including eight Group Ones, spread across five days, with some of the best horses in the world competing for record prize money of £9.52 million. That adds up to the best week of racing on the planet.
The fields are peppered by international raiders from nations such as Ireland, Australia, the USA, France, Germany and even Sweden. Superb sprints, heritage handicaps, high-class two-year-old races and vintage staying contests add rich competition and variety.
It’s the first royal meeting since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. who was so passionate about the occasion. But it is also the last before the retirement of racing royalty, Frankie Dettori, who has ridden 77 Royal Ascot winners since his debut ride way back in 1989.
The action will be savoured by about 275,000 racegoers on track and millions more on TV around the world. You can watch every race on ITV or ITV4, and also Sky Sports Racing. And to give you a taste of what’s to come, we’ve picked out 12 of the best fancied or highest rated horses to look out for. Not tips, but horses primed to steal the limelight as the week progresses.
5. Elite Status (Thursday 2.30)
Royal Ascot always features a host of exciting two-year-olds blessed with oodles of untapped potential. We could name any number, from River Tiber and Asadna to Beautiful Diamond, Jabaara and Unquestionable, but few have created a bigger impression so far than Karl Burke's colt, who has blitzed the opposition in a maiden at Doncaster and a Listed contest st Sandown (pictured in yellow) in the style of a special colt. Don't blink or you might miss him in the 5f Norfolk Stakes, the opening race on Thursday. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
6. Al Asifah (Thursday 3.40)
Many of you might not be familiar with the name, but John Gosden's 3yo daughter of Frankel is the talking horse of the moment after a couple of startlingly easy victories at Haydock and Goodwood. On the latter occasion, her success evoked memories of Baaeed who, in the same former Hamdan Al Maktoum colours, was the wonder horse of last term. And it impressed connections so much that they forked out £13,000 to supplement her for Thursday's Ribblesdale Stakes. She is one of only two odds-on favourites at the entire meeting. Photo: Mark Cranham
7. Coltrane (Thursday 4.20)
As our photo shows, Coltrane has already etched his name on the honours board at the royal shindig after landing the Ascot Stakes handicap last year. The success triggered a terrific season for Andrew Balding's 6yo as he progressed into Group company and established himself as one of the country's top stayers. Now he goes for the ultimate prize, the Gold Cup, and a smooth win here last month suggests he must go very close under former champion jockey Oisin Murphy, despite quality opposition from big-gun yards, including St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov. Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
8. King Of Steel (Friday 3.05)
This is the stirring finale of the Betfred Derby at Epsom earlier this month, with Auguste Rodin arriving late to collar gallant outsider King Of Steel. Roger Varian's runner-up was 66/1 that day but is likely to be a much warmer order for his attempt to gain consolation in the King Edward VII Stakes on Friday. A big, imposing colt, he defied a long absence to finish almost five lengths clear of the rest on the Downs and has the potential to develop into a top-class colt for his admirable owners, Amo Racing, who have invested heavily in the sport. Photo: Ben Stansall/Getty Images