Prince Charles and Camilla lead procession at Royal Ascot as Queen skips races

In the Queen's absence, Prince Charles and Camilla have led the royals in the carriage procession at Royal Ascot this year.

It was the first such procession since 2019, after a two-year pause during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were joined by Her Majesty's grandson Peter Phillips in their carriage.

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His mum, Princess Anne, followed in the third carriage – together with Lord de Mauley, William Nunneley and Mrs. Nunneley, the Princess Royal's Lady-in-Waiting.

Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were in the third carriage with the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - both the Queen's cousins.

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Rounding out the procession in the fourth carriage were the Earl of Hopetoun, Countess of Hopetoun, Tom Hooper and Lady Alexandra Hooper.

Lady Alexandra is Princess Diana's goddaughter and the great-granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip's uncle.

Prince Charles walked Lady Alexandra down the aisle when she and Tom wed in June 2016.

The royals arrived at the parade ring of Ascot Racecourse in time for the big contest of the day, the Queen Anne Stakes at 2.20pm on Tuesday (11.30pm AEST).

Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall as well as Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex were also spotted trackside.

Once in the royal box, Prince Charles was seen greeting his sister-in-law, Sophie, with a kiss on the cheek and the pair were seen sharing a laugh together.

While Prince Edward presented the trophy to winning New Zealand jockey James McDonald, who rode Aussie horse Nature Strip to victory in the King's Stand Stakes.

The Queen, a horse breeder and keen racegoer, is understood to be watching from home at Windsor Castle.

The start of the annual race meet comes just a day after the first Order of the Garter service in three years took place at Windsor.

Her Majesty didn't take part in the public procession but attended a private lunch and investiture ceremony.

The 96-year-old monarch posed for a photo in her sparkling attire, alongside Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who was newly installed to the order.