Overview
- Hours after attending Peter Phillips’s wedding, King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at Epsom and presented the Derby trophy on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
- The race was won by Christmas Day with jockey Ronan Whelan and trainer Aidan O’Brien, marking O’Brien’s fourth straight Derby victory and his 12th overall.
- Before the main race the King presented the traditional ceremonial cap to first-time Derby rider Rowan Scott, maintaining a long-standing ceremonial role.
- Epsom Downs reported a large public turnout and promoted free viewing from The Hill and festival attractions, even as blustery winds and rain affected the day and produced a slower winning time.
- The couple’s return to Derby day continues the late Queen Elizabeth II’s patronage and highlights Charles’s increasing public role at major racing fixtures, a move organisers hope will boost attendance and interest in the sport.