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  "path": "/royal/king-charles-struggles-to-contain-emotions-agonising-royal-ascot-moment",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-19T20:27:16.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Zara Tindall's adorable gesture to King Charles at Royal Ascot",
    "Princess of Wales releases personal on 'creating the conditions for love to flourish'",
    "King Charles to welcome Afghan refugee women's cricket team to Royal Family residence",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nHis Majesty The King struggled to contain his emotions at Royal Ascot this afternoon, as his horse, Warrant Holder, finished a close second in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes race.\n\nThe four-year-old thoroughbred, trained by John and Thady Gosden, appeared destined for glory before being overhauled in the closing stages.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSent off as the 16-5 second favourite, Warrant Holder moved powerfully through the field before jockey William Buick asked him to quicken with two furlongs remaining.\n\nThe horse had seized command of the mile-and-a-half handicap and looked certain to provide the royal colours with their first winner of the meeting.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe grandstands erupted as the royal runner struck the front, with spectators sensing a breakthrough moment for Their Majesties at the Royal Meeting.\n\nYet Opportunity, under New Zealand jockey James McDonald, swept past on the inside rail to claim victory by almost two lengths for trainer William Haggas.\n\nWatching on from the Royal Box, the King and Queen could be seen displaying a range of emotions.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAt times, the couple shouted encouraging messages; at others, they looked weary and anxious, and sometimes even in despair.\n\nKing Charles could barely watch as Warrant Holder fell to second in the final lengths.\n\nMr Gosden expressed satisfaction with his charge despite the narrow defeat, praising the horse's effort from an unfavourable position.\n\n\"That was a super run, and I'm really thrilled with him,\" the trainer said.\n\n### LATEST ROYAL NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Zara Tindall's adorable gesture to King Charles at Royal Ascot\n  * Princess of Wales releases personal on 'creating the conditions for love to flourish'\n  * King Charles to welcome Afghan refugee women's cricket team to Royal Family residence\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"He did everything right and as you know being drawn 17 you do lose ground - you're wide and then you're three wide around Swinley Bottom, but he came with a lovely run.\"\n\nHe acknowledged the winner's tactical advantage, noting: \"Unfortunately for us, the horse-drawn one, saving every inch, wriggled through and not only were we giving him 5lb, but he's gone a lot shorter route.\"\n\nHe added: \"Full marks to the winner, I know they fancied him a lot, and it was a long way back to the third. But I couldn't be more pleased with our horse, he's been brilliant.\"\n\nDespite the disappointment, the atmosphere remained warm as the King and Queen made their way to greet Warrant Holder and his connections.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHowever, the defeat means the royal wait for Ascot success continues, with Desert Hero's 2023 triumph remaining their most recent victory at the prestigious fixture – although that particular triumph was special.\n\nThe thoroughbred had been inherited from his late mother a year before, and the rank outsider's victory left King Charles visibly moved by his sensational victory.\n\nPoignantly, that victory came in the first Royal Ascot since Queen Elizabeth II's death.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "King Charles struggles to contain emotions after agonising Royal Ascot moment"
}