Yahoo Movies Queen Elizabeth Arrives at Royal Ascot After Missing Event in 2020 for the First Time in 68 Years!
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth is back at one of the biggest social events of the year!
The monarch, 95, arrived at Royal Ascot on Saturday after missing the horse racing event last year for the first time in 68 years due to the ongoing pandemic.
Unlike in years past, the Queen did not arrive by carriage. The Queen's carriage typically leads a procession, with other royal family members following behind, but the horse-drawn carriage royal procession isn't happening this year.
"I think everybody adores seeing the Queen, she has a magic about her that nobody else has," Rachel Trevor-Morgan, the Queen's milliner, tells PEOPLE. "When the Queen attends anything it just makes things feel different, if you catch a glimpse of her that's very exciting."
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival of horse racing went on last year without spectators. Although the Queen couldn't attend in person, she watched the races on TV from Windsor Castle, where she has been isolating for much of the past year.
For this year's outing, the monarch wore a mint dress with a matching coat and hat - and arrived to cheers from the crowd of racegoers.
Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Queen Elizabeth II
Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Queen Elizabeth II
Chris Jackson/Getty Queen Elizabeth II
Chris Jackson/Getty Queen Elizabeth II
This year, Royal Ascot went on on with a reduced capacity crowd. Spectators will be required to provide consent and contract tracing information, provide a free negative COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test on arrival and complete two COVID-19 PCR tests (one on the day of attendance and another five days later).
Get the premiere issue of PEOPLE Royals for glamorous new photos and inside stories royals fans haven't seen or read elsewhere! Subscribe at peopleroyals.com/launch
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Queen Elizabeth
As Britain's most iconic horse race event, Royal Ascot attracts the world's finest racehorses to compete for millions in prize money - and the royal family takes center stage. The signature accessory of the dress code are hats, which are on eye-catching display throughout the races.
"You often see the Queen re-wearing hats and for me, it's such a compliment when she wears things more than once because you know that she likes it, she's happy with it, she feels good in it and she often re-wears her Philip Somerville hats, Freddie Fox hats which is great!" says Trevor-Morgan.
PA Images via Getty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Royal Ascot
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
The Queen, who is passionate about horses, brings members of her family with her on each of the five days of the event.
Other royals who join the monarch include Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Members of other European royal families have also attended, from King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
