ENDING A WINNING COMBINATION THE QUEEN IS FIRST PAST THE POST TO SAY FAREWELL TO FRANKIE DETTORI

In his long and successful career, Frankie Dettori rode more than 50 horses to victory for Elizabeth II.

- SALLY MORGAN

Consequently, it was only fitting that his retirement from UK racing was marked at Ascot Racecourse by the new Queen.

On elegant autumnal form in a forest-green coat dress by Anna Valentine, Her Majesty celebrated the jockey’s last day at QIPCO British Champions Day, keeping dry from a shower of rain beneath a Fulton umbrella of the style favoured by her mother-in-law.

A passionate horsewoman herself , the Queen paid a touching tribute to Elizabeth with an eye-catching brooch featuring a pavé-set diamond horse ridden by a jockey wearing the regal red and purple of the King’s silks. The design was similar to a brooch commissioned by the Racing Post newspaper and made by jewellers Alabaster & Wilson to mark Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday in 2016.