Mike Tindall Gives Behind-the-Scenes Insight into Royal Ascot Carriage Rides, Plus the Part That's a 'Nightmare'
Mike Tindall Gives Behind-the-Scenes Insight into Royal Ascot Carriage Rides, Plus the Part That's a 'Nightmare'
Janine HenniWed, May 27, 2026 at 5:31 PM UTC
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Mike Tindall arrives by carriage on day three of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire on June 20, 2024
Credit: John Walton/PA Images via Getty
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Mike Tindall shared what it’s like to ride in the Royal Procession at the iconic Royal Ascot horse racing event
Princess Anne's son-in-law said the spectacle passes waving schoolchildren before arriving at the racecourse
Royal Ascot, founded in 1711, is a major annual event with a strict dress code and a tradition of royal family support
Mike Tindall is sharing the scoop on what it's like to travel in the royal cavalcade at the Royal Ascot horse race.
On May 26, Princess Anne's son-in-law opened up in an episode of The Luxury Dispatch with Tom Chamberlin, which was filmed on-site at the Ascot Racecourse, where the iconic event will kick off in June.
Royal Ascot is a special week of horse races held every summer and a social staple on the royal family's annual calendar, and Mike shed light on what it's like to travel in the Royal Procession of horse-drawn carriages that begin each day of the race meeting.
"If it's too hot, it's a bit of a nightmare. The sweat is ongoing. Don't take the hat off, or it's like, a pool of water drops out," he joked in the interview. Royal Ascot has a strict dress code, including top hats for men heading to the Royal Enclosure, where the British royals watch the races.
"That British history, that is the history we are trying to continue. The Royal Procession down the course. It's still a standalone feature of what happens at Royal Ascot," he said of the spectacle.
Queen Anne founded Ascot Racecourse as a venue for "horses fit for kings" in 1711, and the Royal Procession remains "virtually unchanged since its inception in 1825," according to Ascot.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family arrive by carriage for the ceremonial procession, which retired rugby star Mike and his wife, Zara Tindall, most recently participated in at Royal Ascot in 2025.
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Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall attend day three of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2025 in Ascot, England.
Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage
"You jump in cars, the fleet of cars they use are very old, historical, good old-fashioned sort of cars, state cars, and they take you to the edge of the Great Park. It's about a 20-minute carriage ride from start to finish," he said about the experience.
The former England rugby union star said the procession passes "a load of schools" and "they always let the children out and wave their British flags."
"You turn on to the track down the middle of the course, and the anthem starts — it's quite special," he said.
Mike and his equestrian wife Zara, 45, are frequent fixtures at Royal Ascot, which starts in a few weeks.
Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall attend day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2025 in Ascot, England.
Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
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The equestrian event is set to run from Tuesday, June 16 to Saturday, June 20, with the British royals expected to attend some days of the race meeting.
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