Charles gasps and grimaces in very animated display with Camilla at rainy Epsom Racecourse

King Charles and Queen Camilla made a surprise appearance at Epsom Downs Racecourse today to watch a horse bred by Queen Elizabeth II in a £500,000 race.

The monarch and his wife prepared to cheer on Treasure in the Betfred Oaks at 4.30pm, rated eighth favourite by bookmakers at odds between 18/1 and 26/1.

They attended Epsom’s Ladies Day as fellow racegoers looked forward to seeing a royal runner bid for Classic glory after Treasure was declared for the Group 1 Oaks.

The prize money for today’s race totals £541,035 for the top six positions out of the 12 runners. A first prize of £311,905 will go to the winner – then £118,250 for second, £59,180 for third, £29,480 for fourth, £14,795 for fifth and £7,425 for sixth.

The owner normally receives about 75 per cent of a race’s prize money, while the remaining 25 per cent is generally split between the trainer (10 per cent), the jockey (10 per cent) and then the final 5 per cent to stable staff and racing charities.

Also today, Charles and Camilla presented a trophy after the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup, a race they watched from the stands which was won by 9-4 chance Luxembourg ridden by Ryan Moore, with 7-4 shot Emily Upjohn finishing fourth.

Treasure was bred by Elizabeth II and is a daughter of stallion Masterscraftsman and Shimmering Light, which was placed for the late monarch in two races in 2017.

Trainer Ralph Beckett said they ‘decided to have a go at the Oaks as the ground should be in her favour’, adding that he had been ‘very pleased with her progress’.