Racing NSW chief Peter V’landys rides in royal procession at Royal Ascot after having lunch with the Queen

Racing NSW chief Peter V’landys had a day he’ll never forget after joining the Queen for lunch before riding in the royal procession at Royal Ascot.

Peter V'landys says it was a “humbling experience” to be part of the royal procession at Royal Ascot. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Peter V’landys, the man who runs New South Wales racing and rugby league, met his match when introduced to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“I was nervous, I must admit when I was waiting to meet the Queen,’’ V’landys said.

“But she puts you at ease straight way and is a gracious host.’’

V’landys, the Racing NSW chief executive and Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, was a guest of Her Majesty at a luncheon at Windsor Castle just before day two of Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

For a man with a reputation of being a hard-nosed negotiator used to being in charge, V’landys was “out of his comfort zone” when he learned he was sitting next to the Queen at the luncheon.

“The Queen and I spoke about a wide range of topics from racing to politics,’’ V’landys said. “She’s extremely knowledgeable and takes an interest in what you are saying.’’

V’landys said he asked the Queen where her love for thoroughbred racing originated.

Her Majesty revealed that as a 16-year-old, she accompanied her father, King George VI, to a race meeting and following one of the races, the winning connections were introduced to the royals.

Peter V'landys (left) was in the fourth carriage with wife Philippa (second from right) and Mr and Mrs David Bowes-Lyon. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

“The Queen told me she went and patted the winner and said the horse felt like velvet,’’ V’landys said.

“From that day on, she just loved racehorses.

“Although her father wasn’t so keen on horse racing, her grandfather (King George V) and her mother were always big fans.

“The Queen Mother really liked her jumps racing so the Queen said she would follow the flat racing.’’

V’landys was a guest of the Queen primarily due his position as chief executive of Racing NSW and not because of his chairmanship of the Australian Rugby League Commission.

Her Majesty is renowned for her knowledge and love of thoroughbred racing but her sporting passions don’t extend to rugby league.

Peter V'landys during the royal procession.

V’landys suffers from certain food allergies but when lunch was served at Windsor Castle he wasn’t about to cause any fuss.

“The menu was in French so I had no idea what I was eating anyway,’’ he said.

Once the luncheon was completed, the guests were ushered into the royal procession carriages that left the grounds of Windsor Castle for Royal Ascot, a tradition dating back to King George IV in 1825.

The 96-year-old monarch’s ongoing mobility issues meant she has not been part of the carriage procession for Royal Ascot in her Platinum Jubilee year.

In the Queen’s absence, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the carriage procession in Wednesday.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall again led the royal procession on day two at Royal Ascot. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Drawn by the famous Windsor Greys, Her Majesty’s landau leads the procession of carriages up the Ascot mile course, past the Silver Ring, Grandstand and Royal Enclosure before finishing with a circuit of the Parade Ring.

The V’landys were in the fourth carriage accompanied by Mr and Mrs David Bowes-Lyon.

The second carriage was hosted by the Earl and Countess of Wessex with Lord and Lady De Mauley.

Princess Alexandra was in the third carriage along with Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

“It felt like an eternity to get onto the racecourse and down the mile straight but it was a humbling experience,’’ V’landys said.

The arrival of the royal party signaled the start of day two of Royal Ascot which featured the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes won by State Of Rest.

V’landys and his wife then spent the rest of the day in the Royal Box where they were hosted by Prince Charles and other members of the royal family.

V’Landys and his wife had a day to remember.

“It was a fantastic day, one that Philippa and I will never forget,’’ V’landys said.

“I’m still pinching myself that it really happened.’’

Her Majesty was a regular at Royal Ascot before the pandemic and has been at every Royal meeting since acceding to the throne in 1952.

The 96-year-old monarch is understood to have watched day two of Royal Ascot from Windsor Castle.

In recent years, other Sydney racing identities have been part of the royal procession.

Chris Waller, trainer of Nature Strip, was a guest of Her Majesty in 2019 and Arrowfield Stud boss and respected racing administrator John Messara was in the carriage procession in 2012.

Originally published as Racing NSW chief Peter V’landys rides in royal procession at Royal Ascot after having lunch with the Queen