Sophie Wessex, Zara Tindall, Prince Charles and more attend Royal Ascot 2021 – in photos

The annual English horse race has kicked off with daily crowds of 12,000

Sophie, Countess of Wessex wears an ARossGirl X Soler dress with a Jane Taylor London hat on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. Getty Images

Zara Tindall arrives with husband Mike on day one of the Royal Ascot. Getty Images

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales watch racing from the Royal Box during Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. Getty Images

Princess Anne, Princess Royal arrives on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. Getty Images

Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman attend day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. WireImage

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex during Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. Getty Images

Presenter Rosie Tapner attends day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. Getty Images

Charlotte Hawkins wears a Laura Green London dress with a Laylaleigh Millinery hat on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. Getty Images

The Royal Ascot horse racing meet kicked off on Tuesday, with a number of royal and celebrity guests in attendance.

After being held behind closed doors in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 event has been opened up to 12,000 daily racegoers, made up of owners and members of the public.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Anne, the Princess Royal, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, were all present. Notably absent royals included Queen Elizabeth II, a regular at the races, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Princess Anne made a statement with her face mask, which drew attention to the Injured Jockeys Fund, decorated with jockeys' racing silks.

Zara Tindall wore a black and white polka dot dress, with a bespoke Juliette Botterill Millinery headpiece, and the Countess of Wessex wore a light pink ARossGirl X Soler dress with a Jane Taylor London hat.

The Duchess of Cornwall co-ordinated her blue striped coat with her face mask for the occasion.

Also in the crowd were Simon Cowell and partner Lauren Silverman, who wore a lemon-yellow dress, as well as television presenter Rosie Tapner, in a statement red suit with a floral headpiece. Newsreader Charlotte Hawkins wore a yellow and white Laura Green London dress, with a Laylaleigh Millinery hat.

Ascot Racecourse has a capacity of 70,000, however, 12,000 racegoers are permitted to attend daily, under capped Covid-19 precautions, because it's being held as an Events Research Programme set up by the UK government.