I believe the third week of June was established as Royal Week in 1911, with King George and Queen Mary and various other royals in attendance. It?s rather strange that King George should have done this as unlike his late father he wasn?t an admirer of horseflesh, nor a keen racegoer. Neither was Queen Mary. And neither of them were enthusiastic adherents of the social Season, which in those days was very grand indeed.
However, Royal Week became a tradition from 1911 on and Royal Ascot one of the events that heralded the end of the Season, which went hand in hand with Parliamentary sittings which usually ended in July.
By the beginning of August everyone who was anyone in that world were supposed to retreat to their country estates to celebrate the shooting of grouse, or to go to the seaside or travel abroad, do something away from a stifling London anyway.
However, Royal Week became a tradition from 1911 on and Royal Ascot one of the events that heralded the end of the Season, which went hand in hand with Parliamentary sittings which usually ended in July.
By the beginning of August everyone who was anyone in that world were supposed to retreat to their country estates to celebrate the shooting of grouse, or to go to the seaside or travel abroad, do something away from a stifling London anyway.
