ROYAL ASCOT DAY THREE

Thursday 18 June 2026

A train crash of a day on the punting front, but a joy on the social engagement side. We had been invited to an Ascot lunch by chums whom we simply never see enough of. He is a major theatrical producer and, long story short, he was at a charity beano fundraiser for young theatre people, where he stuck his hand up to bid on and bought an 8-course lunch for 10.

Delish - and trust me - no need for supper! A really jolly crew, and I managed to see three races and lose money whilst eating tremendously well. However, the morning was marred by the news of Clarkson’s illness, and as we assume his diagnosis was sometime in the autumn last year, and we have heard no more, we have to believe he is fighting it like a good’un and is on top of it. I really sincerely hope so.

As I went off to lunch, I had completely forgotten the Countryside Alliance had organised a protest in Westminster against the bigoted, class-besotted know-nothings who pose as countryside lovers. These self-righteous haters of the people of rural England endlessly cry how they are countryside lovers who want to protect the environment from people they don’t understand - but they have never worked as hard as any of the farmers I’ve ever known.

The small protest descended on Westminster, together with the hounds, and gathered in Marsham Street outside the Department for the Eradication of Farming and Rural Activities, where Baroness Mallalieu