The Queen, wearing a lemon-coloured outfit, was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh as the carriages made their way down the course.

Irish challenger Azamour won the first of the day's two Group One races, the St James's Palace Stakes while last year's 2000 Guineas winner Refuse to Bend took the Queen Anne Stakes.

1730 - Windsor Castle Stakes (5f)
1. Chateau Istana (T P Queally) 12-1
2. Tournedos (T E Durcan) 12-1
3. Safari Sunset (P Doe) 12-1
15 ran. Dist: �, �

Trainer Nick Littmoden saddled his first Royal Ascot winner when Chateau Istana took the Windsor Castle Stakes.

Jockey Tom Queally, who was also opening his account at the big meeting, had the horse on the heels of the leaders and produced him to make his bid over a furlong out.

Tournedos was beaten half a length in second place, with Safari Sunset the same distance away in third.

1655 - Ascot Stakes (2�m)
1. Double Obsession (JF Egan) 25-1
2. Promoter (E Ahern) 14-1
3. Penny Pictures (Gary Stevens) 25-1
4. Redspin (D Kinsella) 100-1
29 ran. Dist: 4, 6

The Mark Johnston-trained Double Obsession, ridden by John Egan, runs out a comfortable winner of the Ascot Stakes.

Egan, whose mount was well-placed, ran clear in the final couple of furlongs to finish well ahead of Promoter and Eddie Ahern with Gary Stevens well back in third on Penny Pictures.

Got One Too, ridden by Mick Kinane was the first to challenge for home well out but he was eventually caught by the rest of the field and finished trailed off.

1620 - Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1 - 1m)
1. Refuse to Bend (L Dettori) 12-1
2. Soviet Song (JP Murtagh) 6-1
3. Salselon (D Holland) 12-1
16 ran. Dist: nk, �

Frankie Dettori and Refuse to Bend fight out a tremendous finish with Johnny Murtagh and Soviet Song to win the Queen Anne Stakes.

The pair battled it out through the last furlong with Dettori gaining a narrow advantage at the line after bringing the Godolphin horse through.

Soviet Song had been challenging well throughout but Dettori's mount, who has been out of form since last year's 2000 Guineas victory, showed a great accleration to come through by a neck.

1545 - St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1 - Old mile)
1. Azamour (MJ Kinane) 9-2
2. Diamond Green (Gary Stevens) 10-1
3. Antonius Pius (JP Spencer) 7-1
11 ran. Dist: nk, �

Irish challenger Azamour does everything asked of him by jockey Mick Kinane to edge out Diamond Green in the day's first Group One race, the St James's Palace Stakes.

The tactics for the race were thrown into confusion when the scheduled pacemaker Newton was left standing at the start.

But Azamour, who was placed in both the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Curragh, worked well, coming down the middle of the track on the home straight and got the better of his rivals.

The favourite Haafhd finished back in fourth, despite being well-placed throughout the race.

1505 - King's Stand Stakes (5f)
1. The Tatling (D Holland) 8-1
2. Cape of Good Hope (MJ Kinane) 13-2
3. Frizzante (JP Murtagh) 9-2f
19 ran. Dist: 1�, nk

The well-fancied The Tatling gives veteran trainer Milton Bradley his first ever Royal Ascot winner.

Darryll Holland guided his horse well through on the outside in the final furlong and a half of the keenly-contested sprint and finished well ahead of Hong Kong raider Cape of Good Hope, ridden by Michael Kinane.

The favourite Frizzante and Johnny Murtagh had to be happy with third place a neck behind.

1430 - Coventry Stakes (6f)
1. Iceman (K Fallon) 5-1jf
2. Council Member (L Dettori) 5-1jf
3. Capable Guest (C Catlin) 33-1
13 ran. Dist: �, 1�

Kieren Fallon gets the perfect start to 2004 Royal Ascot with his 21st success at the meeting, thanks to the John Gosden-trained Iceman.

The two joint favourites, Iceman and the second placed finisher Council Member, ridden by Frankie Dettori, fought out a superb battle to the line with Fallon's mount just getting a narrow advantage.

Iceman recovered from trouble midway through the race where he had to make room for himself. When the gap came, Fallon guided his mount through and the horse accelerated well to the line.