Queen Elizabeth II braves the rain on a day of double delight for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Royal Ascot - in pictures

Two of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed's horses were first past the post on Day 2 of Royal Ascot on Wednesday. Frankie Dettori guided the Dubai Crown Prince's Raffle Prize to victory in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes . The Italian later clinched the day's biggest prize, the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, atop Michael Stoute's Crystal Ocean. Charlie Hills saw his concerns over running Afaak on soft ground brushed aside after he went one place better than 12 months ago in the Royal Hunt Cup. Moved Swiftly, owned by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, won the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. It was a wet day for racegoers, with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and other members of the British royal family taking shelter from the rain under umbrellas soon after arriving at the Ascot Racecourse in horse-drawn carriage. Ahead of the start of Day 3's action on Thursday, take a look at the best photos from the opening day in the picture gallery above. To move on to the next image click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Queen Elizabeth II braves the rain on a day of double delight for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Royal Ascot - in pictures

Frankie Dettori rides Dubai Crown Prince's Raffle Prize to victory on Queen Mary Stakes while Jim Crowley takes Royal Hunt Cup