Flat racing's biggest festival is finally upon us - it's time, once again, for the coveted Royal Ascot.

In a big blow for the racing industry, last year's meeting was the first major British sporting event to take place behind closed doors.

Thankfully, as normality starts to swing back into motion, this year's festival will see up to 12,000 punters flood into the racecourse to watch the world's best horses in action.

Royal Ascot officially gets underway on Tuesday, 15 June and runs until Saturday 19 - and the big guns including Palace Pier, Battaash and Stradivarius, among others, will be on show.

In normal times, each day at the festival would start with the precession of carriages, with the Queen leading in other guests, usually high-profile owners and other Royals. Twelve months ago, it did not happen.

But fear not, Royal Ascot will live up to its name this year, as the Queen will be at the course, and will be represented by a number of horses again.

The 95-year-old, who is an avid lover of racing, has had a staggering number of winners at the meeting.

The most famous of those might very well be Estimate's Gold Cup win in 2013, with the memorable scenes being screened around the globe.

Wearing the silks of the Queen, Oisin Murphy will take to the saddle on Tactical - a winner at Royal Ascot last year - for trainer Andrew Balding.

"Tactical is a very good horse, he's won a Group Two already and he would be competitive in the Jersey Stakes," said Murphy.

"If we felt he could finish in the first three in the St James's Palace, we would think about it, but I think the Jersey is more likely, but we'll see what is likely to turn up on the Tuesday."

Royal Ascot 2021 full race card and race times

Tuesday, June 15

• 2:30 - Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
• 3:05 - Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
• 3:40 - King's Stand Stakes (Group 1)
• 4:20 - St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1)
• 5:00 - Ascot Stakes (Handicap)
• 5:35 - Wolferton Stakes (Listed)
• 6:10 - Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap)

Wednesday, June 16

• 2:30 - Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
• 3:05 - Queen's Vase (Group 2)
• 3:40 - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
• 4:20 - Prince Of Wales's Stakes
• 5:00 - Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)
• 5:35 - Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race)
• 6:10 - Kensington Palace Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Thursday, June 17

• 2:30 - Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
• 3:05 - Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
• 3:40 - Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)
• 4:15 - Gold Cup (Group 1)
• 5:00 - Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
• 5:35 - King George V Stakes (Handicap)
• 6:10 - Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)

Friday, June 18

• 2:30 - Albany Stakes (Group 3)
• 3:05 - King Edward VI Stakes (Group 2)
• 3:40 - Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
• 4:20 - Coronation Stakes (Group 1)
• 5:00 - Sandringham Stakes (Handicap)
• 5:35 - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)
• 6:10 - Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)

Saturday, June 19

• 2:30 - Chesham Stakes (Listed Race)
• 3:05 - Jersey Stakes (Group 3)
• 3:40 - Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
• 4:20 - Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
• 5:00 - Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
• 5:35 - Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap)
• 6:10 - Queen Alexandra Stakes (Handicap)