Queen Elizabeth launched four days of nationwide celebrations with a visit to the races, highlighting her lifelong passion for horses.
Arriving with the Duke of Edinburgh, the royal couple were given an affectionate welcome from a crowd of about 130,000 racegoers as they were driven along the straight and met at the winning post.
Her Majesty was joined by a large party which included the Duke of York and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and the monarch's racing manager John Warren.
Classical singer Katherine Jenkins sang the national anthem as the Queen took her seat in the royal box.
A huge cheer went up as many of the spectators waved Union Jack flags and lined the Queen's route into the stand named in her honour and opened by the monarch in 1992.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex also joined the monarch in her royal box along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
Unlike in last year's race, the Queen does not have a horse entered in the Derby, or the other six featured races.
Racecourse manager Rupert Trevelyan told Sky News he was "extremely proud" to be hosting the Queen at the event.
"The Queen's horses have been competing at the highest level for more than 60 years. It's her passion," Mr Trevelyan said.
Just four days after her Coronation in 1953, the Queen arrived on the Epsom Downs to see her horse Aureole placed second in her Derby debut.
But a Queen-owned horse is yet to win the Classic even though four years later in 1957 she enjoyed her first major success with Carrozza in the Oaks.
Meanwhile, in the East End of London vessels of all shapes and sizes like the square rigger tenacious continue to muster ahead of Sunday's showpiece pageant.
New pictures released show the finishing touches being made to the royal barge - Spirit of Chartwell - at a secret and secure location.
Security will be of paramount importance as the Royal Family takes to the River Thames - but not to the point of distraction, organisers said.
"I hope that she enjoys the pageant, that she feels the affection and admiration of not only her people through the Commonwealth, but the fact that the rest of the world wants to come the party is in itself a tribute to her." Lord Salisbury told Sky News.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.
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