‘Tuck your shirt in’: When the king of Sydney met the Queen

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‘Tuck your shirt in’: When the king of Sydney met the Queen

By Andrew Webster

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys had lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

No, we’re not making that up.

V’landys, who is also chairman of the ARL Commission, and his wife Philippa were invited to lunch by John Warren, who is the Queen’s racing manager and one of the world’s leading bloodstock agents.

Warren organised the lunch with HRM as thanks to V’landys for his contribution to racing. Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were also in attendance.

V’landys didn’t just sit at the Queen’s table but right next to her, and the Duchess of Cornwall was on the other side of him.

“She’s an amazing lady,” V’landys said.

Afterwards, he and his wife jumped in one of the carriages that formed the royal procession to Royal Ascot for day two of the Royal Racing Carnival.

Peter V’landys, right, is presented to the Royal Ascot crowd alongside David Bowes-Lyon, whose father was the Queen Mother’s cousin once removed.

Peter V’landys, right, is presented to the Royal Ascot crowd alongside David Bowes-Lyon, whose father was the Queen Mother’s cousin once removed.Credit:Getty

V’landys was there on Wednesday morning when the Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip won the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m), confirming The Everest winner’s status as the world’s best sprinter.

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Queen Elizabeth, who is a passionate racing enthusiast, couldn’t attend the meeting but passed on her congratulations to Waller via Warren.

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“It shows the rest of the world is no match for us in the sprinting races,” V’landys said.

“That was a trial run for Nature Strip.”

Before attending lunch with the Queen, V’landys received a text message of advice from his great mate, the actor Bryan Brown: “Make sure you tuck your bloody shirt in!”

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