Desert Crown wins 243rd Epsom Derby as Princess Anne steps in for the Queen

Desert Crown won the 243rd Epsom Derby on Saturday as Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, stepped in for Queen Elizabeth II.

Ridden by Richard Kingscote and trained by five-time Derby winner Sir Michael Stoute, Desert Crown – the pre-race favorite – raced into the lead with two furlongs to go, eventually winning in dominant style.

A colorful fireworks display had the thousands of fans in attendance ready for a show, and Desert Crown – owned by Saeed Suhail – demonstrated why it was the favorite to claim the title by speeding to a famous victory.

Kingscote later credited Stoute’s leadership as a reason for their success.

“When I was a kid I was useless and I’ve had a lot of support from this gentleman (Stoute) here,” he told ITV Racing after the race.

Princess Anne (left) chats with winning trainer of Desert Crown, Sir Michael Stoute, jockey Richard Kingscote, and owner Saeed Suhail.

“(Desert Crown has) got a huge amount of class, we turned in going well and was so lovely. I (even) took a tug in the straight, he’s got a lot of class and gave me a lot of confidence. But it’s all about the man who trained him. He’s a lovely horse and he’s a lovely gentleman that trains him.”

Desert Crown finished clear of second-placed Hoo Ya Mal, a 150-1 outsider, with Westover finishing third.

For Stoute, it is a sixth Derby victory, 12 years after his last with Workforce in 2010.

Princess Anne was making an appearance at Epsom Downs racecourse for the 243rd edition of the famous horse race. The Queen’s daughter, who was representing her mother at the event, waved to cheering crowds from the royal box.

The previous day, Buckingham Palace had announced Queen Elizabeth II would not be attending. However, the palace said the monarch was expected to watch the event on television in Windsor Castle, as she did for her Platinum Jubilee service on Friday.

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence are pictured after their arrival at Epsom Racecourse ahead of the Epsom Derby.

Zara Tindall, Anne’s daughter, said the Queen would be watching the Derby on TV in her “comfy clothes.”

“She will be watching on the TV – she has a few runners today dotted around the country, so she knows exactly what’s going on,” said Tindall.

“She’ll just be sat on the sofa watching the TV. She’ll be in her comfy clothes.”

The Queen, a keen horse breeder herself, has been a regular spectator at the event and has even presented the famous trophy in years gone by.

The Epsom Derby is one of Saturday’s showpiece events on the third day of Platinum Jubilee celebrations to commemorate the Queen’s 70-year reign.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade in London on Thursday, June 2.

The Queen is joined by members of the royal family during her balcony appearance on Sunday. With her, from left, are Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Prince William; Prince George; Princess Charlotte; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Prince Louis.

Soldiers parade during the People's Pageant in London on Sunday.

Crowds watch the Queen's appearance in London on Sunday.

Ed Sheeran performs before the Queen's appearance.

Archive video of the Queen plays inside a Gold State Coach during the parade on Sunday.

Cakes celebrating the jubilee are displayed at a street party in Aylesford, England, on Sunday.

Sunday's parade had performers, military personnel and key workers walking down The Mall to bring to life many iconic moments from the Queen's reign.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, attend a Big Jubilee Lunch event Sunday in London. There were similar lunchtime events taking place in other communities across the country.

Revelers pose for pictures as they attend a party in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England, on Sunday.

People gather outside Windsor Castle for the Big Jubilee Lunch there on Sunday.

Children chalk a flag on the road during a street party in York, England, in Sunday.

Queen's Brian May delights concertgoers as the band — joined by Adam Lambert — opens a special show outside of Buckingham Palace on Saturday night. The two-and-a-half hour concert boasted an impressive lineup of stars.

Members of the royal family attend Saturday night's concert. In the center row, from left, are Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte; Prince George; and Prince William.

Rod Stewart performs on stage during Saturday night's concert, where he performed Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," a British karaoke classic.

Drones make a shape of a corgi dog — a Queen favorite — above the palace on Saturday night.

Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, delivers a speech at Saturday night's concert. "You pledged to serve your whole life," he said of his mother, the Queen. "You continue to deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight."

People cheer as they gather at The Mall for the concert outside Buckingham Palace.

Diana Ross appears on stage during the concert. The legendary singer closed the show with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

People gather along The Mall for Saturday night's concert.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte also joined their parents at a walkabout in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday. Their visit was part of the royal family's tour of all four regions of the United Kingdom.

Princess Anne, the Queen's only daughter, stands on the balcony of the royal box while attending the Epsom Derby horse race on Saturday. She was filling in for her mother, who has been a regular spectator at the event in past years.

Boys ride a bus in Epsom alongside cardboard cutouts of the Queen.

Princess Charlotte conducts a band next to her brother Prince George as they visited Cardiff Castle in Wales.

People dance during jubilee celebrations in London on Saturday.

People gather for a street party in Hayfield, England, on Saturday.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, depart St Paul's Cathedral in London after attending a service honoring the Queen on Friday. Harry and Meghan, who flew from the United States for the jubilee celebrations, were warmly welcomed by a crowd outside the service. Ahead of the event, there was much speculation in the British press over how the couple would be received following their decision to step back from the royal family and move to California two years ago.

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, smiles as she arrives at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday.

More than 400 people were invited to Friday's event recognizing the Queen's lifetime of service. The congregation included key workers, teachers and public servants as well as representatives from the Armed Forces, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, according to Buckingham Palace. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was among those in the audience.

Prince Charles arrives for Friday's service. Another one of the Queen's sons, Prince Andrew, was notably absent after testing positive for Covid-19.

The theme of Friday's event was public service. It included Bible readings, prayers and congregational hymns to honor the Queen's 70 years on the British throne.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pauses while inside St Paul's Cathedral on Friday. Johnson was cheered and booed by the crowd when he arrived for the service.

A member of the military stumbles Friday while on duty ahead of the service.

A woman holds a cutout picture of the Queen while waiting outside St Paul's Cathedral on Friday.

People gather outside St Paul's Cathedral to watch the arrivals.

The Queen prepares to touch the Commonwealth of Nations Globe to start the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

A Platinum Jubilee beacon is lit by Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and Commander of Edinburgh Garrison Lt. Col. Lorne Campbell at Scotland's Edinburgh Castle on Thursday. More than 1,500 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories would come together to light a beacon to mark the jubilee.

People pack The Mall in London for Thursday's Trooping the Colour parade.

The Queen walks out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Trooping the Colour parade.

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, waves during a carriage procession on Thursday. Joining her on the carriage were her three children — Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte — as well as Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Planes spell out the number 70 as they fly over Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The Queen's great-grandson Prince Louis holds his hands over his ears during the six-minute flypast staged by the Royal Air Force. From left are Prince Charles; the Queen; Prince Louis; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Princess Charlotte.

A 124-gun salute is fired at the Tower of London as part of the Trooping the Colour parade.

The Trooping the Colour event involved 1,500 soldiers and officers, 400 musicians, 250 horses and 70 aircraft, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

Three of the Queen's great-grandchildren— from left, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte — ride in the carriage procession on Thursday.

Prince William, left, rides on horseback next to his father, Prince Charles, during the Trooping the Colour parade.

The Queen's Guard marches during the Trooping the Colour parade Thursday.

The Queen is joined by members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday.

Thousands of people flocked to central London for the celebrations Thursday.

A military band performs on Thursday.

Four of the Queen's great-grandchildren watch the parade from a window of Buckinghamp Palace on Thursday. From left are Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Mia Tindall.

A member of the Coldstream Guards holds souvenir programs ahead of the start of Thursday's parade.

Prince Edward, right, rides in a carriage along with his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and their children, James and Louise.

The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry takes part in the parade Thursday.

A man wears a Union Jack suit as people gather on The Mall for jubilee celebrations on Thursday.

Police officers line up on The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday.

A member of the Buckingham Palace staff cleans the balcony ahead of the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday.

Crowds gather in London for the parade.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lights the Commonwealth Beacon for a jubilee celebration in Canberra, Australia, on Thursday.

Some royal fans had Union flags applied to their faces as they gathered along The Mall in London on Thursday.

People wear masks of the Queen and one of her dogs as they attend jubilee celebrations on The Mall on Thursday.

Anita Atkinson, who has collected more than 12,000 items of royal memorabilia, makes her way to a tea party in Durham on Thursday.

People sing the national anthem as they gather along The Mall on Thursday.

A boy poses with a Union flag on The Mall on Wednesday.

In pictures: Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee

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Later Saturday, a two-and-a-half hour “Platinum Party At The Palace” concert will see a star-studded line up take to three stages built in front of Buckingham Palace and the famous Queen Victoria Memorial.

Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys and Diana Ross are among the artists set to perform their biggest hits at the show, which will be broadcast live by the BBC.

Some 22,000 people will get to watch the concert in person, including 10,000 who won tickets through a public ballot, while 5,000 tickets were reserved for key workers.

CNN’s Max Foster contributed to reporting.