Pride, Prejudice, and the Royal Ascot

I just watched the final Downton Abbey movie this weekend. I won’t give a movie review here (unless someone asks!!), but I was struck by one scene in particular: the whole family attending the Royal Ascot races together.

I was already vaguely familiar with the famous races, but wow! The crowds, the clothes, the elegance! The rigid observance of precedence, even at an outdoor sporting event! The devotion to tradition! You might call it “The full English,” if that term were not already in use elsewhere.  Being a true Janeite, I had to wonder how the Ascot races looked in Jane Austen’s time, and how (or if) Darcy and Elizabeth might have attended.

The Royal Ascot was already an important date on the social calendar when Jane Austen was alive. They were founded by Queen Anne in 1711, but they were nowhere nearly as developed as they would be in later times. Still, there was a lot to see and do!

The races took place in June, at the height of the “Season,” when Britain’s wealthiest families were in London for balls, operas, and society events. Horse racing was hugely popular among the aristocracy and gentry. A day at Ascot meant dressing in the finest clothes, arriving in an elegant carriage, and mingling with high-ranking nobles, wealthy landowners, and anyone hoping to climb the social ladder. The Prince Regent himself might attend!

But it wasn’t just the upper class that attended the races. Think of a country carnival, with vendors setting up stands to sell food and drinks, and then add in owners, breeders and trainers rushing around. Tradesmen, travelers, and other everyday people would also come to the Ascot heath, straining to see the leaders of society in person as much as to see the races. Bookies were everywhere, soliciting and settling bets. It must have been loud, chaotic, and perhaps a bit overwhelming.

By Austen’s day, the royal family and their invited guests had a platform set aside for their viewing pleasure. (This would later turn into the Royal Enclosure.) Anyone honored enough to be on this decorated platform had to be in their best outfits: tailcoats and top hats for gentlemen, and fancy gowns for the ladies. The platform made it easier to see the races, but more importantly, it allowed the leaders of society to see each other and to be admired by the lower classes.

How would Darcy fit in at the Royal Ascot? This event was perfectly tailored for wealthy landowners like him. He most likely would have attended with the Colonel, Bingley and maybe even Georgiana.  As an earl’s nephew, he might even have been invited onto the platform, perhaps even met one of the royal family. I expect he would have placed a bet or two, but he wouldn’t have been reckless with his money. And since he didn’t particularly enjoy large gatherings, I imagine he would not have attended all four days of the event.

Elizabeth would be a different story, at least while she was still single. As the daughter of a country gentleman of no particular wealth, she might have attended the races, but she would almost certainly not be on the platform. However, Mrs. Bennet would have made the most of the opportunity for her daughters to shine in front of so many wealthy single gentlemen. Of course, once she married Darcy, Elizabeth would become a member of the top part of society and attend Ascot as much as she pleased. Can you picture Elizabeth making sly comments about the more pretentious ladies around her?

If someone really wanted to be creative, they could tell the story of Pride and Prejudice within the four days of the Royal Ascot. Think of it:

Day 1: Our favorite couple has a meet cute when they discover they are cheering for different horses in one of the early races. Of course, Elizabeth’s horse beats Darcy’s, and he is a sore loser. Later in the day they meet again while watching a different race, and they have a spirited argument about the qualities of each mount. This time Darcy’s horse wins, and he makes a comment to Bingley about women who think they know horses better than men do. Elizabeth, naturally, overhears this comment and is instantly resentful.

Day 2: Elizabeth and Darcy continue their verbal sparring and Darcy falls madly in love, while Elizabeth is quite tired of him hanging about. Elizabeth’s family embarrasses themselves in front of Darcy and pretty much everyone else. Wickham flirts outrageously with every woman around, including Elizabeth.

Day 3: Darcy and Elizabeth both bet on the Gold Cup and pick the winner. They congratulate each other and spend most of the day together. Darcy asks Elizabeth to let him call on her but does it so badly that she spurns him. Wickham and Lydia go missing at the end of the day.

Day 4: Elizabeth frantically searches the grounds and Darcy generously assists her. They discover Wickham and Lydia hiding in a vendor’s shed where they stayed together overnight. Darcy pays Wickham his winnings from the day before, plus a small fortune, to stay silent, pretend he never met Lydia, and ride off into the sunset. Elizabeth begins to see Darcy’s true worth and agrees to let him call on her.

So, what do you think of this possible story? Should I call it Galloping Hearts, or The Gold Cup of the Heart? Does it hold promise or have I just watched too much Downton Abbey? 😊 Please let me know what you think!