Royal Ascot returns: Here's a reminder of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at racing's great event - in pictures

The Dubai Ruler has been a regular at the royal meet

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  2019 - Queen Elizabeth II presents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with the Diamond Jubilee trophy after Blue Point's victory. EPA

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  2018 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with one of Godolphin's horses and jockey's. Wam

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  1987: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attends Royal Ascot week. Allsport

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  1992 - Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. Allsport

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  1995: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in the Parade Ring. Getty Images

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  2002 - Frankie Dettori wins the Queen's Vase aboard the Godolphin-trained Mamool. Getty Images

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  2004 - Frankie Dettori and the Godolphin-trained Papineau win the Gold Cup. Getty Images

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  2004 - Frankie Dettori rides Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin-trained Nightfall to land The Crocker Bulteel Maiden Stakes. Getty Images

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  2009 - Queen Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh sit opposite Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and head of Godolphin racing stable. AFP

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  2010 - Royal Hunt Cup-winning jockey Frankie Dettori and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid after Godolphin horse Invisible Man won a race at Royal Ascot. Shutterstock

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  2010 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with jockey Frankie Dettori after Hibaayeb won the Ribblesdale Stakesy on Ladies Day. Shutterstock

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  2011 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum after his Godolphin horse, Rewilding, won the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

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  2011 - Sheikh Mohammed With his racehorse Rewilding after the four-year-old thoroughbred won the Prince Of Wales Stakes. Racingfotos.com

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  2012 - Queen Elizabeth II presents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with his owner's trophy after Godolphin won the Gold Cup. Shutterstock

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  2013 - Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, presents the St James's Palace Stakes trophy to owner of the winning horse, Dawn Approach, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai. Ian Jones

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  2013 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with his winning horse Dawn Approach after winning the St James's Palace Stakes. Photograph by Ian Jones

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  2016 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is presented with a cup by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, looks on on the second day of the Royal meet. AFP

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  2017 - Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed is congratulated by Coolmore owner, John Magnier after Godolphin's Barney Roy won the St James' Palace Stakes.

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  2018 - Sheikh Mohammed waits in the winner's enclosure. Wam

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  2018 - Sheikh Mohammed speaks with one of his jockeys. Wam

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  2018 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid gives an interview after another successful day at Ascot. Wam

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  2018 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid looking happy after watching Godolphin's Blue Point win the King's Stand Stakes. Wam

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  2019 - Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, centre, attends the final day of Royal Ascot. EPA

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  2019 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attends Britain's most popular race meeting. Wam

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  2019 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has been a regular at the Royal meet for many years. Wam

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  2019 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is the head of the Dubai-based Godolphin horse racing operation. Wam

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  2019 - Pinatubo, ridden by jockey James Doyle, win the Chesham Stakes. Getty

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  2019 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid inspects horses before a race. Wam

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  2019 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on day one. PA

Royal Ascot, the highlight of the British horse racing season, takes place this week, starting on Tuesday.

The five-day meet is usually attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators, race enthusiasts, as well as royalty including Queen Elizabeth II and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, head of the immensely successful Godolphin stable.

The Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has been a regular visitor at the royal meeting for more than 25 years, but with British sport only now restarting following a complete shutdown in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, no spectators will be allowed this time.

Above is a photo gallery of Sheikh Mohammed's visits to Royal Ascot over nearly three decades. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows or swipe left/right on your device.