ONE of the biggest race meetings of the summer will look very different this year.

The Queen will be absent from Royal Ascot for the first time in her 68-year reign as the popular race meeting gets under way behind closed doors today (Tuesday, June 16).

READ MORE: All the times Royal Ascot events were cancelled in the past

Instead, The Queen will be watching the coverage on TV like the rest of us - and here's how you can watch it too.

How to watch it at home today

Royal Ascot will be shown live on the ITV channel, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Racing.

What time are the races starting?

The first race today kicks off at 1.15pm The Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) 3+ £35,000 Seven furlongs

Then, at 1.50pm, it is The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 4+ £250,000 One mile

READ MORE: REVEALED - The Queens favourite horses ahead of Royal Ascot

At 2.25pm The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) 3 fillies £110,000 One mile, four furlongs

3.00pm The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 3 colts & geldings £110,000 One mile, four furlongs

3.35pm The King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) 3+ £250,000 Five furlongs

4.10pm The Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 4+ fillies & mares £100,000 One mile

4.40pm The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 4+ £35,000 Two miles, four furlongs

First Receiver, ridden by Frankie Dettori in the Queen's racing colours, will feature in the 1.50 Ascot Hampton Court Stakes on Wednesday.

The colt secured the Queen a win on the anniversary of her coronation at Kempton on June 2.

Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot, said: "Whilst the ultimate experience of being at Royal Ascot sadly isn't possible this year, we hope that what we are planning will make ownership at home as special as possible.

"We are particularly pleased to be able to provide owners with a feed to the Parade Ring, and to be housing all the data that all horsemen need from real time weather and going reports to post race sectionals in one, convenient place."

While there will be no royal carriage processions when the monarch and accompanying royals arrive along the track in horse-drawn landaus before heading to the Royal Enclosure, the National Anthem will be played 15 minutes before the first race each day.

As part of its Royal Ascot at Home campaign, the racecourse is inviting fans across the globe to dress up and wear a hat - whether a ladies' hat, men's top hat, panama, trilby or other racing hat - and share a selfie on social media using the hashtags #StyledWithThanks and #RoyalAscot.

Participants are being encouraged to donate £5 to support for four frontline charities - The National Emergencies Trust Relief Fund, NHS Charities Together, The Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund.

Only a jockey, groom and trainer or their representative are allowed per horse at the racecourse, and the traditionally strict dress codes have been suspended, with those allowed admission requested simply to dress smartly.