Children meet Kentucky Derby Festival's Queen, Royal Court at annual event

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Children got the chance to meet the Kentucky Derby Festival Queen and the Royal Court Princesses during an annual event Sunday.

The Children's Tea with the Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses was hosted at the Mellwood Arts Center. This year's theme was "Tea in the Candy Kingdom." WDRB's Molly Jett was the event's emcee.

The annual @KyDerbyFestival Children’s Tea is underway!! How precious is this year’s set-up! The Fillies Inc. has been hosting it since 2008. I’ll be the emcee. So thankful to see it in-person this year 🩷😄 pic.twitter.com/fNjHq9PkZN
— Molly Jett (@MolJett) April 21, 2024

Children between the ages of 3 and 9 met the Royal Court for a tea party. Attendees also received a treat bag with candy, party favors and a photo with a Derby Festival Princess.

Ankita Nair was crowned after a traditional Derby Festival Queen by a spin of a wheel at the annual Fillies Derby Ball on April 13 at The Galt House.

Nair is a third-year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA in three years with a bachelor's degree in human biology and society.

The other members of the court include Paighton Brooks, Sarah Downs, Emma Rhodes and Laurel Riggs. The court will reign over the Derby Festival and attend nearly every official KDF event.

Each royal court member receives $2,000 in scholarship money. One $1,000 scholarship comes from The Fillies, Inc. while another $1,000 scholarship comes from Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation. The first Kentucky Derby Festival Princess was crowned in 1957.

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