YOU could take the Duke of York's place at Royal Ascot this summer.

Prince Andrew's passes to the York meeting will go to the highest bidder in an auction to raise funds for the tsunami victims.

Disappointingly, the tickets do not entitle the holder to ride in the royal carriage alongside Andy's mum. So their is no need to start practising your queenly wave. But the package does include something of far greater value than the open-top carriage - your own guaranteed parking spot at the race meeting.

Updated: 10:57 Thursday, January 20, 2005