It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October.
It was created when a race called the Knights' Royal Stakes[1] was renamed in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the "QEII" was initially given Group 2 status.
From this point the winner earned an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
It became part of a new fixture called British Champions Day, and its prize fund was increased fourfold to £1,000,000.