THE most prestigious event in the racing calendar is back, and attendees have pulled out all the stops with their fashion looks.
Royal Ascot racegoers donned their fanciest dresses and most eye-catching headpieces as they arrived at the famous Berkshire racecourse.
As is tradition, sky-high heels and hats in all shades of the rainbow have been the order of the day.
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And of course, the star-studded day wouldn’t be complete without a host of recognisable faces attending the festivities.
As well as bringing a red fascinator, Lisa Snowdon also wore a patriotic football themed hat, commissioned by Ladbrokes to pay tribute to the England team ahead of their clash with Denmark at the Euros.
The stunning hat is a red and white design, featuring the iconic Euros trophy, and is surrounded by small footballs.
It’s no wonder people have dressed to the nines for the occasion, as each year the royal family flocks to Ascot for the racing bonanza.
This year Carole and Michael Middleton – parents of the Princess of Wales – arrived in matching pale blue ensembles, following Kate’s appearance at Trooping the Colour on Saturday.
They were joined by Zara Tindall, who looked radiant in a pink floral dress, and a smartly-dressed Mike, in top hat and tails.
Meanwhile, Prince William also attended without Princess Kate, but was joined by cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie – plus their husbands.
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Also in attendance were Queen Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Sarah Ferguson, who were all dressed in their finery.
The Royal Ascot dress code varies across different enclosures, with the Royal Enclosure asking guests to stick to top hats and tails for the men.
Women must wear a dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer, with shoulder straps a minimum width of 1 inch and hats are compulsory.
The Queen Anne Enclosure offers a more relaxed dress code, while the Windsor Enclosure is the most relaxed, with no formal dress code but smart attire is encouraged.
Royal Ascot was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne who, when riding out from Windsor Castle, came across a piece of land “ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch” and thus Ascot Racecourse was born.
The first Royal Meeting took place at Ascot in 1768 and it is now Britain’s most popular race meeting, welcoming in excess of 250,000 racegoers across five days.
Each morning the gates open at 10.30am each day, ready for the anticipated first race which kicks off at 2.30pm.
There are then seven races throughout the day, the last of which commencing at 6.10pm.
And, of course, 2pm on each day of racing is the royal procession.
As well as the racing, there’s also lots of other things for the lucky guests to enjoy.
Royal Ascot in numbers
DURING the five days of the Royal Meeting racegoers consume:
220,000 hand-crafted afternoon tea cakes
109,000 bottles of mineral water
110,000 buttermilk scones
80,000 cups of tea
220,000 finger sandwiches
65,000 bottles of Champagne
100,000 bottles of wine
7,000 sticks of English asparagus
26,000 jugs of Pimm’s
50,000 afternoon teas
10,000 punnets of mixed berries
6,000 rumps of English lamb
3,000 kilos of salmon
7,300 Angus steaks
3,000 fresh lobsters
3,000 kilos of beef sirloin
1,200kg of Cornish clotted cream
1000 hand raised pork pies
It’s predicted that the fine dining curated by 350 chefs will serve up 220,000 hand-crafted afternoon tea cakes, 7,300 Angus steaks and 3,000 kilos of salmon over the five days.
What’s more, the Royal Meeting will also serve 220,000 finger sandwiches and 10,000 punnets of mixed berries.
On the drinks front, 65,000 bottles of Champagne and 100,000 bottles of wine are expected to be consumed.
Royal Ascot was held behind closed doors in 2020, and in 2021 limited racegoers were admitted after it was selected to take part in a Covid event research programme.
But, in 2023, approximately 400 helicopters and 1,000 limousines descended on Royal Ascot, with an average of 60,000 racegoers each day.
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It should go without saying that dresses must cover your bum — ideally knee-length or longer.
Coats should be tailored as a nod to the grandeur and smartness of the day.
And footwear should remain on your feet. All day. So make sure it’s comfortable.
Another rule of thumb is never wear white.
Remember, you’ll be penned in with hundreds of people, and will need to eat and drink — that means ample opportunity for spillage.
I’ll never forget the images of a punter in 2019 who spilled red wine down her white jumpsuit.
Her pals got creative and decided to drench the entire PrettyLittleThing outfit with the bottle’s remains to create a tie-dye look.
Instead, just remember your coat — not only because of the unpredictable weather, but should you slop ketchup from a hamburger down your front you can cover yourself up, too.
When it comes to shoes, heeled sandals are a big no-no.
They are great for giddy-up glamour but not suited to being outdoors all day.
Try a wedged heel or closed-foot court shoe with a small, chunky heel for extra support and comfort under the balls of your feet.
Zara Tindall always gets it right, for example with pair of black courts and slim-fit trousers.
Also, don’t be one of those country bumpkin try-hards.
A nod to equestrian style is fine, but you often see people dressing head to toe in tweed or wearing Peaky Blinders-style flat caps.
Lastly, the best-dressed at Ascot are always mindful of their boobs.
Listen, I get it. If you’ve got ’em, flaunt ’em.
But just not too much.
Tastefully show the crease of a cleavage and leave everything else to the imagination.
Showing off your entire bust is something that should be reserved for the comfort of your home or a night out on the pull.