Royal Ascot fashion has entered a new era. Women are being encouraged to swap their traditional race-day dresses and head-turning hats for sharply-tailored suits at the 2024 meet which remains a highlight of the British social season. The sleek ensembles, which could be seen on royal guests like the Princess of Wales (known for her love of suits) would have been inconceivable to the first well-heeled women who descended upon Ascot Racecourse after it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711. But Royal Ascot fashion has long moved with the times. From the opulence of the Victorian era to the Swinging Sixties, Tatler sifts through the archives to uncover the biggest trends – and standout ensembles.
Royal Ascot fashion: the evolution of racing’s most glamorous spectacle as it returns
