Royal Ascot revellers start the weekend early in style

The weekend is almost here and those lucky enough to have secured a ticket for Royal Ascot got proceedings off to a very glamorous start.

As racing fans began streaming through the gates at 10.30 early arrivals made sure to set the style standard for the day head. 

After a week of elaborate millinery and fabulous frocks, today looks to be shaping up to be another stylish affair as racegoers showed off hats festooned with feathers and decadent blooms. 

GMB presenter Charlotte Hawkins led the glamour, looking chic in a burgundy jumpsuit teamed with a matching feathered hat. 

Visitors to the Royal and Queen Anne enclosures have to abide by a strict dress code, which does not allow bare midriffs or strapless dresses, but for guests in the Windsor and other enclosures the rules are more relaxed. 

And today plenty of glamorous racegoers took the opportunity to flash the flesh in daring hemlines and plunging dresses.  

Here come the girls! A posse of pals posed up a storm for the cameras after arriving at the Berkshire course dressed to the nines 

GMB's Charlotte Hawkins has been wowing all week and today was no exception as she stepped out in a burgundy jumpsuit, teamed with a matching hat

Presenter Nikki Chapman looked pretty in a blush dress, teamed with purple accessories

GMB’s Charlotte Hawkins has been wowing all week and today was no exception as she stepped out in a burgundy jumpsuit, teamed with a matching hat. Fellow presenter Nikki Chapman looked pretty in a blush dress, teamed with purple accessories

Looking fierce! A glamorous woman in purple stunned as she worked the camera

Another opted for a white dress with a plunging neckline, teamed with a matching fascinator

Looking fierce! A glamorous woman in purple stunned as she worked the camera. Another opted for a white dress with a plunging neckline, teamed with a matching fascinator 

Getting the party started! Racegoers treated themselves to a bottle of champagne ahead of the races 

Getting the party started! Racegoers treated themselves to a bottle of champagne ahead of the races 

The Tootsie Rollers snapped a selfie with a member of the armed forces

A woman in red put on a leggy display in a lace maxi dress

The Tootsie Rollers snapped a selfie with a member of the armed forces. A woman in red put on a leggy display in a lace maxi dress

Friends couldn't hide their excitement as they prepared to enjoy a day of fun, fine weather and racing action 

Friends couldn’t hide their excitement as they prepared to enjoy a day of fun, fine weather and racing action 

Belinda Strudwick ensured she stood out from the crowd in a decadent floral creation of blue, white and red blossoms and butterflies

Belinda Strudwick looked flamboyant in a fiery red ensemble complete with statement hat

Natalia Beach ensured she stood out from the crowd in a decadent floral creation of blue, white and red blossoms and butterflies. Belinda Strudwick looked flamboyant in a fiery red ensemble complete with statement hat 

Rainbow brights! A group of colourfully dressed friends were dressed to the nines for the big occasion 

Rainbow brights! A group of colourfully dressed friends were dressed to the nines for the big occasion 

A racing fan in blue lace sipped on a glass of fizz as she got her day off to a flying start.

Another woman in pink paused to snap some photos to commemorate the big day out

A racing fan in blue lace sipped on a glass of fizz as she got her day off to a flying start. Another woman in pink paused to snap some photos to commemorate the big day out

Feeling dotty! A woman who managed to get her hands on a much-coveted Topshop dress that sold out nationwide was naturally eager to show it off

Two young racing fans looked adorable as they matched with Mum, complete with their own mini hats

Feeling dotty! A woman who managed to get her hands on a much-coveted Topshop dress that sold out nationwide was naturally eager to show it off. Two young racing fans looked adorable as they matched with Mum, complete with their own mini hats 

Today is the unofficial Armed Forces day at Ascot with concessions available for military personnel and volunteers from the Navy, Army and RAF as a show of support. 

Ladies Day on Thursday was a typically glamorous affair, but some were feeling the worse for wear after a day of flowing Pimms and champagne, and ended up kicking their heels off for a nap on the grass.

And today is expected to be an equally lively affair as punters make an early start to the weekend with feature races including the Coronation Stakes. 

Up to 300,000 people are due to descend on the event over the course of five days and naturally the stylish event is a magnet for celebrities, with today predicted to be a star-studded occasion. 

A woman gave a nod to the unofficial armed forces theme in an RAF tribute hat

Revellers celebrated Friday at the course with a  glass or two of bubbly

A woman gave a nod to the unofficial armed forces theme in an RAF tribute hat. Revellers celebrated Friday at the course with a  glass or two of bubbly 

Standing out from the crowd! A man in pink was eager to make sure he turned heads during a day of racing action 

Standing out from the crowd! A man in pink was eager to make sure he turned heads during a day of racing action 

Ready for the big day out! A racegoer paused to do up her orange strappy sandals 

Ready for the big day out! A racegoer paused to do up her orange strappy sandals 

Naturally hats have taken centre stage throughout the week and Olivia Horrocks-Burns was eager to turn heads in her white feathered creation

Another attendee opted for a wide brimmed blue hat adorned with a spray of flowers

Naturally hats have taken centre stage throughout the week and Olivia Horrocks-Burns was eager to turn heads in her white feathered creation (left). Another attendee opted for a wide brimmed blue hat adorned with a spray of flowers 

And they're off! Those lucky enough to have a ticket were eager to get the weekend started in style 

And they’re off! Those lucky enough to have a ticket were eager to get the weekend started in style 

It's fabulous Friday! Royal Ascot revellers were eager to show off their raceday finery as they got day four of the festival off to a glamorous start

It’s fabulous Friday! Royal Ascot revellers were eager to show off their raceday finery as they got day four of the festival off to a glamorous start

Vintage girl band The Tootsie Rollers were pretty as a picture in spotted dresses and sequinned headwear as they made their fourth appearance of the week at the festival 

Vintage girl band The Tootsie Rollers were pretty as a picture in spotted dresses and sequinned headwear as they made their fourth appearance of the week at the festival 

Finishing touches! Flowers are watered in the grounds ahead of day four of Royal Ascot

Finishing touches! Flowers are watered in the grounds ahead of day four of Royal Ascot

Racegoers were eager to soak up the atmosphere on day four of the festival

Racing fans started streaming through the gates in all their finery from 10.30am

Racegoers were eager to soak up the atmosphere on day four of the festival and started streaming through the gates in all their finery from 10.30am

Stylish ladies and gents streamed through the gates, eager to make the most of their long weekend with a day at the festival 

Stylish ladies and gents streamed through the gates, eager to make the most of their long weekend with a day at the festival 

The train station was a busy place this morning as revellers came i their droves to enjoy a day of racing at Ascot 

The train station was a busy place this morning as revellers came i their droves to enjoy a day of racing at Ascot 

So far this week, the iconic course has hosted stars including athlete Sir Mo Farah, Declan Donnelly, Alexandra Burke, as well as a host of reality TV names from Georgia Toffolo to Olivia Attwood. 

With the clue in the name, Royal Ascot is hugely popular with the monarchy and Her Majesty has attended every year since ascending the throne.

She’s expected to appear this afternoon for the fourth day running, accompanied by family members, arriving in the parade ring via the traditional carriage procession. 

Over the course of the week, she’s been joined  accompanied by Harry and Meghan, Charles and Camilla, Sophie and Edward, Prince Andrew and his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. 

However, Zara Tindall will be a notable absentee from proceedings this year after giving birth to her second child – a baby girl – on Monday, while the Duchess of Cambridge is also expected to bow out, as she focuses on spending time with newborn Prince Louis. 

The Tootsie Rollers show their support for the unofficial Armed Forces Day at Ascot, which offers concessions to military personnel and volunteers 

The Tootsie Rollers show their support for the unofficial Armed Forces Day at Ascot, which offers concessions to military personnel and volunteers 

 



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