There’s more than £7million in prize money up for grabs at this year’s Royal Ascot, but for the ladies pouring through the gates this morning, it was all about one thing: the outfits.
Glamorous female guests turned the Berkshire racecourse into a fashion parade on Wednesday, donning their finery as they rubbed shoulders with A-listers and even royalty at the equestrian event.
The annual race meeting, widely regarded as one of the most glamorous events in the social calendar, operates a strict dress code with short hemlines and bare shoulders forbidden in certain enclosures.
The Royal Enclosure has the strictest style guide, where ladies must wear ‘demure length’ dresses no shorter than just above the knee teamed with hats, while fascinators are not allowed.
Go for gold! Designer Larisa Katz turned heads a gigantic metallic ballgown spanning almost three metres in diameter and topped with a leaf-shaped headpiece, as she joined a host of glamorous guests descending on Royal Ascot on Wednesday
Think pink! This woman turned heads in a spectacular fuschia creation featuring a fringed rim and teamed with a lace dress
But that didn’t stop the ladies of Ascot from showing their sartorial flair, with towering titfers and vibrant headpieces turning the stands into a sea of colour.
One woman showed her support for the England squad with a St. George’s flag, while another turned heads a gigantic gold ballgown spanning almost three metres in diameter and topped with a leaf-shaped headpiece.
The Queen Anne enclosure is slightly more relaxed, allowing shorter skirts and fascinators, although bare midriffs, shorts and strapless dresses and tops aren’t allowed.
For the first time, a style guide for the Village Enclosure has been introduced which states that women should wear hats or fascinators and full length trousers or jumpsuits.
Come on England! A racegoer showed her support for the World Cup footballers by wearing a flag adorned with a net and tiny bejewelled footballs
All in the details: While this woman’s dress may have been nothing to write home about she more than made up for it in the hat stakes with this head-turning titfer topped off with what appeared to be a pheasant feather
The future’s bright! This woman teamed her embroidered floral dress with a vibrant orange hat festooned with flowers. There is a strict dress code in operation at the annual race meeting with women required to wear hats in certain enclosures
Taste the rainbow! This group of friends went for multicoloured hues as they descended on the Berkshire racecourse today. Guests in the Royal Enclosure are required to cover shoulders, wear hats, and stick to a ‘modest’ hemline for their dresses
Racegoer Rachel Dawson cut a striking figure in a red dress with structured details (left). Ina Redemann was pretty in pastels as she prepared to enjoy a day of sporting action, pairing a pale blue dress with a powder pink hat (right)
Colour coordination! These five women, believed to be part of a singing troupe, wore matching blue patterned frocks
Socialite Lizzie Cundy couldn’t resists posing for a snap with armed police officers as she arrived in a daring scarlet ensemble. Right: Boutique owner Charlie Elmy-Britton and milliner Layla Leigh pose up a storm for the cameras
Here come the girls! A groups of friends were dressed to the nines for the big day out and eager to show off their outfits
Getting the hang of it! A woman sporting a very unusual hanger hat stood out from the crowd (left). Elsewhere a pair of racegoers looked delighted to be catching up during the prestigious festival, which runs from 19 to 23 June annually (right)
Soaking up the sunshine! Billie Faiers looked striking in a white off the shoulder dress (centre) while her fiancé Greg Shepherd looked dapper in a light grey suit. They were joined by a host of glamorous friends in neutral tones of grey and white
Feeling fruity! Milliner Ilda Di Vico looked striking in a palm print dress adorned with a large pineapple. Another was eye-catching in an orange and pink ensemble teamed with a feathered hat
Getting the party started! Racegoers treated themselves to a glass of bubbly in the picnic area before hitting the course
Pretty as a picture! Made in Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo was the picture of summery perfection in a mustard dress adorned with floral sprigs (left). Declan Donnelly was joined by his pregnant wife Ali Astall who showed a hint of her neat baby bump in a pink and black patterned dress (right)
Racegoers hit the bar ahead of the day’s action on the track and looked in high spirits as they soaked up the atmosphere
They came prepared! Revellers arrived with picnics packed in cooler bags! A woman with a giant hanger on her head was sporting one of the more unusual pieces of millinery of the day
Raise your glasses! Friends looked in great spirits as they kicked off their day out with a tipple
Take a bow! This woman paired her floral dress with an elaborate mint-coloured knotted head piece decorated with flowers. The annual race meeting operates a strict dress code with women required to wear hats in certain enclosures
Ready for action! A group of friends looked in high spirits as they made their way through the course in their racy day finery, all wearing pretty pastel shades (L-R) lilac, blush pink, powder blue and navy
Rainbow bright! A woman in a red dress stood out from the crowd in a colourful striped hat (left). Another lady in red looked stunning in a lace dress and feather trimmed millinery, also following the trend for scarlet hues (right)
Arriving in style! Racegoers made a grand entrance as they travelled to the course in a horse drawn carriage
On Tuesday, Royal Ascot kicked off in spectacular style as the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took part in the traditional royal procession.
They were joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
The race gathering’s famously strict dress code harks back to sartorial trailblazer Beau Brummell, who dictated the dress for men in the Royal Enclosure at the turn of the 19th century and was famously fond of cleaning his shoes with champagne.
Last year, organisers broke with convention by allowing racegoers to wear jumpsuits in the Royal Enclosure for the first time.