Royal Ascot Kicks Off in Style: Glamorous Racegoers Pull Out All the Stops
The Royal Ascot festival, one of the highlights of the UK racing calendar, has commenced in Berkshire, with glamorous racegoers pulling out all the sartorial stops to kick off the annual celebration in style. According to a report by the Daily Mail, the prestigious festival at the Berkshire racecourse is just as famous for its fashion as it is for its races.
This year, statement hats were the focal point of revellers’ eye-popping looks as day one of the annual race meeting got underway. Dressed to impress, guests wore a variety of show-stopping headpieces as they descended on Ascot for a day of equestrian fun. Floral prints, maxi dresses, and vibrant outfits were also the order of the day for many, while others looked effortlessly elegant in crisp white frocks.
The Daily Mail reports that Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, begins today with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday. Charles and Camilla, both fans of racing, are likely to arrive in the famous carriage procession along the course and past the stands that will welcome hundreds of thousands of punters during the five-day meet.
It’s a tradition that has reached its 200th anniversary this year after it was first held in 1825 during the reign of King George IV. The festival, meanwhile, was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for ‘horses fit for kings’ and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction.
Stylish racegoers at today’s event turned the racecourse into a sea of vibrant outfits as they donned bright prints to ensure they stood out from the crowd. Two pairs of radiant ladies turned heads in orange dresses and matching hats as they arrived at the prestigious occasion.
Among the most eye-catching looks on display was a reveller sporting a huge blue and yellow headpiece, teamed with a matching bright blue top and trouser combo. Elsewhere, the catwalk included ruffle hemlines, flashes of fuschia, and floating maxi frocks in blush.
The Daily Mail notes that many of those arriving at the main spectators’ enclosure opted for coordinating outfits with their friends too. The dress code for Royal Ascot is strict, with hats a must in both Royal enclosures. Alternatively, a headpiece or ‘hatinator’ with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches (10cm) is also acceptable.
Dresses must be knee length or longer and forget spaghetti straps – all shoulders must be a minimum width of 1 inch (2.5cm). Strapless, off-the-shoulder, and one-shoulder items are also banned in the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures. Shorts of any kind are not permitted. But having been included in the dress code since 1971, trouser suits remain a popular choice – although they mustn’t be mismatched.
From 2017 onwards, jumpsuits have also been accepted as Ascot worthy, while men must stick to black dress shoes worn with ankle socks, but there are no footwear specifications for women. King Charles and Queen Camilla will be hoping for a winner in the Ascot Stakes when their horse Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins, takes on other thoroughbreds.
Mullins, reflecting on the thoroughbred’s narrow defeat at Leopardstown racecourse in Ireland, said: ‘I’ve been very happy since his first run, he did everything nicely at Leopardstown and if he could run a similar type of race at Ascot I would be very pleased.’
Queen Elizabeth II was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign. Charles and Camilla have taken on her stable of horses and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot winner in 2023 when their horse Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.
The festival is a five-day event that will see hundreds of thousands of punters attend, making it a major social event as well as a sporting attraction. The Daily Mail’s report highlights the best fashion from day one of Royal Ascot, showcasing the stylish outfits of the attendees.
Source link
