Royal Ascot racegoers pull out all the stops as the festival gets off to a stylish start
Glamorous racegoers have pulled out all the sartorial stops as they arrived at Royal Ascot in the sunshine today to kick off the annual celebration in style.
As one of the highlights of the racing calendar, 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, modest hemlines and attention-grabbing hats were the order of the day for many, while others looked effortlessly elegant in crisp white dresses and sharp blazers.
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, starts today with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday.
Traditionally, the King and Queen arrive at Royal Ascot in a carriage procession with their guests, a convention which has reached its 200th anniversary this year, as it was first held in 1825 during the reign of King George IV.
The festival 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.
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.
The monarch and his wife 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.
Meanwhile, whilst no dress code rules apply in the Windsor Enclosure, although the majority of guests choose to dress up regardless, a strict dress code operates across the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures.
Hats are 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.
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.
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