Meghan Markle at Royal Ascot: what you need to know about the most beautiful royal races of the year. Royal Ascot: tips for newbies on betting, selfies, pies, hats and socks Fantastic hats and where to find them

The main event of the Ascot year is Royal Ascot, one of the most famous races in the world. Royal Ascot is a traditional royal horse race in England. They were founded by Queen Anne Steward back in 1711 and since then the royal family, headed by the queen herself, has been present at them. The ancient town of Ascot is located near Windsor. Queen Anne spotted a vacant lot during a walk, which she decided to develop as a place for horse racing. So they have existed for 300 years.


Horse racing has always been one of Britain's oldest traditions. It is a major event on the British social calendar, and press coverage of the visitors and what they are wearing often exceeds coverage of the actual races. At Ascot they take place over 5 days in the third week of June and the prize fund last year was £4 million. Only purebred riding horses are allowed to compete.

A total of eighteen Group races are held over 5 days. The first race each day starts at 14:30 and the last race at 17:35. Racers are then invited to celebrate their winnings. Horse racing is held annually in the summer in July for the Ascot Gold Cup, which is played on Thursday or on the fifth day of the race - Lady's Day. The races open with the ceremonial appearance of the royal carriage. When the Queen appears on the podium, the guests of the holiday in a single impulse loudly greet her. is obliged to lead the races every day and Elizabeth II, a passionate fan, has not missed a single competition since she visited them for the first time in 1945, as a 19-year-old princess.

Since then, Elizabeth 2 always bets on one horse. In addition, he exhibits horses from his royal stable. The Queen owned 20 winners. The last winner was Free Agen, who won the Chesham Stakes in June 2008. Bets are even accepted on the color of the royal outfit, as it is different every day. Horse racing has always been considered entertainment for the rich and titled. And today, little has changed. Royal Ascot is the most important event of the year of social life in Great Britain and more than 300 thousand ladies and gentlemen come here for the whole week. Famous guests come from many countries around the world, as well as from Britain itself.

This most famous ancient competition attracts not only sports fans, but also big fans of elegant dresses, high heels and, of course, simply stunning hats. Royal Ascot is considered the most stylish event of its kind. The dress code is the strictest here. Outfits need to be updated daily, and what could be more pleasant for women! Even in rainy weather, all ladies must wear elegant dresses and heels, which they do with great pleasure. Shoulders must be covered and skirt length must not be shorter than 2 inches above the knee. Men must wear top hats.

The first day of the races has long been a secret fashion show of ladies' outfits, sometimes too exotic. Every new day of racing, ladies are supposed to wear a new hat. On average, a racing hat costs about $3,000. But this does not bother active fashionistas, because the famous horse races are not only a competition of racehorses, but also a secret fashion show of the most unusual ladies' hats. You'll find all sorts of hats here! From the subtly elegant to the downright comic. Simply breathtaking!

This year the Royal Ascot races will take place from June 19-23. Royal Ascot is one of the most popular events in the so-called "social season". The term is taken from the use of British aristocrats. Traditionally, during the summer they organize a series of events designed to have a good time and get the children married. The holiday becomes especially prestigious if the queen or members of the royal family are present. The Ascot race is a great chance to see her with your own eyes and bet on the color of her hat.

How does Ascot work?
The spectator part of the racecourse at Ascot, to describe it very simply, consists of four parts. In the main one, which is located at the entrance, people buy food, champagne and place bets. This is a trading zone and everyone can enter it.

After purchasing, spectators with tickets go to their seats. There are three “lodges”: democratic, middle and royal. Royal tickets are not sold; admission is by invitation.

That is, if you want to buy a ticket to the royal races at Ascot, you simply choose from two zones, which in English are called “enclosures”.





Which ticket should I choose?
The purchase is simple. And although there are many accommodation options on the site, in fact, their most important difference is that some are cheaper, while others are more expensive.

"Windsor Enclosure" is the most economical stock. Tickets here cost £44 per person and you only pay for entry. Food and drinks are available for you in the common area at the entrance. This is the most popular site and usually all the photos of British “ladies” very drunk in hats with their skirts pulled up on the grass are from here. There are always a lot of people here and they are having fun. Suitable for those who not only tolerate such an atmosphere, but even love it.

"Queen Anne Enclosure" - middle stock. There are fewer people here, and tickets cost £84, also just for entry. Here you pay for the opportunity to breathe more freely and not feel like you’re on the subway. Suitable for those who love peace and quiet.

Let us remind you that tickets are not sold to the royal zone. But the races themselves are approximately equally visible from all three sites.

There is also an additional type of ticket - "Village Enclosure". Roughly speaking, this is for those who did not have enough tickets. There are screens with broadcasts here. You won't see anything live.



What day should I go?
All days are the same. Except one. June 21 - "Ladies Day". This is the day when all the British nobles come to the races. There are more people, the hats are brighter and more extravagant, the queues are longer and the concentration of fun is at its limit.

Do you like this? Get tickets for the 21st. If you want to pose quietly for three hours, you can do it at some other time.

Do you need coupons and discounts?
Tickets combined with different types of offers and "discounts" at Ascot are likely to ruin your day. A huge event, thousands of people, this automatically means that even with a pre-paid lunch included in your ticket, you can easily spoil your nerves when something goes wrong. Find your bearings on the spot. Then the price will correspond to the quality.



How to get there?
By car or train. You have to pay to park at Ascot. But it is there and quite convenient. It is worth considering that there is one road leading to Ascot and on the days of the royal races everyone travels along it. That is, there will be traffic jams.

Trains to Ascot from London Waterloo station depart very frequently and arrive at a point which is a two-minute walk from the racecourse entrance. Considering the traffic, this is a very convenient way to get to the event. Train tickets can be bought directly at the station from a machine. Naturally, it is better to take it there and back.

Should I bring food for a picnic?
Many take sandwiches and champagne with them and start celebrating on the train. Those who come by car often start this activity right in the park parking lot. Sit down under a tree and feel free to start the pre-party.

If you want to take your mother’s pies with you, take them! And wash it down with champagne on the way! Everyone does it!

In addition, these days the rules on the territory of the hippodrome are very humane. You can bring food, blankets and one bottle of champagne per adult.



What's the dress code?
Since the Queen is attending the event, there is a specific dress code. And lately they have been updated frequently.

An updated style guide has been released for the royal races Royal Ascot 2018. This year, the list of prohibited outfits for ladies included “bardot tops” and facinator hats.

The “Bardot top” got its name thanks to the Frenchwoman Brigitte Bardot, who very often wore blouses, dresses and sweaters with dropped shoulders. Bare shoulders were part of the actress' signature look. Subsequently, this model of things became known as the “bardo top” and is still very popular.

The facinator is no longer a veil, but not yet a hat. This is a women's headdress, as a rule, decorated with beads, feathers, flowers, and fragments of the veil are also present. At Royal Ascot, ladies' fantasy in this type of accessories often took on the most bizarre forms.

Last year, Royal Ascot organizers allowed women's one-piece jumpsuits. This year the permit was not canceled, but the length of the trouser part must be up to the ankles.

For men, the only acceptable headdress would be an all-gray or black top hat. The style guide requires men to wear socks.

For ladies:


  • Dresses and skirts should be slightly above the knee or longer;

  • Straps and straps on dresses and tops must be 2.54 cm or wider;

  • You can wear a jacket or a shawl or stole on top, but the dresses and tops underneath should still match the style guide;

  • In trouser suits, the top and bottom should match in color. The lower part should be ankle-length;

  • The trouser part of jumpsuits should be ankle length. And the top one must comply with the regulations for dresses and tops regarding straps;

  • Ladies must wear hats. As an alternative, hats with a solid base 10 cm or more in diameter are acceptable;

  • Tops, dresses, jumpsuits without straps, with dropped shoulders, with ribbons or tied at the neck are prohibited;

  • The waist and stomach should be covered;

  • Fascination hats and hats without a solid base that do not cover 10 cm of the head are not permitted.

For gentlemen:

  • Vest and tie (not a neckerchief or scarf);

  • Black or gray cylinder;

  • Black shoes must have socks.

In general, if you really want to, you can go through in a miniskirt; no one will be taken to the police, but they can give you an extra skirt, like in monasteries. Without unnecessary hassles, dress the way you would dress for your mother’s wedding. And don't forget your hat!



How to bet on a horse?
Nothing special is required. You need to choose a horse, stand in line at the desired kiosk, name the horse's name and bet as much as you like. Bets start from just a few pounds, so you can easily allocate £10 of your budget for 10 bets and try to win! Betting kiosks are located everywhere.

See the queen and lords
There is a small lawn in the general trading area. Right in the middle, impossible to miss. It is fenced and you cannot go there without a special invitation. But this is where the Queen and her family arrive between 11am and 2pm. If you take a place at the fence near the lawn in advance, you can see the queen and wave to her.

How to bet on the queen's hat?
Before the queen arrives, everyone tries to guess the color of her hat. In the same stalls where they bet on horses, you can leave a couple of pounds and your guess. Will the queen wear a yellow headdress or a pink one? Or maybe she's in a purple mood?

From experience: if you point your finger at the sky, then guessing the horse that will win the race is easier than guessing the color of Elizabeth II’s hat. So you don’t have to specifically follow fashion. The queen always has her own opinion. Focus on the horses.















































No one in the whole world is more obsessed with horse racing and hats than the English. If you want proof, take a look at the Royal Ascot horse race, which is traditionally held in the UK in the third week of June. And now you can see Meghan Markle there as a royal daughter-in-law and with a special mission.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, will make her debut at Royal Ascot 2018

Royal Ascot has a long history, but on June 19, 2018, another chapter will be written in it, because on this day Meghan Markle makes her debut at the racecourse. The Duchess of Sussex has a special mission on this day: she is entrusted with presenting a prize to the winner of one of the three highest-rated races of the first day. Royal Ascot has one of the strictest dress codes, especially for those accompanying Her Majesty. So, the Duchess of Sussex tried, as best she could, to postpone fashion experiments for another time. For her debut at the racecourse, Megan chose a shirt-cut maxi dress from Givenchy (the designer of her wedding dress) and an elegant hat from Philip Treacy, one of the main hatters in the UK.

Royal Ascot is not just the main horse race under the patronage of the Queen. This is, first of all, a symbol of good old England, a sign that in our changing world there are still traditions that cannot be taken away from the inhabitants of Foggy Albion. Spectacular horse racing and incredible hats - two passions of true Englishmen are surprisingly intertwined in this most important and enchanting event of the summer - Royal Ascot.

The royal family on their way to the spectators' box, June 19, 2018

The Royal Horse Races in Ascot, a small town in Berkshire, are over 300 years old. They were founded by Queen Anne in 1711. Since then, the popularity of Royal Ascot has only grown and today it is the most pompous aristocratic event in the world. Interest in it is also fueled by the royal family, which is always present at the races all five days. Throughout her reign, Elizabeth II has never missed this event.

By tradition, Royal Ascot is held in the third week of June, from Tuesday to Saturday. By the way, the races used to end on Friday, but due to their popularity, relatively recently it was decided to extend them for another day.

Of course, formally, Royal Ascot is, first and foremost, a horse race. Moreover, they are very prestigious, and every year this status only increases. For example, if in 2017 the prize fund of the races was 4 million British pounds, then in 2018 the organizers announced the amount at 7.3 million. In total, 18 races will be held in 5 days in 2018, including 6 of the most prestigious ones. Trophies are presented to the winners of these races by members of the royal family. In particular, on the first day of Royal Ascot 2018, one of the cups was presented to the newlyweds of the Sussexes, Meghan and Harry.

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But in fact, Royal Ascot has long been transformed into a real festival of British life. This is especially noticeable in the zone of common people, where the largest number of entertainment venues and food courts are located.

Royal Ascot guests before the start of the official part, June 19, 2018

For more than 300 years, the opening ceremony has already been perfected to the smallest detail. At 10:30 London time, gatekeepers in green jackets (they are called Greencoats) will begin to let guests into the stadium, according to the tickets (Ascot Racecourse is divided into 3 spectator areas) and the dress code (more on this later).

Princesses of York, Beatrice and Eugenie, arrived at the racecourse in a carriage with Prince Charles, their uncle, June 19, 2018

Roayl Ascot 2018 debutant - Meghan Markle

At two o'clock in the afternoon, a royal procession leaves for the hippodrome: Her Majesty's carriage, followed by the crews of other members of the royal family (the attendance of the elders is strictly obligatory, but for the younger ones it is optional). Fun fact: Bookmakers have been accepting bets on the color of Elizabeth's hat on the opening day of the race for years now.

Royal Ascot guests at the board with bets on the color of the Queen's hat, May 19, 2018Photo: theguardian.com

By the time Royal Ascot opened on June 19, 2018, bookmakers had received £1 million in bets from those eager to guess the color of the Queen's hat. They say this is a record. The leaders were blue and pink. There is even an analytical basis for predictions about the color of the Queen’s headdress. For example, they count. How many times has Her Majesty worn blue in the past year, and how many times has Her Majesty appeared in pink at the races over the years? For example, since 2005, more than half of Elizabeth's outfits have been one of these shades. However, theory is often far from practice. In 2017, for example, the betting favorite was blue, and the Queen appeared in a lime-colored hat. This year, Her Majesty limited herself to a blue flower on a bright yellow hat. Well, someone got lucky (the one who bet on yellow).

The Queen's arrival at the opening of Royal Ascot, 2018

At exactly 2 p.m., Elizabeth announces the Royal Ascot races are open and goes with relatives and distinguished guests to the royal box, located in the royal spectator area, to watch the races and place bets (the queen herself often puts her stable of horses in the races).

On the first day, three royal races are held at once - the very first is traditionally dedicated to the founder of horse racing, Queen Anne.

The Queen and Princess Anne pose next to Elizabeth II's horse, which won the Gold Cup, 2013

Elizabeth II comes to Royal Ascot every day. But during the 5 days of racing you can see many other members of the royal family, and not only the British one. Eastern kings and sheikhs do not miss these races (which is natural), Sheikha Moza regularly appears at the races, and the Danish crown couple, Prince Frederik and Princess Mary, came here several times. But, of course, fans are always waiting for the Cambridge couple to appear at the races, who often ignore this event, to the chagrin of the public. Now, of course, everyone will be even more eagerly awaiting the appearance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the races.

The royal family led by Her Majesty and a special dress code are the formula for success at Royal Ascot. Thanks to them, these races cannot be confused with any other similar event.

Dress requirements at Royal Ascot are perhaps the most conservative. Even though the organizers sincerely try to balance between tradition and modern fashion. For example, only in the 70s were ladies allowed to wear trousers to races. However, the rules still state that these trousers must be part of a trouser suit and cover the leg up to the ankle.

Relaxations also affected dress styles. Now the length of the skirt can be slightly above the knee (the key word is “slightly”), whereas back in the 70s the skirt had to cover the knees completely. Necklines, as before, are prohibited in the royal sector, but dress assistants are already turning a blind eye to the bare shoulders and collarbones of ladies from the mass sector - this phenomenon has become too widespread.

Girls at Royal Ascot

There are several introductory notes regarding the tops of dresses and blouses: straps that are too thin (less than 2.5 cm in width), transparent straps, and “halters” (a variation of straps with a fastener at the back of the neck) are prohibited. Sleeveless dresses are not prohibited. Skirts with jackets are acceptable, provided they are made from the same fabric.

Only in 2017 was the taboo on overalls for ladies lifted. This historical moment deserved a separate paragraph in the Style Guide, which clarified that the length of the overalls trousers remains the same (no higher than the ankle), and the top must meet the requirements for the outerwear in the corresponding sector.

Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Sarah Fergusson and Prince Andrew at Royal Ascot in 1990. It is noteworthy that Diana violated the dress code of the event with her outfit that day. Such blatant “color blocking” is still prohibited.

By the way, there are four sectors. The Royal Box (can only be entered by invitation of Her Majesty, which does not exclude an entrance fee of 300 English pounds), Queen Anne's sector (from 75 to 88 English pounds for entry), the Village sector (about 65 pounds) and the Windsor sector (from 37 to 46 pounds). The strictest dress code is for guests of the lodge, the most democratic is for those who bought a ticket to the Windsor sector.

In order not to retell all the details of the modern Royal Ascot dress code, we suggest watching a two-minute video from the organizers. It clearly describes what racing guests should wear, depending on the sector:

As you might guess, the dress code of the royal races categorically states the presence of a headdress for all visitors, both women and men, making an exception only for children (girls under 12 years of age are allowed fascinators). There is even a separate instruction regarding the shape and size of hats, which specifies the width of the crown, height and even color. At the same time, for women to appear two days in a row in the same hat is bad manners. At the same time, Thursday is traditionally declared as “Women’s Day”. It is on this day that the Queen chooses the best hat at Royal Ascot. And this is the only day when ladies can wear fancy hats. On other days it is better not to try to shock the Queen.

Guest of Lady's Day at Royal Ascot in 2017

Guest of the first day of Royal Ascot 2018 (in the background are those same Greencoats - guardians of the horse racing dress code.

Given the status of the event, celebrities are very fond of attending it. Liz Hurley, for example, does not miss a single season. But, of course, she is not the only one who does not miss the opportunity to be in the frame against the backdrop of the famous royal hippodrome.

A regular at Royal Ascot, the Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with his third wife, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, and their common children also arrived at the opening of the races on June 19, 2018.


On June 19, a large-scale event starts - the Royal Ascot horse race. Every year, about 300,000 people gather at the racecourse in Ascot, Berkshire, including members of the British royal family and representatives of the aristocracy from around the world.
Royal Ascot is a sporting event founded in the 18th century by Queen Anne and since then held annually in the British town of Ascot, Berkshire County.
The first race, with seven competitors and a prize fund of just 100 guineas (equivalent to £100), took place on 11 August 1711. Throughout its more than three-century history, races were not held at Ascot only in the period from September 2004 to June 2006, when the famous racecourse was closed for repairs and minor redevelopment.


The event was received with enthusiasm by the public, which prompted the royal court to turn it into an annual tradition. During all this time, 11 monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II, acted as patrons of horse racing.
The Royal Horse Races, held annually in the third week of June, have already become firmly established and woven into the history of British culture. In the old days they lasted 4 days. In 2002, this tradition was broken and the event was extended for one more day. Queen Elizabeth II indirectly contributed to this - the decision to increase the number of days of competition from four to five was made in connection with her 50th anniversary of accession to the throne.
The “meeting” always starts on a certain day of the week - Tuesday. Each of the five days of racing begins with a ceremonial royal procession heading to the racecourse from nearby Windsor Castle. This tradition dates back to 1820, during the reign of King George IV.
Until Elizabeth II appears at the hippodrome, the competition will not begin. However, the Queen never makes her subjects wait long - for several years now, Her Majesty has been arriving at the event exactly at 13:50.
There are 17 races during the race and the total prize fund is £4 million. The winners are given considerable monetary rewards, so participants compete for first places with special zeal and enthusiasm. There are also representatives from the royal house among them. For the first time, the royal horse finished first in 1952, and in 1954 and 1957, the court trotters took as many as 30 prizes.

Elizabeth II also has a very strong horse team - she owns more than 20 Royal Race-winning horses and regularly sends them to competitions.

And I'll move on to the photo. I tried to find photographs of aristocrats and members of royal families. Many archival photos do not have facial signatures; perhaps they are aristocrats. I added a photo to convey, so to speak, the spirit of the times)



1900

1905, Royal box


1908 Constance Duchess of Westminster and Lord Shaftesbury

Countess Wedell and Earl of Portarlington, 1910

The Marchioness of Camden and guests in mourning clothes, King Edward 7 died in 1910



1914 The Honorable Mr. Dillon


1921, King George 5, Queen Mary, Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Princess Mary and Prince Henry


1921, King George 5, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, Princess Mary and Prince Henry leave Ascot after the races.


Prince Henry 1924


1923, King George and Queen Mary, the moment the king's horse won the race


Captain and Mrs Ambrose Goddard 1925


King George 5, Queen Mary, Princess Mary and Prince Arthur of Connaught, 1925



1926



George V and Queen Mary, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry of Gloucester, 1927

Queen Elizabeth and George VI 1949


1937

1938


1935


1932


1935 Queen Mary and King George


Princess Gaekwad

Margaret Sheila Chisholm and her second husband Sir John Charles Penniston Milbank, 11th Baronet. (her third husband was the prince of imperial blood Dmitry Alexandrovich).

1946, Ronald Armstrong Jones (father of Earl Snowden) with his wife


1946 Lady Anne Dalrymple-Champneys

1948


1949



1949


Same but not yet married to the Honorable Gerald Legg, 1948


1949


Winston and Clementine Chechill 1950

Prince Aly Khan and Rita Hayworth 1950


1952

1953, the moment the Queen's horse won

1953

1954 British industrialist Sir Bernard Docker with his wife

1954

1954






Princess Margaret with her aunt, Princess Mary, 1961




1954


1954 Lady Cunliffe-Owen


1955

1961, Winston and Clementine Churchill on their way to the races

1964, Princess Beatrix with Marina, Duchess of Kent, Marquess of Linlithgow and Viscount Cranbourne


1963









Prince Rainier and Princess Grace attended the race in 1966.


1966, Queen and Duke of Norfolk




1966 Princess Benedicte and Duchess Marina of Kent


1967

Duke of Kent and Alexandra of Kent


1967


1967 Marina and Alexandra of Kent


1968


1969

1972 Prince Philip and Empress Farah of Iran


1972, Queen and Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

1976


1976, Queen Mother, Prince Philip and (then Crown Prince and Princess of Japan) Empress Michiko and Emperor Akihito


1979


1980


1980 Alexandra of Kent and Diana







1983


1978




Duke of York and Duchess of Roxburgh


Princess Diana and Viscount Linley








1980 Queen Elizabeth and Queen Margrethe



Princess Diana a few days before the birth of Prince William, 1982



Diana and Andrew


1984, Queen Mother


1984, The Queen, Prince Philip, Duke of Marlborough and Duke of Gloucester


1985





1988


1988, Queen and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (whoever they had))


1989, Zara with Princess Anne, Zara is not yet 16 years old and with the queen’s special permission she was allowed to race.


1991


1993, Prince Charles, the Queen and the Queen Mother


1994 The Queen and Queen Mother watch the race


1995, Princess Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles


they are 1996


1998 Jockey Francis Dettori kisses the hand of the Queen Metairie


year 2009



2002

2002 Sophie of Wessex and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa


2002 Queen Sonja and Queen Beatrix

2002 Kings Carl Gustav and Harald

This week, the British Royal Family will enjoy five days of fun at Royal Ascot. The Queen invites her family to join her for the event every year, but what is it and why is it so serious? Ahead of this year's event, here's everything we know about one of Queen Elizabeth II's favorite social events.

It's the highlight of the summer social calendar.

Royal Ascot is an annual horse race held every June at Ascot Racecourse (which is approximately 30 miles from London). It's one of the highlights of the summer social calendar, and tickets can range from $50 (for outdoor seating) to several thousand (for coveted box or hotel suite seating). The royal family attends Ascot every year and the event is renowned for its heritage and tradition.

Racing fans take it seriously

Image Source: Getty/Alan Crowhurst

However, this is not just a social event. Royal Ascot is a huge deal in the world of horse racing. The races, which take place over five days, have a total of £7.3 million in prize money (almost $10 million). The horses and jockeys are some of the most famous in the world, and the owners are some of the richest and most powerful.

You've seen it in movies and on TV


Image Source: Getty/Bettmann

Royal Ascot has a rich history dating back to the reign of Queen Anne in 1711, and Ascot Racecourse has been a prominent part of popular culture for decades. In the 1964 film “My Fair Lady” shows the famous scene filmed at Ascot in which Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle loses her composure during a race and shouts at a horse while standing surrounded by earls and peers.

The Royal Family Attends Ascot


Image Source: Getty/Anwar Hussain

Queen Elizabeth II attends Royal Ascot every day and is joined by different members of her family each day. The royal carriage arrives every day, giving everyone a glimpse of the royal family before they reach the royal box.

It gives people the opportunity to get closer to the royal family


After the carriage ride, the royal family makes a parade on foot. This gives people a rare opportunity to see the royal family up close.

The Queen herself awards the winners


Image Source: Getty/Kirstin Sinclair

During the day, the Queen will present trophies to the owners of the winning horses. This can sometimes be problematic as the Queen herself owns racehorses and they are often among the winners of races at Royal Ascot. On occasions when they win (eg the Gold Cup in 2013), her family members are honored!

Other members of the royal family


Image Source: Getty/Chris Jackson

Other members of the royal family also help with official duties during the day.

We'll see royalty at their best.


While Royal Ascot is considered a pretty “cool” event, it is also a chance for the royal family to have some fun and show off their outfits and hairstyles.

They're really racing


Image Source: Getty/Max Mumby/Indigo

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend Ascot every year and it's safe to say they compete in every race!

If your name is not on the list, you will not enter


Image Source: Getty/Max Mumby/Indigo

The most sought-after area at Royal Ascot is the royal enclosure, which surrounds the royal box (where the royal family and their invited guests watch the races). Royal Enclosure tickets are not sold at all, but are instead reserved for competitors, VIPs, owners and trainers, sponsors and their guests.

Time to plan your outfit

The Royal Corps has a strict dress code. Men are expected to wear morning dress, with a top hat (just a suit won't do). Women must wear hats or headpieces of a certain size, and dresses or skirts must have knee-length or longer hemlines and belts of a certain width (as seen here on British TV presenter Holly Willoughby). Strapless dresses, backless dresses, halter styles and spaghetti straps are prohibited.

All about hats


Image Source: Getty/Samir Hussein

Thursday at Royal Ascot is known as Ladies' Day, and it comes down to hats. Women vie to be photographed in their standout outfits, and the designs range from the sublime. . .

There's no such thing as too much


Image Source: Getty/Stuart S. Wilson

It's funny! Yes, it's a spaghetti hat!

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