Royal Ascot Week is a five day event of horse racing, pageantry and parties that takes place at the Ascot Racecourse in June every year. It is an important event on the British social calendar as well as one of the last bastions of formal morning dress in the country.
The Royal Enclosure is the place to see and be seen at Royal Ascot, and there is a very strict and specific dress code for both men and women that must be followed by attendees. This unusual requirement makes Royal Ascot something of a charming anomaly, and allows it to stand out from the usual public events where dress generally ranges from the extremely casual to the downright vulgar.
Women must wear a day dress of modest length, with no exposed midriff or shoulders, and a hat or fascinator must complete the outfit. Men must be equally well turned out, and are expected to wear either black or gray morning dress and a top hat.
Royal Ascot dates back to 1711 when Queen Anne established the tradition and every year, members of the Royal Family have joined in the festivities. Each race day, the Royal Family arrives in a horse drawn carriage and this Royal Procession and the raising of the Queen's Standard is one of the highlights of Royal Ascot.
Ladies Day is another tradition at Ascot, this takes place on the Thursday of Royal Ascot, and women from all over the world arrive that day wearing their finest clothes and most elegant hats. Recently there has been a competition for The Face of Ascot, where each year one male and one female are chosen for a makeover and professional model shoot.
Lest we forget, Royal Ascot is also home to thrilling high stakes horse racing, with over £3,000,000 of prize money going to the various winners.
Royal Ascot is a bustling, exciting and rather fabulous time to be at Ascot Racecourse.
Royal Ascot Horse Racing
Ascot Racecourse , Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JX
Telephone: 01344 876 876
Photo courtesy: Steve & Jemma Copley
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