Royals And Celebrities At Britain’s Ascot Races: A Dazzlingly Extravagant Fashion Show In Photos – Forbes

Royal Ascot, that quintessentially British event, ended on Saturday after five days of races where many of the world’s finest racehorses compete for millions in prizes while the racegoers that include members of the royal family, celebrities, supermodels and aristocrats parade in their most extravagant sartorial splendor.

The stakes are very high in both cases.

Since its inauguration in 1711, the Royal Ascot races, #RoyalAscot , have been considered as much one of the most important horse races in the world as one of the most important fashion events in the British calendar with more than 300,000 visitors over the five days.

Each day of the week begins with the Royal Procession, when the queen and accompanying members of the Royal Family arrive along the track in horse-drawn landaus. They then spend the day watching the races from the Royal Enclosure. 

“The Queen is owner and breeder of many thoroughbred horses and shares her interest in horses with many members of her family,” the Royal Family website explains. “In fact, The Queen’s own horses have won races at Royal Ascot a number of times.”

The names of the week’s races have a royal theme, such as ‘King George V Stakes’, ‘Diamond Jubilee Stakes’ and ‘Windsor Castle Stakes’.

Guests attending Royal Ascot must follow a detailed guideline every year that has some variations depending on which enclosure they’re granted access to: the Royal, the Queen Anne, the Village or the Windsor enclosure and that results in a parade of extravagant hats, crazy fascinators, showy dresses and suits that are as much a spectacle as the horses.

The most stringent rules apply in the Royal Enclosure, where the ladies must wear dresses or skirts that fall just above the knee or longer; straps must be one inch or greater, and strapless, halter neck and spaghetti straps are prohibited; midriffs are not supposed to be seen and trouser suits must be full length on the leg and in matching material and color.

Men must wear black or grey ‘morning dress’ including waistcoat, tie, top hat and black shoes that must be worn with socks.

The Queen Anne Enclosure and the Village Enclosure are slightly more relaxed, with fascinators allowed, and dresses or tops with thin straps permitted.

For every enclosure hats are obligatory.

Here is a gallery of some of the best looks from Royal Ascot 2019.

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