Another focus of the British sporting summer, ‘Royal Ascot’ – held at the Ascot racecourse in ‘Royal’ Berkshire to the west of London – is one of Britain’s best known race meetings, although it tends to be best known for the exotic dress of its spectators than the actual racing.
The race meeting can be traced back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne, and it is attended by the Queen and members of the royal family, who arrive and parade down the finishing straight in an open carriage each day, with much pomp and ceremony, a tradition dating back to 1825.
The prime place to attend is the Royal Enclosure, open to a select few, and for the most part by invitation, it is the guests in the Royal Enclosure that feature most prominently in the press and media coverage. Accordingly the dress code for the Royal Enclosure is very strict, it was first suggested by Beau Brummell and has faced many and various challenges over the years. To quote the official dress code:
“Her Majesty’s Representative wishes to point out that only formal day dress with a hat or substantial fascinator will be acceptable. Off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch and miniskirts are considered unsuitable. Midriffs must be covered and trouser suits must be full length and of matching material and colour.
Gentlemen are required to wear either black or grey morning dress, including a waistcoat, with a top hat. A gentleman may remove his top hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club or that facility’s terrace, balcony or garden. Hats may also be removed within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden.
Overseas visitors are welcome to wear the formal national dress of their country or Service dress.
In 2017, Royal Ascot successfully welcomed the jumpsuit as an acceptable item of clothing for the Royal Enclosure. Ascot continues to recognise key trends in the ever-evolving world of fashion. Additions to the official dress code in 2018 makes socks a requirement for gentlemen and specific necklines detailed as acceptable, or not, across all Enclosures. Our dress code is traditional, woven into the very fabric of our history. It was Beau Brummell, perhaps Britain’s first fashion icon, who at the turn of the 19th century dictated the dress for men in the Royal Enclosure. His sense of style is still reflected in Royal Ascot fashions today.
The insistence that ladies should wear a hat has set a challenge for hat designers over the years, and much of the media coverage tends to focus on the more exotic ladies headwear.”
The race meeting runs from Tuesday to Saturday in mid-June, and for many the high spot is Thursday, known as ‘Ladies Day’ – as the name suggests, this is traditionally attended by ladies in large numbers, often in large party groups. It’s fair to say that the actual horse racing tends to be a distraction for many of these groups, but a good time is had by all.
The actual racing includes a number of top quality and prestigious races, many of which are named from members of the royal family or significant royal events including :
- Queen Anne Stakes
- Prince of Wales’s Stakes
- Ascot Gold Cup
- King Edward VII Stakes
- Coronation Stakes
- Golden Jubilee Stakes
- King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Nearly £7,300,000 prize money is awarded during the meeting, with over £500,000 prize money awarded on some races.