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Hat’s entertainment: The incredible headwear on display at Royal Ascot

Paula Gibson from Buenos Aires (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
Paula Gibson from Buenos Aires (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

ROYAL ASCOT is famous not just for horse racing, but also the outlandish fashion on display.

And this year, there are plenty of incredible outfits – especially the hats.

Brian Mann and Rebecca Johnson arriving during day three of Royal Ascot (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
Brian Mann and Rebecca Johnson arriving during day three of Royal Ascot (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
Racegoers dressed in traditional African clothing and headwear (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Racegoers dressed in traditional African clothing and headwear (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
A female racegoer sports a clock themed hat (John Walton/PA Wire)
A female racegoer sports a clock themed hat (John Walton/PA Wire)

The prestigious event, a favourite of The Queen, sees extravagance encouraged, and that mantra is clear from some of the headwear seen around the course.

Hats – or at least a headpiece with a solid base of four inches or more – are a formal requirement for many of the ticket holders.

 

A racegoer wearing a pheasant hat (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
A racegoer wearing a pheasant hat (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
Janet Larose (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Janet Larose (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Linzi Weir from Gloucester (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
Linzi Weir from Gloucester (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

 

Mrs Celia Sawyer (John Walton/PA Wire)
Mrs Celia Sawyer (John Walton/PA Wire)
Betsy Bamford from New York (John Walton/PA Wire)
Betsy Bamford from New York (John Walton/PA Wire)

 

In the Royal Enclosure, there is a strict dress code that must be adhered to.

According to the Royal Ascot website, ladies must be in formal daywear.

This includes dresses and skirts of modest length (falling just above the knee or longer), any straps should be one inch or greater.

Fascinators are not permitted in the place of hats.

(Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
(Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Alexandra Dalton from Cheshire (John Walton/PA Wire)
Alexandra Dalton from Cheshire (John Walton/PA Wire)

Men must be dressed in a grey or black waistcoat, tie and top hat with black shoes.

They are permitted to remove their hat when indoors.

The dress code is slightly more relaxed in the other enclosures, with no formal dress code at all in the Windsor Enclosure.

The only rule there is that replica sports shirts are not allowed.

Sharon Teague from Derbyshire (John Walton/PA Wire)
Sharon Teague from Derbyshire (John Walton/PA Wire)
Miss Diana Horn from Austin, Texas (John Walton/PA Wire)
Miss Diana Horn from Austin, Texas (John Walton/PA Wire)

Today sees the historic Gold Cup race at 4:20pm.

The favourite for the showpiece event is Order of St George, who won last year’s race.