Royal Ascot Ladies Day is a washout as revellers battle the elements
Who needs sunshine? Ladies Day racegoers at Royal Ascot beat the gloom in bright colours after rain threatened to put a dampener on the most glamorous day of the festival
- Royal Ascot revellers didn’t let the bad weather dampen their spirits as they kicked off Ladies Day in style
- Women whipped out their umbrellas as they arrived at the racecourse in eye-catching dresses and hats
- 12,000 revellers have been given tickets for each day of the five-day race meet as part of a pilot scheme
Royal Ascot revellers didn’t let the bad weather dampen their spirits as they kicked off Ladies Day in style.
Elegant women dressed to the nines in high heels and flowing summer frocks whipped out their umbrellas as they arrived at the Berkshire racecourse for the third day of the five-day meet.
Typically the most glamorous day of the festival, Ladies Day has been hit by rain after the balmy summer sunshine enjoyed by racegoers at the start of the week turned to thunderstorms and downpours overnight.
Not to be put off, racegoers hoisted their skirts up out of the puddles and smiled at waiting photographers as they made their way into the grounds.
A total of 12,000 revellers have been granted tickets to each day of Royal Ascot as part of a list of pilot events taking place before the possible lifting of all lockdown restrictions next month.
Royal Ascot revellers didn’t let the bad weather dampen their spirits as they kicked off Ladies Day in style. Left: a reveller in hot pink hurries in the rain, and right: a glamorous pair stop for a quick photo opportunity
An elegant pair of racegoers take the weight off their feet with a pitstop on a bench, and crack out the bubbly to toast a day of festivities
Fashionable racegoers cheer on their runners during the 15:05 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot Ladies Day today
Racegoers go all out with highly decorative hats for Ladies Day today – with this fashionista opting for shades of IKEA
Perfect Power, ridden by jockey Paul Hanagan, on their way to winning the 14:30 Norfolk Stakes Action at Royal Ascot today
Braving the rain! These racegoers didn’t want to let an umbrella get in the way of a good outfit as they posed for photos. Pictured right: Valerie Stark
All out glamour: A group of women wearing chic summer ensembles stop for a photo on their way into Royal Ascot
Candy-coloured creations! Charlotte Hawkins gives a twirl as she arrives (left). Right, a woman stuns in pink
Bright and beautiful! The Tootsie Rollers brought a splash of colour to a grey day in their vintage-inspired ensembles
Animated racegoers who managed to secure a spot at the front of the racetrack chat as they eagerly await the first runners
Their crowning glory! Racegoers step out in towering hats and eye-catching ensembles for the third day at Royal Ascot
Pink ladies! Two women show off their cotton candy-coloured dresses and matching accessories on their arrival at Ascot
Printed perfection! Three women showcase an explosion of uplifting colour and patterns at Ladies Day
An explosion of colour: Every colour of the rainbow was on display as racegoers arrived at the Berkshire racecourse today. Pictured left: Milliner Victoria Gran, and right in the floral gown, Gayle Rinkoff
Attention to detail: This pretty face covering was the perfect addition to a pastel coloured ensemble at the races
Belles of the ball! Strictly pro Janette Manrara (left) arrived at Royal Ascot with Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath
More is more! This elaborate feather and butterfly creation helped one glamorous racegoer stand out from the crowd
Susan Bender (left) poses with a Royal Ascot umbrella in a stylish tiered dress while Weruche Opia and Moriayo Ogunsan (right) enjoy the hospitality at the private VIP suite hosted by Longines in the Royal Enclosure
The weather today is a far cry from the scorching sunshine enjoyed by the racegoers lucky enough to attend Ascot on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Royal Family have turned out in force this week, with Princess Anne, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Sophie Wessex, Prince Edward and Zara and Mike Tindall all making an appearance.
However the Queen has been notably absent this week, missing Royal Ascot for only the second time in 69 years
Her racing manager revealed on Tuesday that Her Majesty will be watching the action on TV at home but is hopeful of attending the festival – usually a highlight of her calendar – later this week.
Racing manager John Warren told Radio 4: ‘Obviously the Queen would love to attend, as you know she’s fanatic about racing, watching racing and breeding horses, and has been going to Ascot all of her adult life. So, it’s a shame to miss an event.
Ophelia Lovibond and Lettie Lovibond (left) and Patrick and Julia Lundin attend the private VIP suite hosted by Longines in the Royal Enclosure during Royal Ascot
A glamorous pair of racegoers toast to a fun-filled afternoon at Royal Ascot today, on a rather damp Ladies Day
A racegoer dressed in a colourful floral ensemble poses with an umbrella beside the parade ring at Royal Ascot today
Andrea Riseborough teamed her chic floor-length black gown with a voluminous fascinator adorned with pretty pink flowers to attend the private VIP suite hosted by Longines on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot
Members of the military fundraising for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund gather round the bandstand during Royal Ascot 2021
Lady Martha Sitwell (left) and Annabel Simpson and Grace Egan (right) attend the Royal Ascot Ladies Day lunch on behalf of Helen Kaminski at The Fitzdares Club
An elegant racegoer dressed in a pink floral frock with puff 80s inspired sleeves waves her flag as she holds up her camera phone to snap a picture
Lads at Ladies Day! A group of gentleman come together for a jubilant selfie as they enjoy the festivities at Royal Ascot today
A group of patriotic Royal Ascot attendees wave Union Jack flags as they gather round the bandstand for a selfie on Ladies Day
Stylish racegoers Emily Cronin, milliner Victoria Grant and Sasha Wilkins pose on a balcony during Royal Ascot 2021
A racegoer in polka dots cheers on her selection in the Hampton Court Stakes on Ladies Day at the Royal Ascot horse racing meet
Deborah Brett (left) and Arabella Boyce (right) strike a pose in their fashionable ensembles during today’s cloudy Ladies Day
True blue: This soft shade of blue perfectly compliments the mint green of this woman’s outfit
Alexandra Bertram dons a stylish monochrome striped dress with a decorative belt as she poses beside a floral display
Twice as nice! Glamorous women arrive at Ladies’ Day, dressed to the nine in soft summer dresses
A female racegoer opts for a chic top and tails outfit during day three of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse
Former jockey Willie Carson looked well and truly in the spirit as he jumped for joy for photographers on arrival at Royal Ascot
ITV presenters Mark Heyes and Charlotte Hawkin pose together in their finery during day three of Royal Ascot today
Out of this world! One racegoer opted for a rocked-themed hat while her companion sported a large floral fascinator which coordinated with her belt
Still plenty to smile about! Racegoers put on their finest dresses for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot
Making an entrance: One woman dressed in a striking scarlet ensemble didn’t let the rain ruin her morning
Pretty in pink! Once again one of the day’s most popular colours, racegoers arrived in pastels and vibrant hues
Little touches: A woman chose a sweet jockey-themed face mask as she arrived for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot this morning
Stylish revellers still pulled out all the fashion stops for Ladies Day – despite the wet weather
Red alert! One woman turned heads in her eye-catching creation (pictured) which matched her scarlet dress
A couple of racegoers make a beeline for the lilac bench in the grounds of the racecourse on Ladies Day – and enjoy a glass of fizz
Don’t rain on my parade ring! A gang of female revellers defy the soggy weather as they gather for a masked selfie at Ladies Day
Top dog! Jimbo the Labrador sported an adorable top hat to match his owner’s smart attire as he attended Royal Ascot today
Strike a pose! Three women stop for photographers on their way into Royal Ascot this morning
‘The plan at the moment is to see how it goes towards the latter part of the week and if the Queen’s able to come because she’s got runners, then, fingers crossed, it will happen.’
He added that the monarch was ‘fanatic’ about horse racing, and called her energy levels ‘incredible’ despite her age.
He said: ‘It’s remarkable. The Queen’s energy levels are incredible. She’s 95. She went down to the G7 this week, and trundled back on the train in the middle of the night and the energy will be raised higher again for a week like Ascot.’
Five times the fun! The Tootsie Rollers arrive in their signature vintage-inspired looks for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot
A chic all black ensemble was finished with an elegant wrap (left). Right, one man battles a blustery gust of wind
Girls’ day out! Two women wearing shades of pink and red flash wide smiles as they arrive for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot
Women clutch umbrellas as they wait outside the racecourse ahead of the third day of the racing festival
