Royal Ascot revellers go all out in feathered millinery for day 2 of the racing festival
Hat’s the ticket! Royal Ascot revellers go all out in feathered millinery as day two of the racing festival gets off to a chic start
- Glamorous racegoers in summer dresses pulled out all the fashion stops on the second day of Royal Ascot
- Women showed off their extravagant hats and headpieces adorned with flowers, feathers and jewels
- 12,000 revellers have been given tickets for each day of the five-day race meet as part of a pilot scheme
Stylish racegoers put their best fashion foot forward as they arrived for the second day of Royal Ascot.
Glamorous women put on showstopping displays in bright summer frocks while men looked dapper in top hats and tails as they arrived at the Berkshire racecourse for a day of fun in the sun.
As ever, extravagant millinery stole the show and women turned heads in their colourful creations adorned with feathers, jewels and delicate lace.
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.
On Monday Boris Johnson announced a four-week delay to ‘Freedom Day’ – and to the ending of all social distancing measures – but any disappointment looked far from the minds of racegoers as they kicked off the festivities this morning.
And they’re off! A group of women admire the pristine grounds as they arrive for the second day for Royal Ascot
Matching magic! The Tootsie Rollers arrive in co-ordinating dresses for the second day of the five-day race meet
Standing out from the crowd: Towering hats were the order of the day as racegoers arrived at Royal Ascot this morning
Ready for her close up: An elegantly dressed woman in navy and neutrals smiles for photographers at Royal Ascot
Careful co-ordination: Revellers strike a pose in elegant blue-tone ensembles (left) and another goes for gold (right)
Pastel perfection! A group of glamorous racegoers arrive for the second day of Royal Ascot in colourful summer frocks
Candy-coloured creations: Soft shades of pink (right) and rainbow accessories (left) proved popular with racegoers
Taking in the views: Women wearing shades of mint and blue look out over the grounds at Royal Ascot
The must-have accessory: A face mask printed with a jockey’s silk (left) brought a playful touch to one ensemble
Royal mask-ot: This embroidered face mask added a playful touch to one woman’s Royal Ascot ensemble
Getting some tips? A man smartly dressed in a suit and tie flicks through a newspaper as they action kicks off at Ascot
Yesterday the Royal Family turned out in force for the first day of the five-day meet but it remains to be seen who will attend today.
One notable exception to the royal line-up was the Queen, 95, but Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were spotted taking a keen interest in the races as her horse King’s Lynn took part in the King’s Stand Stakes -finishing in seventh place.
Camilla looked animated as she clutched her racing programme in the royal box, while discussing the action with her husband.
They were joined by Mike and Zara Tindall making their first public appearance since the birth of their son Lucas in March, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex at the Berkshire racecourse for the annual family event.
The Queen missed Royal Ascot for only the second time in 69 years. Her Majesty’s racing manager confirmed the monarch would not be attending yesterday but is hoping to make it later in the week depending on ‘how things go’.
Getting the shot: One woman holds onto her hat as she crouches down to capture her friend looking her best
Dynamic duos! Women were ready for a day out with their friends as they arrived at Royal Ascot for the racing festival
Plenty of personality: This racegoer looked resplendent in a blue headpiece complete with a veil and large feathers
Hats off to them! A feathered creation and wide-brimmed floral sunhat were just two of the stunning headpieces on display
Getting into the spirit! A trumpeter performs at the start of the second day of Royal Ascot this morning
The Queen’s 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.
‘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.’
Dapper: Nicola Zaino arrived with a guest dressed in a soft pink long-sleeved dress for a day of fun in the sun at Ascot
Feathered fancy! Nazar Bullen, from London, is a vision in a pink feathered headpiece and dress at Royal Ascot
Here come the girls! The Tootsie Rollers arrive arm-in-arm at Royal Ascot for the second day of the racing festival
More is more! Nazer Bullen turned heads when she arrived in this extravagant feathered confection
Strike a pose! The Tootsie Rollers got into formation as they posed for a photograph at the start of a day of fun at Royal Ascot
Think pink! Social media star Nino Tsomaya opted for an elegant rose-coloured dress for Royal Ascot
Splash of colour! The Tootsie Rollers added rainbow-coloured hats and headpieces to top off their monochrome looks
Ready for the day: Revellers scan their tickets on their way into the event, which is part of a Covid trial scheme
However he said the experience would be different for the monarch, adding: ‘In the past, she would have gone and looked at horses in the paddock, even though they weren’t hers because she is so fascinated in the breed so she’d want go and look at the stallion prospects of the future.’
John continued: Every race that takes place every day of the week, the Queen will certainly read the Racing Post every morning, look at the breeding of all the winners the day before, and see that these stallions that she uses will be potential horses for her own mares.
‘It’s a deep fascination, a very broad escapism for all the other things that the Queen has to deal with in her life.’
The Queen has a number of runners at the Berkshire racecourse, with Mr Warren tipping Tactical in the Jersey Stakes on Saturday as a potential winner.
Last year – when Ascot was held behind closed doors – was the first time the Queen had missed it in her entire reign.
