Our Correspondent on Royal Ascot

My friend David, Esq. graciously acted as my correspondent at Royal Ascot last week, and I wanted to give you his report and photos in a timely manner. I will finish up with Part II: The Inside, tomorrow. Here's David:

Royal Ascot is one of the most important race meetings of the year. But it’s much more than that. It’s also a highlight of the “Season”, that whirl of horse racing, tennis, opera, regattas, strawberries and Pimm’s that makes up the English summer.
Ascot week takes place in mid-June every year, with five races each day from Tuesday to Saturday. I was fortunate to attend this year on Thursday, Ladies’ Day, which traditionally brings out the most splendid costumes and hats.

Each day’s racing begins with The Queen and other senior royals arriving in a carriage procession. It’s the first chance to see The Queen, and there is always plenty of betting on what colour hat she will wear that day. A couple of years ago, there was a scandal when it turned out that someone with inside information from the Palace was placing large bets.

There’s a rigid hierarchy of different types of admission, entitling the holders to access different areas within the racecourse grounds and requiring different levels of dress code. The Silver Ring is the least formal, with no official dress code, although the Ascot website helpfully advises “bare chests are not permitted at any time”.
A General Admission ticket gets the holder into parts of the grandstand and trackside lawns. Ladies are required to dress “in a manner appropriate for a smart occasion”. Many wear hats, but they are not required. Men must wear a jacket and tie. Anyone can buy tickets for General Admission or the Silver Ring.
The Royal Enclosure is the most exclusive area. The application process for the Enclosure is a bit like joining a private club. You cannot simply buy tickets, but instead must apply in advance to Her Majesty’s Representative (the Duke of Devonshire, owner of Chatsworth). As part of this application, you must be sponsored by an existing member of the Royal Enclosure who has attended for at least four years. The dress code for the Enclosure is daytime formal dress, with a hat or “substantial fascinator” (whatever that might be). Men must wear a black or grey morning coat with waistcoat, and a top hat. After a few years with some racegoers pushing the dress code to its limits, Ascot has been cracking down this season. No strapless or off-the-shoulder dresses, no spaghetti straps, and definitely no miniskirts.

Even with the strict rules, there’s plenty of scope for creativity.

This gentleman is a London milliner, and is wearing a top hat that he made himself from a length of antique silk that he bought at auction.
Here are a few more pictures from around the Royal Enclosure.

Some girls getting racing tips from a particularly well-dressed bookie.
Sometimes it all gets a bit too much.

All of this excitement, and by the way, there’s lots of first class racing too.
Thanks for sharing your fun afternoon, David!