The racing set and high society are out in full force as the first Royal Ascot with a full attendance since 2019 continues to heat up.
On Tuesday 15 June, proceedings got off to sunny start and Maya Jama led the trend for bright pinks and unmissable statement hats. Her tiered flouncy frock came with a head-turning fuchsia kaleidoscope print from Australian brand Zimmermann’s autumn/winter 2022 collection. She picked a standout, pink flower headpiece for added flair, and stacked Bulgari rings on both hands.
Heading up the royal family yesterday was Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who made their way down The Long Walk in carriages, from Windsor Castle to the race track. The Duchess waved at crowds in a turquoise dress coat, which she paired with a teal hat and pearls. The Queen was absent, but wrote in statement on the first page of the race cards “I have been most grateful for the continued kindness shown to me by the racing community," and wished everybody “an enjoyable and memorable time.”
Princess Beatrice made an uncharacteristically low key entrance, as she arrived through the main gate with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. For her day at the races, she picked a cream and pink floral, buttom up shirt dress, also by Zimmermann. She polished the look with a straw clutch and belt, and matching shade headband with coral flowers by Juliette Botterill Millinery.
In the private boxes, the fashion set sat down to a lunch put on by Ghazal Paris, a sleek shoemaker known for its heels. Model Ikram Abdi Omar paired a wide, black straw hat with her long sleeve floral print dress, as she joined Sophie Winkleman, who wore a peach shade dress with a strawberry print. Presenter Lilah Parsons was also in attendance and opted for classic chic style in a pale blue chiffon dress with button detailing and a sharp white hat with roses.
Betty Bachz took a step away from the traditional in a black dress with an asymmetric neckline, and a colourful contrast skirt hem by London founded brand Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. She paired it with a structured black hat, red patent heels and a Panthère de Cartier handbag in cherry red.
Wednesday proved the attendees’ penchant for popping shades was far from a one-off as more arrivals leaned into hot pink, yellows and greens. Susan Bender Whitfield, who is co-presenting the Royal Ascot Wrap Show live, wore an electric orange pillbox hat with towering feathers. Milliner Lisa Tan chose a blush top hat for the occasion, and Penny Lancaster picked a floppy purple headpiece to match her wisteria print dress.
Ladies Day is traditionally on the Thursday, and is renowned for prizing the most outlandish looks from attendees in a bid to be best dressed. This year, singer Mabel made a surprise appearance in a surrealist skirt suit from Moschino’s autumn/winter 2022 collection, which is brown and features metal handles to give the impression of a side table. She finished off the offbeat look with a golden pointed hat.
Following suit with the gilded theme was Made In Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo, who picked an unconventional gold lamé, full length gown with puffed sleeves and tight cinched waist. Keeping with a vintage theme, she wore black, sheer gloves and a pillbox hat with black feathers sprouting up each side, and certainly made heads turn.
Zara Phillips also made a striking entrance as she arrived at the royal enclose in the horse drawn carraiage wearing a bright green boater hat with hot pink rose on top by milliner Justine Bradley-Hill. It complemented the pink buttons of her white, puff sleeve Laura Green dress and she grounded the style with some metallic pink Karen Millen stilettos.
It may have been the hottest day of the year so far but that didn’t stop guests from bringing their sartorial A-game to day four of the racing event on Friday. The Duchess of Cambridge, in attendance with husband Prince William, oozed Pretty Woman in a black and while polka dot Alessandra Rich dress with coordinating black hat with a white flower detail. Carrie Johnson arrived with friends wearing a white Emilia Wickstead dress rented from MyWardrobe HQ, accessorised with beige suede court shoes and an Anne Gretton hat featuring jockey embellishment.
