Gentlemen at Royal Ascot will be allowed to remove their ties on Friday for the first time in the event’s history, after the dress code was relaxed ahead of this year’s hottest day.
As forecasters predicted that temperatures will rise to 87.8F (31C) on Friday, organisers also announced that spectators in all enclosures will be allowed to bring in water and soft drinks for the first time to allow everyone to remain "safe and comfortable".
Ascot is famed for its formal dress code - as much a fixture of the prestigious meeting as its runners and riders - with male attendees usually required to wear morning suits, including top hats, waistcoats and ties.
Ladies are expected to wear hats or headpieces, as well as dresses and skirts of "modest length".
However, with temperatures expected to be in the high 20Cs and low 30Cs for most of Friday afternoon, the historic event took the rare decision to relax its rules.
The organisers said men will be able to remove their jackets and ties as the day goes on, but will still need to be wearing the appropriate dress code to enter the racecourse. They will also need to remain in full formal attire until the royal procession has taken place at 2pm.
A spokesman for Royal Ascot said: "The dress code has been relaxed – this means that racegoers will be expected to arrive compliant but can remove jackets and ties as the day goes on due to the high temperatures.
"We are also allowing guests in all enclosures to bring water and soft drinks on site."
In 2017, Royal Ascot did not enforce its dress code for the first time in its history, allowing men to remove their jackets due to the "very hot conditions".
The Royal Ascot spokesman said: "From time to time, amendments have been made.
"There is precedent for dress code not being enforced for hot weather, and one year visitors were advised to wear boots if they were using the Royal Enclosure Gardens when they were waterlogged.
"It's rare to relax the dress code but common sense has to apply in extremes of temperature or weather conditions, for everyone's safety and comfort."
On Thursday, hats of all shapes and sizes were worn by female racegoers for Ladies Day.
One Ascot attendee wore a mock parrot in full flight surrounded by foliage on her head, and carried another in a cage as her handbag.
The striking headpiece was created by Inga Kovalerova, a fashion designer who was inspired by a recent trip to Mexico, where she had seen a Frida Kahlo exhibition.
The Princess Royal and her family also took part in the traditional carriage procession ahead of the first race on Thursday, but the Queen did not join them in the Royal box.
The first race on Friday is the Albany Stakes at 2.30pm. The last race, the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, will take place at 6.10pm.
Friday’s feature race is the Coronation Stakes, which will take place at 4.20pm.
