A Vibrant Display of Style at Royal Ascot
The Berkshire-based event will run from June 16 to 20, with glamorous racegoers pulling out all the sartorial stops as they arrive at Royal Ascot for the second day of the annual racing meet. As one of the highlights of the racing calendar, the prestigious festival at the Berkshire racecourse is just as famous for its fashion as it is for its races.
This year’s official lookbook was curated by menswear specialist Daniel Fletcher, who has previously designed for the likes of Louis Vuitton, JW Anderson, and Victoria Beckham. The guide outlines the dos and don’ts of dressing for the annual event, and for the first time ever, it also determined its colour of the year – bright tomato. It seems attendees have taken note, with today’s turnout wearing a variety of show-stopping outfits as they descended on Ascot for a day of equestrian fun.
Fashion and lifestyle influencer Flora Gibbs donned the colour of the year and came looking like the picture of elegance in a red suit, paired with a striking pink hat. Floral prints, polka dots, and vibrant outfits were also the order of the day for many, while others looked effortlessly elegant in crisp white frocks.
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started yesterday with the Queen Anne Stakes and The King Charles III Stakes and will run until Saturday.
The festival was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for ‘horses fit for kings’ and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction. Today, stylish racegoers turned the racecourse into a sea of vibrant outfits in bright prints to ensure they stood out from the crowd.
Dress Code and Fashion Guidelines
Royal Ascot is known for its strict dress code. While no dress code rules apply in the Windsor Enclosure, although the majority of guests choose to dress up regardless, a strict dress code operates across the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures. Hats are a must in both Royal enclosures. Alternatively, a headpiece or ‘hatinator’ with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches (10cm) is also acceptable.
Dresses must be knee length or longer and forget spaghetti straps – all shoulders must be a minimum width of 1 inch (2.5cm). Strapless, off-the-shoulder and one shoulder items are also banned in the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures. Shorts of any kind are not permitted. But having been included in the dress code since 1971, trouser suits remain a popular choice – although they mustn’t be mismatched.
From 2017 onwards, jumpsuits have also been accepted as Ascot worthy, while men must stick to black dress shoes worn with ankle socks, but there are no footwear specifications for women.
A Royal Debut and Memorable Moments
Yesterday afternoon, the new Mrs Peter Phillips made her official debut as a member of the Royal Family, joining her husband in the traditional carriage procession at Royal Ascot. Before the racing got underway, all eyes were on the newlyweds, who tied the knot during an ‘intimate’ ceremony in the Cotswolds less than two weeks ago, as they entered the Ascot paddock in bright sunshine.
Harriet Sperling, 45, and her new husband Peter Phillips arrived in the second royal carriage, with King Charles and Queen Camilla leading the procession in the first, on the opening day of the prestigious British racing event. NHS nurse Ms Sperling looked the picture of elegance in a Suzannah London blue silk Biarritz dress and cream Jimmy Choo slingback heels as she took her place beside her new mother-in-law, Princess Anne, in the horse-drawn carriage.
Aside from the wedding ring on her left hand, the biggest hint at Ms Sperling’s recent nuptials came via the sky-blue Anya Hindmarch clutch bag she carried – embroidered with her new initials, HP. Ms Sperling finished the look with a Mini Mena teardrop-style blue straw hat and a bracelet and earrings by esteemed jeweller Pragnell.
Meanwhile, Peter Phillips cut a dashing figure in his morning suit with top hat and tails – and looked delighted to be enjoying the royal summer calendar event with his new wife by his side. In a break from royal tradition, the 48-year-old also wore a gold wedding band signifying his pride at his newlywed status.
Seated next to Peter Phillips in the carriage was the Queen’s nephew Sir Ben Elliot, former co-chair of the Conservative Party. Princess Anne, 75, appeared to be enjoying the moment with her new daughter-in-law. The Princess Royal, dressed in a striking striped dress with a wide-brimmed green hat, chatted to Ms Sperling as the carriage made its way into the main paddock.
Also joining the just-married couple in the royal procession were the Duke and Duchess of Wellington, seated beside the King and Queen, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who waved from the third coach.
It isn’t Ms Sperling’s first appearance at the summer racing event beloved by the Royal Family; with the King and Queen warmly welcoming the couple in 2025.
After arriving in the stands this afternoon, the happy couple shared a tender moment when they raised a glass of champagne. The new Mrs Peter Phillips was also spotted chatting to her new sister-in-law, Zara Tindall, who was one of the first royals to arrive alongside husband Mike.
And once the racing began, Ms Sperling and her new husband appeared animated at the results below, following the horses closely as they charged for the line. Ms Sperling couldn’t hide her emotion as she watched the runners and riders below. The King and Queen also couldn’t hide their emotions as they cheered on their favoured horses, with Charles brandishing a racing guide in the direction of the course. Queen Camilla, wearing a pale blue ensemble with statement millinery in the same shade, had earlier offered a cheery wave to those watching in the stands as the royals made their grand entrance.
