Glamorous racegoers have pulled out all the sartorial stops as they arrived at Royal Ascot today to kick off the annual celebration in style.

Huge hats, vibrant dresses and feathered fascinators were all on display as thousands of revellers descended on the Berkshire racecourse this morning.

Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, starts today with the Queen Anne Stakes and The King Charles III Stakes and will run until Saturday. 

The prestigious festival is just as famous for its fashion as it is for its races – and this year, statement hats were the focal point of revellers’ eye-popping looks as day one of the annual race meeting got underway.

Dressed to impress, guests wore a variety of show-stopping headpieces as they descended on Ascot for a day of equestrian fun.

Floral prints, maxi dresses and vibrant outfits were also the order of the day for many, while others looked effortlessly elegant in crisp white frocks.

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. 

Stylish racegoers at today’s event turned the racecourse into a sea of vibrant outfits as they donned bright prints to ensure they stood out from the crowd.

Think pink! TV presenter Rosie Turner makes a statement in a hot pink dress and matching accessories for day one of Royal Ascot

Nice in neons! Racegoers stand out from the crowd in bright ensembles as they arrive at the racecourse in Berkshire

As pretty as a rainbow! A group of glamorous women put their best fashion foot forward in an array of colourful dresses and statement hats

Ladies in red! Two women showcase their fabulously fiery ensembles as they attend Ascot

Royal Ascot is known for its strict dress code. Whilst 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. 

Georgia Toffolo sported a silver and white ensemble for Day One of Royal Ascot

Yellow there! Charlotte Hawkins opted for a bright coat dress when arriving for the opening day

Attending with friends! Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Heyes step out at day one of Royal Ascot

Blooming lovely! A racegoer poses up a storm in her red and white floral frock at Royal Ascot

Feeling flush: A woman debuts her card-themed hat at the first day of Royal Ascot

Bridal chic! Crisp white summer dresses appeared to be the order of the day for some

Red hot! Some glamorous revellers opted for scarlet looks for Day One of Royal Ascot 

Eye-catching ensembles: A group of women showcase their colourful outfits as they attend the first day of Royal Ascot

Hat’s the spirit! Racegoers commanded attention in statement headpieces

Feeling peckish? A woman shows off a carrot-themed hat while at the Berkshire racecourse

Flower power! Many racegoers opted for elegant floral ensembles for their Royal Ascot looks

Matching! These stunning racegoers decided to wear very similar outfits for their day out

Here come the girls! These ladies dressed to impress in red and pink attire for the action-packed day

Big and fabulous! Racegoers show off their attention-grabbing headwear

Making a statement: Women opt for eye-catching headwear for the first day of Ascot

Twice as nice! A pair of racegoers pose for the cameras upon their arrival at Ascot

Hat’s all about it! A pair of stunning racegoers are all smiles as they showcase their headgear

Smile for the camera! Radiant racegoers pose for a photograph as they arrive at Ascot

Lovely in lace: One racegoer opted for a daring sheer look as they arrived at Ascot

Beautiful in blue: Racegoers put on an elegant display as they arrive at the Ascot racecourse

Say cheese! A group of revellers pose for a photograph at the first day of Royal Ascot

More is more! This racegoer wore a gloriously eye-catching peacock inspired hat for the event

Meanwhile, Royal Ascot will get under way on today in almost perfect conditions with the ground described as good to firm, good in places.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels told Sky Sports Racing: ‘We had a bit of light drizzle this morning, but that has cleared away and the sun is starting to come out. We are good to firm, good in places.

‘We’re very happy. We had what for us was a very useful wet couple of weeks at the beginning of the month. That gave us some moisture and we’ve needed to do a little watering, particularly on the straight course, just to maintain that.

‘We’d want to be mainly good to firm and that is what we’ll be. I think it will go good to firm tomorrow through racing and then we’ll try to maintain that.

‘It does look like it will be mainly dry with the chance of an odd shower on Wednesday and Thursday and maybe some thundery showers on Friday, but we’re too far away to be sure of that.’

It comes as Jim Goldie is confident American Affair will put up a staunch defence of his crown in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.

For Ascot… we wear pink: Racegoers don pretty in pink dresses for the opening day 

Turning heads: A racegoers shows off her beautiful butterfly themed headpiece

Commanding attention: A woman wearing a neon blue dress makes a statement at Ascot

Pretty in pink! Racegoers showcase their stylish ensembles as they arrive at the racecourse

Ready and waiting: Revellers prepare to watch the racing action at Royal Ascot

Looking good: Racegoers during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse Berkshire

Ready for the action! General view of racegoers as they arrive ahead of the day’s races

The six-year-old provided his Scottish trainer with a first taste of Group One success in this race 12 months ago and it was unfortunate for all concerned that a subsequent injury meant he was not seen again in 2025.

But with a comeback run at York in mid-May blowing away any cobwebs, American Affair finished a close second behind the reopposing Night Raider in Haydock’s Temple Stakes, and Goldie is hopeful the stable star is coming to the boil at just the right time ahead of his return to Berkshire.

He said: ‘We’re very happy with him, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating won’t it?

‘The ground looks as though it is going to be exactly the way it was last year and we’ve got a similar draw (stall 18) which is good and there’s plenty of pace around us. 

‘We’re next to the Australian horse (Overpass) who you would think will go quick, but our horse thinks he’s pretty quick as well! It should be a good race and we’re looking forward to it.’