It's all about royals, riders and noble horses once again. For the 307th time, the world's most famous and prestigious horse race is taking place on the Royal Ascot Racecourse. Here's a style guide for the event.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Keal-Olivas
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It doesn't always have to be the Royal Ascot: Classic horseracing events
The Royal Ascot may be horseracing's most famous event, but there are other locations around the world that host renowned races. They are a showground for horse lovers, the rich and famous, and the beautiful.
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Royal Ascot
There's definitely style at the Royal Ascot, the world's most prestigious horseracing event. It has stood under the patronage of the Royal Family for over 300 years, with some 300,000 visitors attending it each year — including for the first time Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. In addition to the sports aspect, the event is famous for its prominent guests and their extravagant wardrobes.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Keal-Olivas
Baden-Baden
The race track in Iffezheim has existed since 1858 and is one of Germany's most renowned. Each year, three races — the "Spring Festival," the "Great Festival Week" and the "Sales & Racing Festival" — attract countless visitors. The Great Festival Week at the end of August is considered the premium horseracing event in the country, but unlike the Royal Ascot, there's no official dress code.
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Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is the shortest and perhaps the toughest horseracing event in the world. It takes places each year on July 2 and August 16 on the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy. In existence since the 13th century, jockeys representing the 17 contrade (city wards) ride bareback, competing against one another. During the races, the city is shrouded in the colors of the various contrade.
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Kentucky Derby
Spectators enjoy the Kentucky Derby on the first weekend in May at Churchill Downs in the US state of Kentucky. It is the kick-off event for the US Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The Derby has existed since 1875 and is one of the world's most prestigious racing events. It's also known as the "Run for the Roses" since the winner is adorned with a garland composed of over 400 red roses.
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Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is the second highest paid horse race in the world, with prize money amounting to $10 million. Thoroughbreds have been competing on the last Saturday in March since 1996. The event draws around 500,000 spectators. It is Dubai's most important event and was established by Shiekh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.
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Prix de l‘Arc de Triomphe
You'll find extravagant fashion at the Longchamp racetrack in western Paris' Bois de Boulogne. The world-famous Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe takes place there on the first Sunday in October each year. It was originally established to celebrate the end of the First World War.
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The Ascot Racecourse, in the southern part of England and west of London, is not only the meeting ground of highly ambitious riders and fast horses, but also one showcasing sophisticated English tradition and culture.
The prestigious event, taking place this year from June 19 through 23, is also one where people go to see and be seen. Visitors only show up wearing their finest attire, without forgetting the most important accessory: the hat.
The Brits are renowned for their extravagant and sometimes questionable hats — although nowadays, they only wear them for special occasions such as weddings and, of course, horse races.
The Ascot Gold Cup takes place on the third day of the event. It is horse race for stayers, or long-distance performers, and it's seen as the most important race of the Royal Ascot. Inofficially, the day is known as "Ladies' Day" since women present themselves in particularly exquisite outfits, and with truly extraordinary hats.
Where's the Ascot? Follow those hatsImage: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Walton
The organizers emphasize that visitors must adhere to the dress code on the entire premises, which consist of three different parts. What the dress codes of all three sections have in common is that visitors must be dressed in elegant and traditional attire, that all ladies must wear a hat, and all gentlemen a stovepipe hat.
Hats have a long tradition
The art of making hats originates in 17th-century England and France. In the 20th century, hats were "the" most important fashion accessory. Nowadays, hats have lost in their symbolic significance, and are considered to be more of a trendy object. At events attended by nobility, however, the wearing of a hat is still obligatory, as is also the case for the Royal Ascot.
Hat show in Ascot — who's got the most extraordinary head decoration?Image: Reuters/T. Melville
Although Lady Diana rekindled the fashion accessory by wearing all kinds of hats on all kinds of occasions, they have never again become a part of daily attire. And yet, England has continued to celebrate its hat fashion, firmly integrating it into its fashion world.
Every year, the organizers change details of the Royal Ascot Style Guide to accommodate current fashion trends. That's why, last year, the jumpsuit was incorporated into the style guide.
The fascinator, a festive head decoration consisting of materials like feathers, lace or various textiles that are fixed to the head by means of an alice band or a comb, had once been acceptable, but was outlawed for visitors of the Royal Lodge in 2012. At least in this part of the premises, you just can't get around wearing a hat.
Historical racing traditions
The Royal Ascot was initiated in 1711 by Queen Anne with the aim of selecting fast horses for wars. Since 1768, the four-day event now attended by roughly 300,000 visitors every year has had a deep impact on the British sports scene.
"Flying" horses have a long traditionImage: Reuters/M. Childs
The equestrian sport is one of the world's oldest organized sports. Its traditions go back to Babylonia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. The first dated horse race, a chariot race, took place in 680 B.C. as part of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. In the Roman Empire, horse races had a political and economic function. The various racing stables called circus parties carried out contests against each other. The entire population could be mobilized by letting them participate in these contests.
Dress codes like the one of the Royal Ascot, however, do not seem to have a long tradition.
Queen Elizabeth's legendary wardrobe
The Queen in pink with a pink hat, the Queen in blue with a blue hat, the Queen in green with a green hat... That's how we know her now. But was it always that way? Here's a look back at her carefully planned style.
Always color-coordinated
The Queen's outfits are legendary. Her fancy hats always match with her suits and her hemlines are weighted down - to prevent windy wardrobe embarrassments. Then there's the handbag: It always has the same shape. Classic, black, it's just big enough to hold her lipstick, reading glasses, mint lozenges, and a handkerchief. That's how the world has known her for the past 60 years.
She keeps that under her hat
Queen Elizabeth II rarely shows up bareheaded. She has hats in all shapes and colors. Some are light and playful, trimmed with little flowers, while others look strict and sober. They always match with her outfits. Who could tell how many she actually has? It's one of the world's best-kept secrets.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Brady
Hat mania
Even when she was younger, she was the queen of headgear. Here she is on the beach, donning a casual hippy style. This picture belongs to a series of historical photos of the Queen which were auctioned in 2008. A private collector can now smile with her every day.
Even a princess needs to pitch in: During World War II, Elizabeth Windsor was part of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women's division of the British Army. She learned mechanics and how to drive trucks. This picture was taken in 1945 - once again, with headgear.
Image: public domain
The wedding dress
Two years after the war, Elizabeth married her childhood sweetheart, Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark. Hundreds of ration coupons were collected to purchase her wedding gown: After the war, it was still difficult to obtain such valuable materials, even for the royal house. The satin dress was embroidered with 10,000 pearls and crystals and had a four-meter-long (13-foot) bridal train of lace.
Image: Imago/ZUMA/Keystone
The coronation gown
At the coronation ceremony On June 2, 1953, she wore a white silk dress with colorful embroideries representing the emblems of the Commonwealth of Nations. Attached to her shoulders, a five-meter-long (16-foot) velvet mantle was carried by six maids of honor.
Image: picture-alliance/Heritage Images
Triumphal state visit in West Germany
It was billed "the visit of the century." In May 1965, the Queen was West Germany's most welcome official foreign guest. 56 years had gone by since the last visit by a British state official - and two wars, during which both countries had experienced great suffering. Queen Elizabeth II spent 11 days traveling through the young Federal Republic - and charmed the Germans with her outfits.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K. Rohwedder
Royal visit in Austria
After Elizabeth II enchanted Germany with her whimsical hats, she opted for a more traditional style for her Austrian state visit in 1969. She wore a white silk dress with a red sash, and a diadem instead of a hat.
Image: picture-alliance/G. Rauchwetter
Turban in Germany
In 1978, Elizabeth II came to Germany for the second time. Although she was once again received with great pomp, the procession was more modest than the one for her first visit. Over the years, normalcy and even friendship characterized the two countries' relations. Former German president Walter Scheel, pictured here, contributed to consolidating these ties.
Image: imago
Summer style in Thailand
In February 1972, the Queen visited King Bhumibol in Thailand. She'd obviously have a stately gown and diadem in her suitcase, but also a few playful outfits as well (with matching hats, of course). Even though it's cheerful, her summery ensemble on this picture doesn't seem frivolous.
Image: picture-alliance/H. Ossinger
Extra-sharp glasses
Nothing can diminish her royal style - not even these 3D glasses. The Queen wore them while visiting the University of Sheffield, where she was invited to operate an excavator with a 3D display.
Image: Getty Images
Casual look
When the Queen is not on state visits, she often prefers a modest headscarf to her designer hats. Suddenly the royal guise is concealed: She rather looks like a good-natured grandmother, pictured here in 2012.
Image: Getty Images
Riding with Reagan
She kept it tweedy while riding with the former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1982. The Queen showed him around the grounds of Windsor Castle, her favorite residence.
Image: public domain
Her son's wedding
On July 29, 1981, Elizabeth's son Prince Charles married Lady Diana in what was considered the "fairytale wedding of the century." Although the Queen apparently played a major role in the couple's union, she didn't manage to steal the spotlight from her daughter-in-law that day - not even in bright turquoise.
Image: Imago/Photoshot/John Shelley Collection
Her grandson's wedding
When Prince William married Kate in 2011, the Queen wore a much more relaxed dress than at the wedding of Charles and Diana. Here she's pictured arriving at Westminster Abbey in a sober yellow outfit.
Image: Imago/Photoshot/John Shelley Collection
Official and royal
Every year for the Queen's speech, she traditionally wears her official royal regalia. The speech always marks the formal beginning of a new legislative period for the British Parliament and outlines the projects of the government for the upcoming session.
Image: Reuters/S. Plunkett
Royal purple train
The Queen still dresses up in royal robes. Here she is with Prince Philip in front of Saint Paul's Cathedral, during a church service in honor of the Order of the British Empire, a highly respected order of merit.
Image: Getty Images
Happy birthday, Queen Elizabeth!
The Queen turned 90 in 2016. Although she was born on April 21, 1926, her official birthday is celebrated in June, because the weather is usually nicer for outdoor ceremonies. On June 13, 2015, she drove through London with her husband Prince Philip in an all-white suit, which matched her hair perfectly.
