Female racegoers are carried over a giant puddle at Ascot
This is the scene at Royal Ascot today, as heavy downpours turned the racecourse into a total washout – forcing spectators to carry their female companions over waterlogged fields, while some women removed their shoes altogether in a bid to save them from getting soaked.
A quarter of a million racing fans and revellers are descending upon the 179-acre Ascot Racecourse over the course of the next five days, despite chilly temperatures and heavy showers.
Among the first to arrive for Day One this morning was one brightly-dressed guest, who added giant flowers to her umbrella to match her decorative hat – while one smartly-dressed duo accessorised with a smart navy umbrella to match their outfits.
Spectators were determined to remain in high spirits despite the sodden fields, toting giant umbrellas and dodging puddles
One brave couple attempt to abseil across a fence to avoid the water, despite the woman having already changed into flip-flops
Smartly-dressed racegoers are carried over a puddle by men in top hats as the grass becomes waterlogged following heavy downpours
What a gent! A guest helps an elderly woman over a large puddle as the rain continues to fall on a soaking wet Ascot Racecourse
Some simply covered up with oversized coats, shawls and pashminas, while others opted for practicality over style, donning giant ponchos and wellies. One group of ladies were spotted wearing disposable plastic shoe covers over their heels while they enjoyed a glass of bubbly.
Meanwhile, the area in front of the turnstiles was turned into a sea of umbrellas as thousands of rain-sodden guests began to arrive. One smartly-dressed couple, who appeared to be headed for the Royal Enclosure, managed to keep smiling despite their formal outfits getting soaked.
An elderly racegoer in a top hat struggled to maintain his composure as he got into a spot of bother when the wind blew his poncho into his face. But many seemed determined to bring a bit of summer spirit despite the chilly temperatures, opting for bright, floral numbers in pastel tones.
Eventually the rain abated, but it left behind giant puddles which proved a difficult obstacle for guests wearing heels – forcing their male companions to give them a helping hand and, in some cases, carry them over. One couple were seeing attempting to abseil across a wooden fence in an attempt to avoid the muddy floor.
Dramatic scenes ensued as racegoers attempted to scale a giant puddle blocking their path into the enclosure
Some attempted to wade through the puddles (left) while some eschewed heels altogether and donned rubber wellies (right)
Regretting your choice of footwear? One woman in a pair of lace-up pump enlists the help of a male companion in crossing a puddle
A group of ladies enjoy a well-earned glass of bubbly as they protect their feet – and heels – using disposable shoe covers
A female guest, dressed in an elaborate pink ruffled gown and matching fascinator, grimaces as she makes her way to the racecourse
A female guest is carried over a puddle by a steward (left) as heavy rainfall forces one woman to remove her shoes altogether (right)
Some guests were determined to bring a bit of summer spirit despite the downpour, opting for bright, floral numbers in pastel tones
Many guests were forced to protect their glamorous outfit with ponchos, while others were carried over puddles by stewards
Dresses with a purpose: Two female racegoers make a statement with referendum-themed dresses and hats commissioned by Ladbrokes
Retro girl band The Tootsie Rollers stand out among a sea of grey in colourful, fifties-style dresses and fascinators
One brightly-dressed guest added oversized giant flowers to her umbrella to match her decorative hat
Singin’ in the rain: Guests managed to remain in high spirits despite getting soaked as they entered the gates
It also provided opportunity for glamorous to finally showcase their headgear, with giant floral fascinators – and one giant jocket-themed hat – making an appearance.
Others used the occasion to make a sartorial statement – with two female racegoers wearing bizarre, EU referendum-themed dresses and hats commissioned by Ladbrokes. Holly Peers, 29, wore a ‘remain’ hat featuring an Eiffel Tower, Brandenburg Gate and flags of European countries.
Her companion India Reynolds, 25, wearing a figure-hugging Union Jack dress, favoured a Brexit bonnet, complete with Big Ben, corgi, Nelson’s Column and English roses.
India, from Reading, said: ‘We’ve both had a lot of comments from punters but most people have said that I’m the one that’s going to get the vote. Most people that have come up to us have said they are going to vote Brexit.’
One spectator defies the rain to make a stylish entrance at a very wet and rainy Ascot Racecourse for Day One of the world-famous races
One woman carries two pairs of shoes across a puddle (left); As the rain cleared up, racegoers were free to enjoy a glass of bubbly (right)
Holly, who is from Manchester and wore a dress version of the EU flag, added: ‘I think we’re both still undecided when it comes to the vote itself.’
Up to a third of a month’s worth of rain is set to fall in just one hour across North Wales, the Midlands and the south coast of England today. And sadly there will be no let up from the heavy downpours, thunderstorms and flooding which have hit much of Britain in the past few days.
Around 400 helicopters and 600 limos are expected to transport the most glamorous guests to the racecourse this week, with VIP revellers making their way through the equivalent of 478 bathtubs of champagne – 51,000 bottles, while punters will drink around 160,000 glasses of Pimm’s.
Despite the downpour, guests had plenty of reason to smile – There is more than £6.5 million prize money up for grabs this week
Spectators grapple with their umbrellas as they enter the racecourse, where the concrete ground turned into a giant puddle
Oops! An elderly racegoer in a top hat gets into a spot of bother as the wind blow his poncho into his face, as his companion laughs
Later on this afternoon, the Queen is expected to make an appearance. Fresh from a long weekend of official birthday celebrations, the 90-year-old monarch – who has attended every royal meeting during her reign – will join the well-coiffed masses.
As a passionate horse owner, Her Majesty will no doubt be hoping for a win when her horse, Dartmouth, runs in the Hardwicke Stakes at 3.40pm – with Thursday’s Gold Cup being renamed the ‘Gold Cup In Honour of the Queen’s 90th Birthday’.
More than 20 of her thoroughbreds have triumphed at Royal Ascot in previous years – her horse, Estimate, famously won the 2013 Gold Cup – and bookmaker William Hill has odds of 11/8 that the Queen – who has seven horses running over the next five days – will own a winner this week.
The bookmakers have also made blue the 2-1 favourite for the colour of Her Majesty’s hat on the opening day. Jon Ivan-Duke, a spokesman for William Hill, said: ‘We have had our first gamble on the Queen’s hat today with almost 85% of bets for blue.
One lady with a pass to the members-only Royal Enclosure, seemed keen to make an impression with a gravity-defying fascinator
Gok Wan and Lizzie Cundy (left) and Simon Cowell’s ex, Jackie St Clair (right) join in the fun as they brave the rain
Taste the rainbow! A group of brightly-clad ladies share a jokes after the rain finally stopped, leaving them free to enjoy the festivities
Braving the rain: Three revellers cover up with hats, shawls and umbrellas as they make their way into the sodden racecourse
One smartly-dressed couple, who appeared to be headed for the Royal Enclosure, kept smiling despite their formal outfits getting soaked
Showers descend upon the Berkshire racecourse as guests begin to arrive, with the first race due to kick off at 2.30pm
Guests seemed keen not to let the wet weather dampen their spirits, keeping dry with coats, pashminas and giant umbrellas
‘We think the gamble is based on the chilly weather forecast when blue would perhaps be more appropriate than yellow.’
Her Majesty won’t be the only famous face in attendance, however; Gok Wan, Lizzie Cundy, Liz Hurley and Simon Cowell’s ex, Jackie St Clair, were spotted arriving at the racecourse this morning, too. Later arrivals included Sally Bercow and Australian actress Tessa James.
Event organisers have put together an exhaustive style guide telling guests what to wear for the occasion – with fancy dress and ‘replica sports shirts’ firmly off-limits; in the past they have been known to turn people away if not dressed appropriately.
Female guests within the Royal Enclosure – which is open to members only – are required to don ‘formal daywear’, with ‘modest’ hemlines, while men must wear a waistcoat, tie (strictly no cravats) and a top hat. Meanwhile, the Royal Enclosure demands that all ladies wear a hat, hide their midriffs, and on’t go strapless or sheer.
The area in front of the turnstiles was turned into a sea of umbrellas as thousands of rain-sodden guests began to arrive
Function before fashion: Stewards keep dry with ponchos and giant umbrellas as the rain continues to fall
A right royal washout! But the rain did little to dampen spectators’ spirits, as jovial guests laughed off the downpours
The Windsor Enclosure commands a slightly more laissez-faire approach – although novelty and branded clothing is expressly forbidden – with tickets starting at £34.
‘Royal Ascot is synonymous with sartorial elegance,’ their website explains. ‘This is upheld by our dress code, which invites guests to contribute to an occasion heralded as a major fashion event in its own right.’
Gates opened at 10.30am, followed by the Royal Procession at 2pm. Races officially kick off at 2.30pm.
Rumours were rife that the annual event, which runs over five days, would host to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the first time this year – but on Monday it was revealed that the royal couple were in fact preparing for a trip to the Royal residence at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down in Northern Ireland.
William Hill had previously suspended the book on the royal couple making their first appearance at the meet, and were offering odds of 10-1 that Prince George would come along too.
A group of smartly-dressed guests keep their tailcoats dry with giant umbrellas as they arrive at the racecourse on Tuesday morning
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill warned that showers would persist on Tuesday afternoon, but could turn ‘hefty’ on Wednesday.
But the weather is expected to improve as the week goes on, he said, becoming more ‘settled’ by Saturday.
Royal Ascot – one of the highlights of the racing and social calendar – attracts many of the world’s finest horses to compete for more than £6.58 million in prize money – with more than £1 million up for grabs every day.
It was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 and is the centrepiece of the racing year at Ascot Racecourse.
The style spectacle is known for its strict dress code in the Royal and Queen Anne enclosures, where ladies must wear hats. Around 300,000 racegoers attend Royal Ascot each year and make their way through 51,000 bottles of champagne, almost 3,000 lobsters and 50,000 macaroons.
Organisers have also revealed that a thousand kilos of clotted cream will eaten, along with 7,000 punnets of berries and 45,000 afternoon teas. Seafood is always popular on the menu, with punters consuming almost 3,000 lobsters, 7,000 Cornish and Folkestone crabs and 5,000 kilos of salmon.
A smartly-dressed couple manage to laugh off the rain, despite heavy showers dampening their formal attire
Two racegoers keep dry with a big umbrella as they make their way to the Berkshire racecourse before the drizzle becomes a downpour
One guest turning heads was television presenter Anneka Svenska, sporting the biggest hat ever worn to the racecourse – a milinary creation that was more like a child’s climbing frame than a hat, covered in more than 1,400 red roses.
The designer hat, made especially for her, measured more than 6ft, running from above her head and cascading to the ground in all directions.
But the astonishing design had a serious purpose – to draw attention to what Ms Svenska says is the ‘unacceptable cruelty’ of horseracing: each red rose symbolised a horse that has died at British races since 2007.
Actress, wildlife presenter and conservationist Ms Svenska, who regularly makes headlines with her flamboyant Ascot headwear, said this year she wanted to use her record-breaking hat to try to convince racegoers, horse owners and industry insiders to improve standards.
According to Race Horse Death Watch, a website that monitors fatalities, in nine years at least 1,404 thoroughbreds have been killed on British racecourses. ‘As a child I dreamt of wearing the largest hat to Ascot, and when I grew up, I made it happen,’ said Ms Svenska.
A racegoer wears a jockey-themed hat with a blue lace and feather jacket – but hers certainly wasn’t the most flamboyant headgear on show
Anneka Svenska sported the biggest ‘hat’ ever worn to the racecourse – a milinary creation covered in more than 1,400 red roses
One woman sports a giant, poppy-themed hat to match her floral dress as she heads for the exclusive Royal Enclosure
‘I have never bet on or supported the racing, but last year I decided to stop wearing a hat to Ascot as it was conveying the wrong message. So this year I decided to use the publicity to raise standards for horses at tracks all over the UK.’ The hat was commissioned from milliner Louis Mariette, who has also created designs for Jerry Hall and Sophie Dahl.’
Another guest keen to make an impression wore a hat made entirely out of cake – which she said was meant to represent one of the most popular bets placed by punters during the famous British race meeting, the colour of the Queen’s hat.
Commissioned by bookmaker Coral, and created by Royal baker Fiona Cairns – who famously made the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake in 2011 – the two tiered cake hat was worn in celebration of the monarch’s 90th birthday this year.
The hat, modelled by Carly Baker, is a classic Victoria sponge filled with a raspberry jam and vanilla butter cream – and took a skilled team of seven bakers and sugar artists approximately four days to create.
Carly Baker wore a hat made entirely out of cake – which she said was meant to represent one of the most popular bets placed by punters during the famous British race meeting, the colour of the Queen’s hat
Carly’s hat is a classic Victoria sponge filled with a raspberry jam and vanilla butter cream – and took a skilled team of seven bakers and sugar artists approximately four days to create
It is adorned with 12 handmade, lifelike flowers that sit alongside delicate piping detail made from royal icing that will no doubt leave other punters’ hat choices trotting to the side tracks.
Nicola McGeady from Coral said: ‘The Queen’s hat is always the subject of a mass gamble at Ascot and according to the punters we expect Her Majesty to be wearing blue on the first day at Royal Ascot. The odds are so good that we will literally eat our hat if we get it wrong!’
Royal baker Fiona Cairns added: ‘Our passion is creating beautiful handcrafted cakes so it’s an honour to have been commissioned by Coral to make a hat fit for a Queen. We’ve never done anything like this before but I’m sure you’ll agree the outcome is good enough to eat.’
Betting on the colour of the Queen’s hat is a popular annual flutter according to the bookmaker, and if the odds are to be believed, the Queen will be wearing a blue hat on the first day.
The bookies make blue the favoured choice of the dedicated racehorse owner, priced at 3-1. Coral, the colour of the cake hat, is priced at 33/1.
On the first day of the meeting in June 2015, the monarch’s choice of attire was pink, which this year is priced at 11-1. It’s 9-1 that she may opt for a yellow coloured hat, with purple a similar choice at 9-1.
Female racegoers are carried over a giant puddle at Ascot
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