ASCOT, England: Despite unusually high temperatures, members of British society and the royal family donned their finest hats and fancy outfits meet for the first day of Royal Ascot horse racing.
With temperatures near 30 degrees Celsius, race organizers even considered relaxing the strict dress code to allow men to take off their jackets.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla; and Prince William and Kate were all in attendance after arriving in a traditional carriage procession.
They joined racegoers in observing a moment of silence for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, the attacks at London Bridge and the Manchester concert bombing.
The racecourse said it is donating £100,000 ($126,000) to the British Red Cross UK Solidarity and London Fire Relief Funds and local charities to help victims.
Fashion expert Amy E Williams said Royal Ascot is the antithesis of the age of austerity championed by the coalition government in 2010.
The London Evening Standard contributing editor told AFP that the five days of Royal Ascot — which began on Tuesday — allow women to express and feel good about themselves.
“I kind of like to think of Royal Ascot being anti-austerity,” said Williams after casting her eyes over the first day’s fashion.
“Because when it comes to dressing up, this is the day you can splash out.
“That said, the high street is now so so brilliant there is no need to spend a fortune, you can also mix and match.
“Thus you can buy a dress from a high street shop, say Marks and Spencers, but then buy a really expensive hat or buy a hat off the high street and a Roksanda dress.”
She added: “It is a very austerity-friendly way of dressing but on the other hand women love to dress up and yes there are weddings but Royal Ascot is different.”
Turning to the men in the 45,000 crowd Williams reckoned they had an altogether easier time of it in the fashion stakes.
“For men it is very easy so long as they have the morning suit (tailcoat), they don’t have to spend a penny and I always think that is a bit unfair,” she laughed.
