Royal Ascot

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Royal Ascot, held from June 18 – 22 in 2024, is a five-day race meeting held at Ascot Racecourse located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, 6 miles/9.7 km from Windsor Castle. The Ascot Racecourse covers 179 acres/72 hectares leased from the Crown Estate, a collection of lands and holdings in the United Kingdom belonging to the British monarch. Ascot Racecourse has 26 days of racing during the year, 18 days of thoroughbred horse racing between April and October, and 8 days of jump meetings between October and March.

History of Ascot Racecourse

King George IV and his brother Prince Frederick, Duke of York watching horse racing in The Royal Stand at Royal Ascot in the early 19th century

Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne (reigned 1702 – 1714). While Queen Anne was riding out from Windsor Castle, she came upon an area of open land with grass, bushes, and other small plants, and declared it was “ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch”. Her plans for a new race meeting were announced in the London Gazette of July 12, 1711: “Her Majesty’s Plate of 100 guineas will be run for round the new heat on Ascott Common, near Windsor, on Tuesday, August 7th next, by any horse, mare or gelding, being no more than six years old the grass before, as must be certified under the hand of the breeder, carrying 12 St., [Note: 12 St. = 12 stone = 168 pounds] three heats, to be entered the last day of July, at Mr. Hancock’s, at Fern Hill, near the Starting Post.”

The first race meeting was postponed until August 11, 1711. Queen Anne and her court drove in horse and carriage from Windsor Castle to witness the first race, a seven-horse race with a £50 prize, won by a horse called Doctor owned by Charles Beauclerk, 2nd Duke of St Albans, grandson of King Charles II of England and his mistress Nell Gwynn.

The first grandstand, able to hold 1,650 people, was completed in 1793 and was used for almost fifty years. An 1813 Act of Parliament ensured that the Ascot Heath would be used as a racecourse for the public in the future. Today’s grandstands at Ascot Racecourse have a capacity of 70,000.

The administration of Ascot Racecourse is handled on behalf of the Crown by His/Her Majesty’s Representative at Ascot, now appointed by the Monarch. Until 1901, the position was held by the Master of the Buckhounds, the reason why some races (see below) were named in honor of a Master of the Buckhounds.

What happens at Royal Ascot?

“The Road to the Races” – During the reign of Queen Victoria, coaches make their way down the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park, on their way to Ascot Racecourse in 1846. This is still the current practice.

In a tradition started by King George IV in 1825, each day of the five days of Royal Ascot, the Royal Family rides from Windsor Castle in the five Ascot Landaus, smaller and lighter carriages with basket-work sides, which are used each year at Royal Ascot. They arrive at the racetrack at 2:00 PM. The National Anthem is played and the Royal Standard is raised. The Royal Family sits in the Royal Enclosure.

The Royal Procession arrives at the Parade Ring during  the 2023 Royal Ascot

The Queen Anne Stakes is the first race on opening day, always a Tuesday, honoring Queen Anne’s gift to racing, founding Ascot Racecourse. There are traditional races held each day, and many of them have royalty-related names.

Tuesday

• Queen Anne Stakes – first held in 1840
• Coventry Stakes – first held in 1890
• King Charles III Stakes – first held in 1890, originally the Queen’s Stand Plate, then the King’s Stand Plate following the death of Queen Victoria and the accession of King Edward VII in 1901, renamed the King Charles III Stakes in 2023 to mark the King‘s 75th birthday
• St James’s Palace Stakes – first held in 1834
• Ascot Stakes – first held in 1988
• Wolferton Stakes – first held in 2002, when Royal Ascot was extended to five days to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, named after the village of Wolferton near Sandringham House
• Buckingham Palace Stakes – first held in 2002, when the Royal Ascot meeting was extended to a fifth day to mark the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, named after Buckingham Palace

Wednesday

• Jersey Stakes – first held in 1919
• Queen Mary Stakes – first held in 1921, named in honor of Queen Mary, wife of King George V
• Duke of Cambridge Stakes – first held in 2004, originally titled the Windsor Forest Stakes, renamed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes in 2013 in honor of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
• Prince of Wales’s Stakes – first held in 1862, named after the Prince of Wales at that time, the future King Edward VII
• Royal Hunt Cup Handicap – first held in 1843
• Sandringham Stakes – first held in 1988, named after Sandringham, where Sandringham House, one of the royal residencies is located

Thursday

• Norfolk Stakes – first held in 1843, originally called the New Stakes, renamed the Norfolk Stakes in 1973 in of Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk who served as HM’s Representative at Ascot from 1945 to 1972
• Hampton Court Stakes – first held in 1996, had several names, renamed in 2002 named after Hampton Court, a royal residence of the Tudor period
• Ribblesdale Stakes – first held in 1919, named in honor of Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds from 1892 to 1895
• Gold Cup – first held in 1807
• Britannia Stakes – first held in 1928
• King George V Stakes – first held in 1988

Friday

• Albany Stakes – first held in 2002, originally the Henry Carnavon Stakes in memory of Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon, Queen Elizabeth II’s racing manager, who died in 2001, renamed Albany Stakes in 2003
• King Edward VII Stakes – first held in 1834, originally known as the Ascot Derby, renamed King Edward VII Stakes in 1926
• Commonwealth Cup – first held in 2015
• Coronation Stakes – first held in 1840, commemorating the coronation of Queen Victoria, two years earlier
• Duke of Edinburgh Stakes – first held in 1914, originally the Bessborough Stakes in honor of John Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough who was Master of the Buckhounds, renamed in 1999 in honor of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
• Queen’s Vase – first held in 1838, the original trophy was a gold vase donated by Queen Victoria

Saturday

• Chesham Stakes – first held in 1919, in honor of Charles Cavendish, 3rd Baron Chesham, the last Master of the Buckhounds
• Windsor Castle Stakes – first held in 1988
• Hardwicke Stakes – first held in 1879, in honor of Charles Yorke, 5th Earl of Hardwicke, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds
  Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes – first held in 1868, originally called the All-Aged Stakes, renamed the Cork and Orrery Stakes in 1926, in honor of Richard Boyle, 9th Earl of Cork, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds, renamed Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2002 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, renamed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and in 2022 it was again renamed to the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
• Wokingham Stakes – first held in 1813, named after Wokingham, a market town several miles to the west of Ascot
• Queen Alexandra Stakes – first held in 1864, originally called the Alexandra Plate, named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark who married The Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII in 1863, renamed Queen Alexandra Stakes in 1931, traditionally the last race on the final day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting

The Enclosures

There are four enclosures, or viewing areas, at Royal Ascot: Royal Enclosure, Queen Anne Enclosure, Village Enclosure, and Windsor Enclosure. The Queen Anne Enclosure, Village Enclosure, and Windsor Enclosure are open to the public.

The Royal Enclosure

The Royal Enclosure has grandstand seats (on the right) and a close-up standing area

The Royal Enclosure, where the British Royal Family sits, is the most prestigious, and access is strictly limited. First-time applicants must apply to the Royal Enclosure Office and be sponsored by someone who has attended the Royal Enclosure for at least four years. Existing members are sent invitations by His Majesty’s Representative at Ascot to request badges each year. Badges are handwritten and can only be worn by the named person. The colors of badges vary for each day of the Royal Ascot.

The Queen Anne Enclosure

Racegoers relax in the interior of the Queen Anne Enclosure

The Queen Anne Enclosure is famous for its high fashion and extraordinary ladies’ hats. It is the only public enclosure that grants access to the Parade Ring, Grandstand, and Bandstand where Singing Around The Bandstand takes place each day after racing.

The Village Enclosure

Racegoers in the Village Enclosure

The Village Enclosure is on the inside of the track. It provides a festival atmosphere with street food stalls, cocktail bars, and live music.

The Windsor Enclosure

Racegoers in the Windsor Enclosure

The Windsor Enclosure provides a party atmosphere with roaming musicians and no formal dress code although there are items of clothing not allowed in any enclosure. Those attending can bring a picnic lunch or visit the bars and food stalls. The trackside lawns offer exciting views of the horses racing for victory as they thunder down the track.

Dress Codes

Each of the four Royal Ascot enclosures has a different Dress Code. The dress codes are very specific and very strict, especially for the Royal Enclosure. Below are dress codes verbatim from the Ascot Racecourse website: Dress Codes by Enclosure

There are some items of clothing not permitted in any enclosure:

• Novelty patterns and fabrics (including, for example; slogans, phrases, promotional messaging, brand logos, or cartoon imagery)
• Trainers (Sneakers)
• Denim
• Leggings
• Shorts

ROYAL ENCLOSURE: Members and their guests must adhere to the dress codes by choosing to follow in full a dress code they feel most comfortable with.

LADIES

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• A dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted)
• Shoulder straps that are a minimum width of 1 inch / 2.5cm
• A jacket or pashmina may be worn. Tops and dresses beneath must still comply.
• A trouser suit of matching material and colour
• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements
• Hats must be worn. However, a headpiece or hatinator with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches / 10cm is acceptable. (Note: A hatinator is fastened on the head with a band like a fascinator, but has the appearance of a hat, while a fascinator is much smaller and normally does not go over the sides of the head.)

GENTLEMEN

• Morning dress of black, grey or navy material
• A waistcoat and necktie (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)
• A black or grey top hat (may be removed within a restaurant or Private Box. Top hats may also be removed within an enclosed external seating area, terrace, balcony, or garden)
• Black dress shoes worn with socks covering the ankle

JUNIORS (Aged 10-17)

• Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with the above dress codes. However, a headpiece or fascinator may be worn as an alternative to a hat, without any size requirement.
• Juniors under 17 may wear morning dress as per the above. Alternatively, a dark-coloured lounge suit with a collared shirt and necktie is also permitted.

NOT PERMITTED IN THE ROYAL ENCLOSURE

• Unless under the age of 17, fascinators (defined as a small headpiece attached to a comb, hair clip or headband that does not have a solid base of at least 4 inches / 10cm)

Dresses and tops that are:

• Strapless or one shoulder
• Halter neck (defined as a garment held up by a strap around the neck with an open back)
• Spaghetti straps
• Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is see-through / entirely transparent)
• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)
• Customised top hats (with, for example; coloured ribbons, feathers or embellishments)
• Cravats, bow ties and neckerchiefs

QUEEN ANNE ENCLOSURE

LADIES

• A dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted, no minimum length)
• A trouser suit of matching material and colour
• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements
• A hat, headpiece or fascinator

GENTLEMEN

• A full-length two or three-piece suit. Jackets and trousers should be of matching material (morning dress is also permitted)
• A collared shirt
• A necktie (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)
• Socks must be worn and should cover the ankle

JUNIORS (Aged 10-17)

• Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with either of the above dress codes although hats, headpieces and fascinators are not compulsory.
• Juniors under the age of nine should be dressed smartly but are not required to wear a jacket or tie with their trousers and shirt.

NOT PERMITTED IN THE QUEEN ANNE ENCLOSURE

• Dresses and tops that are:
• Strapless or one shoulder
• Off-the-shoulder or bardot
• Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is see-through / entirely transparent)
• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)
• Cravats, bow ties and neckerchiefs

VILLAGE ENCLOSURE

LADIES

• A dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted, no minimum length)
• Trouser suits are welcome and should be of matching material and colour
• Jumpsuits should fall below the knee and comply with the above strap requirements
• A hat, headpiece or fascinator

GENTLEMEN

• A suit jacket or blazer (can be of different material to the trousers)
• A full-length trouser or chino
• A collared shirt
• A necktie, bow tie or cravat (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)
• Socks must be worn and should cover the ankle

JUNIORS (Aged 10-17)

• Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with either of the above dress codes although hats, headpieces and fascinators are not compulsory.

NOT PERMITTED IN THE VILLAGE ENCLOSURE

Dresses and tops that are:

• Strapless or one shoulder
• Off-the-shoulder or bardot
• Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is see-through / entirely transparent)
• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)

WINDSOR ENCLOSURE

• Whilst there is no official dress code for the Windsor Enclosure, guests are encouraged to dress in smart daywear. A hat, headpiece or fascinator is encouraged along with a jacket and collared shirt.

OVERSEAS VISITORS & SERVING MILITARY PERSONNEL (in any enclosure)

OVERSEAS VISITORS

• Visitors are welcome to wear the formal National Dress of their country or Service Dress. If your National Dress does not include a hat or headpiece then you do not need to wear one. Religious headdress is permitted in place of a hat or headpiece.

SERVING MILITARY PERSONNEL

• Serving military personnel are welcome to wear Service Dress or equivalent.

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Works Cited

• Ascot. Ascot Racecourse. (n.d.). https://www.ascot.com/horse-races-and-events/royal-ascot/overview
• Ascot. Ascot Racecourse. (n.d.). https://www.ascot.com/what-to-wear/royal-ascot-dress-code
• Ascot Racecourse. (2024). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascot_Racecourse
• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• Royal Ascot. The Royal Family. https://www.royal.uk/royal-ascot