This is the racing event at the very top of high society’s social calendar - founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, its a whole week of racing, rubbing shoulder and revelry
The History
Ascot has a long and proud history connected to the Royal Family (who arrive every day to the racecourse in the Royal Procession):
In 1711 Queen Anne find a stretch of land fit for horses “horses to gallop at full stretch” while out riding, and every year royals and aristocrats would meet in Ascot Heath for a race consisting of three separate heats which were four miles long (each heat was about the length of the Grand National), so the winner would have been a horse with tremendous stamina.
By 1752 the Duke of Bedford found that Royal Ascot had become so popular that, when he arrived in London during that week, he couldn’t find anone to spend time with! At that time there were many other forms of entertainment laid on besides the racing, including cockfighting, prize-fighting, plus circus and carnival acts.
In 1813 Parliament passed an Act of Enclosure, which ensured that Ascot Heath (although the property of the Crown) would be kept and used as a racecourse for the public in the future, as it has been to this day, now with 26 annual racing events.
Hospitality
Royal Ascot is renowned as the racing event to rub shoulders and entertain family, friends and business clients; click here to read about the Hospitality and Fine Dining Packages on offer.
You can also read about the different enclosure options here
Dress Code
While many racecourses across the UK have relaxed their rules on what you can wear, Royal Ascot retains some quite strict rules about their dress code, and it differs depending on which enclosure you stay in - read more about it here
This is a place and an event to show off pageantry, style and elegance - its is believed that Royal Ascot is where the tradition of Ladies Day originated; supposedly it was either the idea of Queen Anne herself, or it began when an anonymous poet remarked, in 1823, that Thursday seemed to be “Ladies Day… when the women, like angels, look sweetly divine.” Whatever the origin, it is a tradition now across the UK, with men and women striving to look their best.
For style tips and inspiration, have a look at the 2024 Royal Ascot Lookbook, curated under the artistic direction of celebrated British fashion designer Daniel Fletcher.