Royal Ascot Ladies' Day kicks off in style with colour-popping dresses and show-stopping hats
Mia Phillips
Updated on March 22, 2026
IT’S one of the most glamorous events in the racing calendar each year – and Ladies’ Day at Ascot 2023 certainly isn't disappointing.
As the action got underway at the annual Berkshire event, lucky ticket holders arrived to soak up the atmosphere and they brought the glitz with them.
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And it's clear the sun is shining as the fashion fans have gone all out in a selection of super bright shades.
One excited guest led the way in a bright orange number, while another race goer opted for a similarly striking green gown.
Their hats were also on point, with a matching orange headpiece complete with feathers.
One more attendee showed she was also not to be outdone when she stepped out in a red flamenco style dress and floral printed bolero jacket.
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She also accessorised heavily with huge blue shades and a patterned umbrella to shade herself from the warm weather.
While other women went for similarly bright, head-turning shades, including lots who looked pretty in pink.
And the hats continued to deliver on day three, with one guest opting for a feathered pastel headpiece.
Meanwhile, the VIP guests also upped their game and followed the trending themes of bright colours and all white.
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For the third day in a row, Royal couple Zara and Mike Tindall enjoyed a date day at the races.
Dressed to impress, the pair were all smiles as they took time out of their busy schedules.
Meanwhile, I'm a Celebrity star Georgia Toffolo and Good Morning Britain's Charlotte Hawkins returned for the second day running.
Georgia wore a red and white floral number, while Charlotte opted for a bright blue dress, with perfectly matching shoes and a bow hat.
Elsewhere, model and actress Sabrina Elba - who is married to Brit actor Idris Elba - was the picture of elegance in a chic, all-white ensemble.
As in previous years, Ascot attendees have to adhere to the strict dress-code issued by the venue.
This includes the fact that all dresses should be a “modest length” and straps are required to be “one inch or greater”.
But guests have still been impressing in the style stakes, with many dressed to the nines for the fun day out.
Each morning the gates open at 10.30am each day, ready for the anticipated first race which kicks off at 2.30pm.
There are then seven races throughout the day, the last of which commencing at 6.10pm.
And, of course, 2pm on each day of racing is the royal procession.
As well as the racing, there’s also lots of other things for the lucky guests to enjoy.
It’s predicted that the fine dining curated by 350 chefs will serve up 35,000 spears of English asparagus, more than 10,000 steaks, 8,000 Cornish crabs, 7,000 rumps of English lamb, 5,000kg of salmon and 3,500 fresh lobsters throughout the entire week.
What’s more, the Royal Meeting will also serve more than a quarter of a million finger sandwiches, 240,000 hand-crafted cakes, 120,000 buttermilk scones, 110,000 cups of tea, 7,000 punnets of mixed berries and 1,200kg of Cornish clotted cream.
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Royal Ascot was held behind closed doors in 2020, and in 2021 limited racegoers were admitted after it was selected to take part in a Covid event research programme.
But, in 2023, approximately 400 helicopters and 1,000 limousines will descend on Royal Ascot, with an average of 60,000 racegoers each day.
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