Royals at the Races:
Queen is pretty in pink as she arrives at Ascot with Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and "Fergie's young Princess Daughters
Pretty in pink! Queen waves happily as she arrives at Royal Ascot alongside Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, despite Prince Philip's absence
- The Queen looked in good spirits as she arrived accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
- Her pink dress and coat ensemble also delighted punters who had placed money on her choice with bookmakers
- Other royals to attend the race meeting included Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, both in hats by Nerida Fraiman
- Hemlines will be policed by Royal Ascot's dress code assistants who will ensure sartorial standards are met
- Rules include knee length skirts, straps of at least 2.5 inches wide and big hats, particularly in the Royal Enclosure
- One unfortunate racegoer, a man in a floral headpiece, was ejected by Ascot's fashion police
By
Daily Mail UK, 18 June 2013
But the bookies weren't smiling so much, having to pay out to punters who guessed the Queen would be wearing pink and those who guessed she would be wearing peach... because they couldn't decide what colour exactly her suit was.
So in the first punter-friendly gesture of the Royal meeting, they paid out in full on bets struck for both pink and peach. Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: 'We're not going to pick fights with the Palace so if they say it's peach we'll pay on peach. But it was pink to our eyes so we'll pay out on pink too!'
Smiling broadly, the monarch made her traditional appearance on the race track in an open landau carriage pulled by four grey horses, greeted by loud cheers from an adoring crowd of racegoers.
The Duchess of Cornwall was her usual stylish self in a pretty cream ensemble, while her nieces, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, both of whom plumped for hats by milliner Nerida Fraiman, rode with their father Prince Andrew in a carriage behind.
Elegant: The Queen was resplendent in pale fondant pink as she was driven down the racecourse in an open landau, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall
Pretty: Despite being without the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen seemed happy to be at the races and has a horse, a filly named Estimate, in the Gold Cup on Thursday
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie made an appearance in hats designed by Nerida Fraiman and were accompanied their father, the Duke of York
During her grand entrance a military band played the Adele-penned James Bond theme Skyfall - a reference to the Monarch's 'skydive' into the Olympic Stadium last year.
Princess Michael of Kent was spotted in the third carriage, along with Lady Helen Taylor and Lord Ivar Mountbatten in the fourth and final carriage.
The royal party was joined by Serena, Viscountess Linley - the wife of the late Princess Margaret's son Andrew - who looked striking in a vibrant imperial purple coat dress.
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, wearing a fashion-forward blue ensemble, and her husband Prince Edward, watched the procession from the Royal box.
Although the royal party is never less than elegant, in recent years, Ascot has become a less-than-stylish affair with fake tan, bizarre hats and micro minis becoming the norm. But two years after imposing strict sartorial rules, it seems that Royal Ascot has become a contender in the style stakes once more.
Leading the charge was Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins who looked stunning in a sunny bright orange dress and matching orange and hot pink fascinator by milliner, Phillip Treacy.
Family affair: The Queen was joined by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Duke of York and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie in black and grey
Enjoying the day: The Earl and Countess of Wessex, radiant in petrol blue, watched the parade accompanied by friends from the warmth of the Royal Box
Later in the afternoon the Queen was enthralled in a race as she watched from the Royal Box along with Princess Eugenie and Prince Andrew
The Queen couldn't help beaming as her horse appeared to come in first, but maybe Eugenie had placed a bet on a different steed
Mono mania: Along with Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai, both Countess Spencer and Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding plumped for low key black and white combos
Stunning: Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins looked wonderful in orange silk and was joined by Bollywood favourite, Aishwarya Rai, on day one of Royal Ascot
Lovely: Gary Lineker's wife Danielle was a picture in pale pink lace, while Andy Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears opted for one of her trademark print dresses
Colourful: Guests arriving at day one of this year's Royal Ascot appeared to have taken organisers' stern sartorial advice firmly to heart
Striking: Londoner Carrie Colbert and pretty Jackie St Clair (right) wowed fellow racegoers with their stunning floral head wear
Her daring choice was echoed by many of her fellow race goers, most of whom plumped for bright hues - perhaps to make up for the miserable squalls of rain that sent many scurrying for shelter.
'I love Royal Ascot, it's just so fashioned, old-fashioned glamour, old-fashioned traditions,' said the singer, who added: 'I would wear a hat every day if I could.'
Jenkins was joined by Earl Spencer and his Canadian wife, Karen, who looked beautiful in a low key cream dress and Girls Aloud singer, Sarah Harding, who picked a slick black dress teamed with a showstopping gold necklace.
Also on hand to get Royal Ascot off to a flying start was Bollywood megastar, Aishwarya Rai, who chose a subtle monochrome ensemble, topped with a pretty black and white floral hat.
Betting on Her Majesty: Bookmakers Coral are offered punters the chance to have a flutter on the Queen's sartorial choices, although it seems most think blue
Gary Lineker's wife, Danielle, looked particularly beautiful in a stunning pale pink 1930s style frock teamed with a white picture hat, while Andy Murray's other half, Kim Sears, plumped for trademark prints teamed with a pair of delicate lemon shoes.
In the paddock, a flock of beautifully dressed women in a array of stunning rainbow hues were drawing admiring glances from male race goers, although the odd shivering girl in a too-short skirt could also be seen. Hats were big and bold, with floral motifs spotted adorning headwear up and down the course.
Racegoer Florence Claridge wore an artificial pink fuchsia plant on her head complete with dozens of blooms and a matching shocking pink dress. She said: 'You have to be a trooper to wear this, it's quite heavy - but I've been coming here for 25 years.'
Fellow guest, Jackie St Clair chose an enormous pink rose made by milliner Bundle MacLaren. She said: 'It's made from layers of silk and is fabulous. I've been coming to Ascot for 31 years. I like the fashion, the Pimm's and the quintessential Englishness of it.'
Blooming marvellous: Race goer Florence Claridge from Dover looked radiant in a gigantic hat inspired by beautiful fuchsia bushes
Crimson classic: The Tootsie Rollers perform on day one of Royal Ascot, dressed in vintage style red dresses teamed with matching fascinators
Cool couples: The wife of Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford looked fresh and pretty in pale blue while Ruth Langsford (right), wife of Eamonn Holmes, was lovely in lilac
Former Channel 4 racing pundit, John McCririck, was on typically bombastic form as he wandered in, trademark bowler hat and cigar firmly in place.
Like fellow female guests, McCririck embraced the floral theme, courtesy of a huge cabbage rose in his buttonhole, although his wife, in a pretty pansy print dress, had the edge in the style stakes.
Also looking good was Ruth Langsford, wife of veteran Sky News presenter, Eamonn Holmes, who looked radiant in a pretty lilac dress and cream picture hat.
Nearby, Ascot's phalanx of dress code enforcers - tasked with ensuring straps are at least 2.5 inches wide and skirts are modest - watched beadily, while surveying passing guests.
And not everyone made the cut. One unfortunate racegoer - a gentleman sporting a large floral headpiece - fell foul of the Royal Ascot fashion police and was sent home to change.
Although today's races will not feature a thoroughbred from the Queen's own stables, her filly, Estimate, is one of the favourites for Thursday's Gold Cup - a race the Queen would dearly love to win.
In the foreword to the official programme, the Queen wrote: 'I was fortunate enough too own a winner at last year's royal meeting, so I know what a thrill it is to have success at this wonderful racecourse whether you are a trainer, jockey, or one of the many hard-working stable staff associated with every runner.'
Also in the running for the Gold Cup is last year's winner, Colour Vision, and 2010 champion, Rites of Passage.
Today's races include the Queen Anne Stakes, expected to be carried off by American horse, Animal Kingdom, followed by the King's Stand Stakes, which will see South African colt, Shea Shea, start the race in pole position with bookmakers.
Star studded: Gary Lineker and his wife Danielle chat to Strictly Come Dancing judge, Bruno Tonioli and model Jackie St Clair while sipping champagne in their box
Glamorous: This lady was one of the few to buck the trend for colossal blooms, instead choosing a delicate gold creation trimmed with ostrich feathers
Cheerful: It takes more than a drop of rain to make veteran racing pundit, John McCririck, lose his good humour - just ask former employer Channel 4
Opulent: Racegoer, Anneka Tanaka-Svenska, sports big pink blooms combined with ropes of pearls on her utterly spectacular hat
Day out: A trio of neatly dressed racegoers make their way towards the entrance carrying a pair of traditional wicker picnic baskets
Dapper: Top hatted, dark suited gentlemen check out the form guide ahead of the Queen Anne Stakes - the first race of the Royal Ascot meet
A filtered image shows runners as they pass the grandstand in the Ascot Stakes
Johnny Murtagh riding Extortionist (R) wins the Windsor Castle Stakes
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