Revelers opt for striped jackets and pretty summer dresses at Henley Regatta
Glamorous revelers got up early to make the most of today’s final day of Henley Regatta.
Guests donned their best summer dresses and heels as they headed out into the southern English sun for a day out.
Others chose to wear their club’s rowing jackets, which were paired with colorful trousers, bucket hats and sunglasses.
Established in 1839, the rowing event takes place every year and sees teams compete in more than 300 races along Oxfordshire’s River Thames.
Some rowing fans chose to combine their summer dresses and even their suits with casual trainers or sandals.
Glamorous revelers got up early to make the most of today’s final day of Henley Regatta
Casual cool: Many opted for a summer look while getting ready for the parties
Regatta visitors arrive in their finery on the final day of the event along the River Thames, a team of rowers appeared ready to race
Guests donned their best summer dresses and heels as they headed out into the southern English sun for a day out
In 2021, it was announced that women would be allowed to wear trousers to the Henley Royal Regatta for the first time since its inception.
Long-standing sartorial rules — which called for over-the-knee skirts and no trousers, and a blazer or dress coat — crumbled under pressure from campaigners who labeled the former dress code as “symbolic of an era when women couldn’t compete and were just there to look nice.’
During the regatta, national clubs from around the country will compete for honors on the River Thames in a number of races.
The popular sporting event – first organized in 1839 and held every year since then, except during the two world wars and 2020 due to Covid-19 – goes hand in hand with a day of picnicking and drinking.
Teams compete in over 300 international level races on the Thames, including both Olympic rowers and crews new to the event.
Some rowing fans chose to combine their summer dresses and even their suits with casual trainers or sandals
Signature chic touches, including boater hats, were seen among the guests, with one carrying a Fortnum & Mason picnic basket and many clinging to bottles of champagne
The popular sporting event – first held in 1839 and held every year since then, except during the two world wars and 2020 due to Covid-19 – goes hand in hand with a day of picnicking and drinking
A sea of color was seen among the well-to-do revelers, as well as many who opted for white numbers.
Typical chic touches, including boater hats, were seen among the guests, with one carrying a Fortnum & Mason picnic basket and many clinging to bottles of champagne.
This year, for the first time, the six-day regatta will admit international entrants into the junior men’s eights, as well as teams from UK private and state schools.
Sir Steve Redgrave, chairman of the Henley Royal Regatta, said a major British private school feared opening the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup to international teams would mean students competing against ‘super clubs’.
Sir Steve said he attended a meeting of 55 schools where a private school, which he did not name, wanted the cup closed to international participants.
But he added that it would happen “sooner or later” and it was “the right thing to do.”
This year the six-day regatta will admit international entrants to the junior men’s eights for the first time, as well as teams from UK private and state schools
During the regatta, national clubs from around the country will compete for honors on the River Thames in a number of races. Two revelers are seen today
Ready for action! A family turned out to have their picnic basket ready to go to the regatta
Pure beauty! Another woman looked stunning in a semi-sheer white dress and flats
Water load of fun! Two guests enter Henley in the run-up to the final holiday
Looking Gru-vy! A regatta-goer escaped the chic looks with a Despicable Me backpack
All stripes mate! Another reveler opted for his best finery as he headed into the day out
Keep sun safe! Two revelers opted for oversized hats as they prepared for the day ahead
Red-dy to go! Maroon striped coats were popular with many guests
In a podcast this month, Sir Steve was asked if schools including Eton College, St Paul’s School and St Edward’s School should be concerned about the emergence of ‘big American clubs coming to race – they are very fast’.
He said, “One of those top schools didn’t want it. But sooner or later it would happen. We can’t stop this, in fact, it’s the right thing to do.’
Sir Steve explained that the rowing towns in the United States were ‘huge’ and the clubs covered the whole state and were not school oriented like in Britain.
He said this meant their rowing clubs were a ‘bit bigger’ as they attract rowers from more schools.
The chairman added: ‘What we don’t want is for each country to be able to put together a squad, which is almost a national eight. [team].
“It’s not an event for national eights — it’s for the top juniors of their rowing institutions.”
The regatta at Henley-on-Thames was founded in 1839. The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup started in 1946, but only allowed entrants from public schools.