Royal Ascot is awash with eye-catching hats, vibrant gowns and matching ensembles as glamorous revellers kick off the weekend early

Stylish racegoers have dusted off their best frocks and put their best fashion foot forward as they arrived for day four of Royal Ascot.

Revellers created a sea of vibrant colours as they prepared for another day of watching nail-biting action on the racecourse in the 28C heat.

Flamboyant hats and gowns were front and centre as the event at the Berkshire racecourse kicked off on Friday.

While some revellers bet on horses hoping to win big, others simply came along to soak up inspiration, as race day style has become just as famous as the race itself. 

As ever, lavish millinery turned heads, with many revellers commanding attention in vibrant creations adorned with feathers, flowers and lace. 

Stunning floral ballgowns, sizable fascinators and dapper top hats were also all on display as hundreds of well-heeled race enthusiasts made the most of the hot weather which is a rarity in the UK. 

Glamorous revellers showed off their fashion prowess by donning one of the trendiest colours of the season – hot pink.  

Dressed to the nines, groups of classy racegoers also opted to coordinate their attire for the annual occasion, rather than wearing their ensembles solo. 

One elegant reveller stepped out in a stunning white mesh frock embossed with delicate cream and lilac flowers complete with detachable puff sleeves.

She paired her eye-catching dress with an extravagant headpiece which was adorned with lavender feathers and ivory-coloured flowers. 

Revellers sporting elegant attire appeared to be in high spirits as they kicked off their weekend early, queuing up to enter the racecourse when it first opened at 10.30am.  

Royal Ascot, known as the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, will welcome hundreds of thousands of punters during the five-day meet. 

Whilst no dress code rules apply in the Windsor Enclosure, although the majority of guests choose to dress up regardless, a strict dress code operates across the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures.

Hats are a must in both Royal enclosures. Alternatively, a headpiece or ‘hatinator’ with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches (10cm) is also acceptable.

Dresses must be knee length or longer and forget spaghetti straps – all shoulders must be a minimum width of 1 inch (2.5cm).

Strapless, off-the-shoulder and one shoulder items are also banned in the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures.

Shorts of any kind are not permitted. But having been included in the dress code since 1971, trouser suits remain a popular choice – although they mustn’t be mismatched.

From 2017 onwards, jumpsuits have also been accepted as Ascot worthy, while men must stick to black dress shoes worn with ankle socks, but there are no footwear specifications for women.

The Royal Family – who are known to adore equestrian sports – make appearances at Royal Ascot every year.  

The Prince of Wales attended Ascot solo last year as it came a couple of months after Kate first announced to the world that she had been diagnosed with cancer. 

This year, William also went to the event without the Princess of Wales by his side, as he was pictured alongside his father, King Charles.

He instead sat beside Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud, a member of the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, and opposite Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, as they made their way to the racecourse by carriage as other revellers looked on.

It has been reported that pulled out of attending the prestigious five-day meet at the last minute as she continues to ‘find the right balance’ following her battle with cancer.

Racegoers had been hoping to catch a glimpse of Kate as William was named as one of the figures awarding race prizes during day two of the festival.

Ascot officials had announced in a published list at 12pm that the Princess was due to be with William in the second carriage in the royal procession – which is marking its 200th anniversary this year.

But less than half an hour later, Kensington Palace confirmed just before 12.30pm that Kate would not be attending – and a revised carriage list was published by Ascot.

MailOnline understands the Princess was ‘disappointed’ not to be in attendance ‘but she has to find the right balance as she fully returns to public facing engagements’.

However, Kate’s mother Carole Middleton did attend on Wednesday – alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet, the wife of Kate’s brother James Middleton.

The 43-year-old Princess has been making a gradual return to public duties since it was announced in January that she was in remission from cancer.

But in the past week she has attended three high-profile events – Trooping the Colour, the annual Order of the Garter service and a visit to a V&A storage facility in London.

The King and Queen were joined at Wednesday’s event by Zara and Mike Tindall, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Charles also hosted Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of his late aunt Princess Margaret and a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II. She was joined on the fourth carriage with her artist husband, Daniel Chatto.

Despite her closeness to Her late Majesty, Lady Sarah is known for keeping a low profile, and while she’s attended Ascot in the past, she’s not regularly seen with the royal family, aside from a handful of key events.

The King and Queen, both fans of racing, were also joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.