Veteran rocker Rod Stewart was turned away from the Royal Enclosure at the Ascot races on Wednesday for being improperly dressed - as was a BBC camera crew.

Stewart, 57, was wearing a light-blue summer suit and white shoes instead of the customary top hat and tails when he attempted to enter the enclosure with his girlfriend.

Steward Mo Merchant, 60, stopped the singer and Penny Lancaster, 31, who was wearing a white mini skirt.

Dress rules are strictly enforced in the enclosure

"I recognised him and I actually like some of his stuff," said the steward.

"But rules are rules and if they haven't got the right attire, then they can't come in.

"I told him, 'I'm sorry Rod but you can't come in here'."

Stewart, who is a regular at Royal Ascot, claimed he was looking for the Queen Elizabeth Rooms.

Proper attire

Ms Lancaster later said: "We just got a bit lost. But we have now decided to watch the races from our private box instead with some champagne."

Also falling foul of the strict dress rules for the Royal Enclosure were two members of a BBC camera crew.

One was wearing a T-shirt and the other an open-necked shirt when they were spotted in the paddock before the major race of the opening day of Royal Ascot.

Before the Queen's ticking off....

The pair were filming an interview with Sir Alex Ferguson, just before the St James's Palace Stakes, when the Queen noticed that they were not wearing proper attire.

It is believed that she passed on her comments to race course officials who, in turn, informed the BBC.

The corporation has made an unreserved apology to the Queen for the crew's mistake.

"All BBC staff are expected to dress appropriately for events such as these," said a BBC spokesman.

"Our presenters Clare Balding and Willie Carson were both perfectly turned out.

....and after a trip to Moss Bros

"Some of the camera crew were more informally dressed and we apologise if this caused offence. We will ensure it does not happen again."

The BBC then ordered their roving cameramen to don top hats and morning coats for the event - the only production crews forced to go to such great lengths.

Ascot's strict dress code insists that "gentlemen are encouraged to wear a jacket and tie or a suit" for the paddock area.

Morning dress is reserved for the Royal Enclosure.