The five-day Royal Ascot meeting, which starts on Tuesday, is one of the highlights of the horse racing and social calendars with its mix of top-class racing and high fashion
Last year almost 288,000 racegoers attended the five days of the meeting with every vantage point taken up in the parade ring as spectators check out the horses
The Royal Procession, which dates back to the 1820s, heralds the start of the day's formalities with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh leading the parade down the course ahead of the racing
As well as the Queen, who is a regular racegoer, there is always a substantial Royal presence with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall among those who are regularly in attendance
The younger members of the Royal Family also enjoy the Royal Ascot atmosphere as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie share a joke with Autumn Phillips, the wife of Peter Phillips
The racing is of the highest quality, with Seven Group One races and 30 in all ranging from five furlongs (King's Stand Stakes) to 2m 5f 159yds (Queen Alexandra Stakes), with a strong international entry through the week
Fashion plays a key part in Royal Ascot with racegoers keen to make a good impression whatever the British weather throws at them
While men opt for sombre suits, women take the opportunity to dress up in their most colourful finery for a day at the races
Some racegoers opt for a simple hat but others go for the most wildly over the top styles available, such as this butterfly-adorned creation at last year's meeting
Nothing beats the feeling of a winner as racegoers cheer on their horses to success - the meeting features 30 races including seven prestigious Group One contests
One of the equine stars of Royal Ascot over the past few years has been the Aidan O'Brien-trained Yeats, who will be aiming for a fourth consecutive win in Thursday's Ascot Gold Cup
The Queen enjoyed success last year with her horse Free Agent, who won the Chesham Stakes on the final day of the meeting
As well as the Royals, the meeting also attracts plenty of celebrities with Dame Helen Mirren among those attending last year and she presented the winners trophies for one of the races
Strictly Come Dancing presenter Bruce Forsyth and his wife Wilnelia, resplendent in yellow, add a splash of colour to proceedings at the Berkshire course
What are these?
E-mail this to a friend 
Bookmark with:
What are these?