Royal Ascot 2018: The Queen in green for Fashion Friday – Ascot in pictures

The main draw of the races is, of course, the horses and the jockeys who’ve worked so hard to prepare. 

However, the races have also become synonymous with high fashion, with photographers at the event as eager to snap the revellers as the races themselves. 

Ascot has a famously strict dress code, particularly for the Royal Enclosure. 

Women are required to wear dresses that fall on the knee or longer and straps need to measure one inch or greater.

Hats or fascinators need to be worn.

For the men, they need to wear a black or grey morning suit, including a waistcoat and tie, top hat and shoes with socks.  

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, royal commentator Mr Fitzwilliams said: “One of the things the Ascot organisers have done well is to pay attention to sartorial standards.”

This attention has resulted in everyone who attends going all-out with their fashion choices. 

“It’s an absolute kaleidoscope of colour,” Mr Fitzwilliams said. “It’s a wonderful showcase of the fashion industry.”

Every year, attendees can bet on the colour of the Queen’s hat for each day. 

Today, odds were on green – and the betters got it right. 

The Queen stepped out for the Royal Procession in an all-green Angela Kelly outfit, complete with green hat decorated with pink flowers. 

Perhaps the busy week of social engagements was wearing the 92-year-old down a little, because she donned a pair of dark glasses for the procession, but whipped them off when the races started. 

Earlier this week, we saw the new Duchess of Sussex looking fabulous in Givenchy. 

Commenting on Meghan Markle’s Ascot look, Mr Fitzwilliams said: “It was so lovely to see the tribute to My Fair Lady.”

My Fair Lady is a 1964 American musical film, in which Audrey Hepburn stars in a scene set at the Ascot Racecourse. 

The dress was an off-white button-down with a collar, full-length sleeves and detailing at the midline. 

She completed the look with a black waist belt and Balenciaga heels. 

Her clutch bag was also Givenchy – the design house proving a firm favourite of the Duchess, after designing her wedding dress – which many claimed as another nod to film star Audrey Hepburn.

She completed the look with a black and white Philip Treacy hat.