Royal Ascot style flies flag for Jubilee year

The style stakes were higher than ever at the Berkshire racecourse after a new dress code was announced in January, with fascinators now banned from the royal enclosure.

Jackie St Clair, an ex-girlfriend of music mogul Simon Cowell, stole the show with a headpiece made from a giant Union Flag bow, while Bollywood actress Sofia Haya accessorised with sparkly Union Flag-painted nails.

Other racegoers incorporated the flag’s colours into their outfits to celebrate Britain’s year in the spotlight thanks to the Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics.

Nicki Green and 15 of her friends from Cheltenham all wore co-ordinating ensembles in shades of red, white and blue.

The 48-year-old said: “We did the colours for the Jubilee and the Olympics. We’ve been to Ascot 10 times now and always have a colour theme. It was an easy one to pick this year.”

Hats are now compulsory in the royal enclosure, while a hat, fascinator or headpiece must be worn in the less formal grandstand area.

Skirts and dresses must be of “modest length”, while men must wear a suit and tie in the grandstand and morning dress in the royal enclosure.

The fashion police were on standby to enforce the tightened-up regulations, patrolling the entrance with hampers full of fascinators, shawls and ties for those who were without.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in a horse-drawn carriage to rapturous cheers.

The racecourse has been decorated with four kilometres of bunting and a 1950s-style street party was held in the Silver Ring area to celebrate the Jubilee.

A race has also been renamed to mark the monarch’s 60-year reign. The Diamond, formerly Golden, Jubilee Stakes, will be run on Saturday – the last day of the five-day event.