Royal Ascot - Holloway & Hare

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Royal Ascot

Notes from Royal Ascot.

Savile Row for Royal Ascot: Where to Commission Morning Dress

Savile Row for Royal Ascot: Where to Commission Morning Dress

Royal Ascot's dress code for the Royal Enclosure is precise: morning dress, with all the formality that entails. Black or grey morning coat, matching waistcoat, striped trousers, black shoes, and a black or grey top hat. For those attending for the first time, the natural question is where

Royal procession at Royal Ascot featuring four Windsor Greys drawing a carriage, followed by additional carriages and attendants in red livery on the grass track.

Four Carriages at Two O'Clock

In an age when most traditions have been focus-grouped to death or abandoned entirely, the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot remains deliciously, defiantly unchanged.

Victorian cartoon from 1884 showing a lively crowd of men and women betting and socialising at Royal Ascot, with bookmakers, racegoers in top hats, and period dress.

How to Bet at Royal Ascot (Without Looking Like a Fool)

Royal Ascot may be known for waistcoats and wide brims, but at its heart, it is a meeting of horses—and those who wish to back them. Betting is as much a part of the tradition as the pageantry, and for many, it's part of the fun.

Ascot accessories including green tie, paisley pocket square, cufflinks, stickpin, and pale yellow lapel flower, arranged on a blue jacket, with “Ascot Accessories” text overlay.

ascot-accessories

Last‑Minute Accessories for Ascot

With Royal Ascot approaching, the core elements of your morning dress—coat, waistcoat, trousers—are likely in place. But it's the Royal Ascot accessories that set the tone.

Man in a blue suit, pink shirt, and patterned tie, with text overlayDressing for Queen Anne Enclosure—Sartorial tips and a directory of London menswear shops.

queen-anne-enclosure

Dressing for the Queen Anne Enclosure at Royal Ascot

As Royal Ascot draws near, most attention turns—as it always does—to the Royal Enclosure, with its morning coats, silk toppers, and well-starched ceremony. But for many racegoers, the Queen Anne Enclosure offers the perfect balance: formal, sociable, and elegant without being overly theatrical.

Royal carriages with liveried coachmen and horses arriving at Royal Ascot, set against green parkland and a distant castle.

royal-carriages

What Makes Royal Ascot Royal? A Brief History of the Meet

Every June, the green turf of Berkshire becomes the setting for a singular spectacle—Royal Ascot. With top-class racing, improbable hats, and royalty in carriages, it's easy to take the whole thing for granted. But what, precisely, makes it royal?

Woman in a cream dress wearing a bright pink sculpted fascinator hat at Royal Ascot, showcasing classic race day style.

Hats at Royal Ascot: Notes on Form, Etiquette, and Makers

For many women attending Royal Ascot, the question of what to wear begins—and often ends—with the hat. It is the most visible expression of dress at the event, shaped not only by tradition but also by official rules.

Man in classic morning dress with top hat, light grey waistcoat, and pale blue tie – Royal Ascot style for the Royal Enclosure.

Royal Ascot Morning Dress: A Guide for the Royal Enclosure

The Royal Ascot Royal Enclosure is by invitation only. Attendance requires either nomination from an existing member or approval via formal application. It is, by design, a place apart—more restrained than the grandstand, and with a dress code that is closely observed.

Man in a classic black silk top hat and morning dress, suitable for the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot.

A Note on Top Hats at Royal Ascot

The Royal Enclosure has rules. Some are printed, others simply understood. Among them: a proper top hat. It isn’t optional, and it isn’t a nod to nostalgia. It’s part of the dress code, same as the morning coat, waistcoat, and tie.

Man in morning dress and woman in a white lace dress and statement hat at the Royal Enclosure, Royal Ascot.

The Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot

The Royal Enclosure is the most traditional and formal area of Royal Ascot. Accessible by invitation or membership only, it reflects a long-standing association with the royal family and the ceremonial side of British sporting life.