Queen MISSES Royal Ascot for just second time in 69 years as glam racegoers dazzle in huge hats

THE most glamorous event in the racing calendar is back and Royal Ascot attendees have certainly pulled out all of the stops with their fashion looks.

One person set to miss today’s racing meeting is the Queen, who has attended every since Royal Ascot during her 69-year reign, apart from the 2020 event.

Royal Ascot has kicked off in style, and revellers are dressed to the nines

Last year Royal Ascot was held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, but this year 12,000 lucky revellers are able to attend each day.

The Queen’s racing manager, John Warren, told Radio 4 that it may be later in the week before Her Majesty goes to Royal Ascot.

Today is the opening day of the five-day meeting and stylish racegoers have dusted off their show-stopping hats and eye-catching dresses for the occasion.

Female racegoers could be seen enjoying the sunny weather in high-sky stilettos and elegant dresses.

The Queen is set to miss Royal Ascot today for the second time in her 69-year reign – but could attend later in the week

There was no missing this woman who transformed herself into a gigantic flower

This blue headpiece appeared to resemble a garden trellis, but the racegoer managed to pull it off with style

These pals made us green with envy at their matching floral dresses

Women beamed as they returned to Royal Ascot, following the event being held virtually in 2020

Girlband The Tootsie Rollers arrive ahead of day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse

Wilnelia, Lady Forsyth-Johnson arrives ahead of day one of Royal Ascot

This Ascot beauty looked stylish with a floral-themed headpiece and a cream ensemble

This couple went bold for their matching yellow and red striped outfits

People have not held back with their Ascot looks, including this butterfly-themed headpiece

And, like always, many people took the opportunity to get creative with their looks, opting for bold, colourful ensembles and unusual headwear. 

The notoriously strict dress code for Royal Ascot partly depends on which enclosure you happen to be in.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the royal enclosure, ladies are asked to wear “modest” dresses or skirts which finish just above the knee or longer.

Meanwhile, dresses or tops must have a strap of one inch or wider (strapless, off-the-shoulder and spaghetti straps are banned).

Hats or fascinators are compulsory, with a base of four inches or more.

If you’re in the cheaper Queen Anne Enclosure, ladies can get away with fascinators and slightly shorter dresses.

Friends posed for photos as they entered the famous racing venue

This stylish Ascot attendee donned a stunning blue hat to match her floral gown

Ascot attracts many well-heeled racing fans, including this woman who was a vision in blue

A general view of table settings ahead of day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse

It hasn’t been confirmed if the Queen will be in attendance this year, and the 2020 meeting was the first one the monarch missed in her 69-year reign.

The Monarch, 95, usually arrives at Royal Ascot in a horse-drawn carriage, as the venue is located close to Windsor Castle.

However, it has been confirmed that there will be no royal procession this year as there has been in the past.

If you haven’t been lucky enough to bag a ticket for Royal Ascot, you can watch all of the races live on ITV.

Usually more than 300,000 racegoers, dressed in their finery, gather for the five-day sporting and social highlight.

This woman in burgundy opted for an eye-catching, unusual fascinator for Ascot

This year, 12,000 people are attending each day of Royal Ascot, due to coronavirus restrictions

Last year, Royal Ascot fans dress to the nines at HOME as they go all out in glam dresses and huge hats.

Here is the Royal Ascot dress code – what you should wear to the racecourse and latest rules.