Royal Ascot: Day one's virtual racegoers

Residents at Bristol's The Cote Charity care home have been making their own brightly-coloured hats complete with butterflies and feathers

Royal Ascot fans across the globe have been donning their finest threads and hats to take part in flat racing's biggest meeting from the comfort of their own homes.

The Covid-19 pandemic has meant the action at Berkshire's famous racecourse is taking place behind closed doors with jockeys wearing face masks.

But this has not stopped "virtual racegoers" using the hashtags #StyledWithThanks and #hatsfromhome to showcase their outfits on social media.

They are also being encouraged by race organisers to donate to four front-line charities - The National Emergencies Trust Relief Fund, NHS Charities Together, The Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund.

Jim Radford's six-year-old daughter Matilda created this colourful hat for him to wear while watching from home in Tonbridge, Kent

British model and TV presenter Rosie Tapner has also joined the socially-distanced fun

Vicky O'Hagan, of Consett in Durham, and her mother, Dee, opted for a cleaning theme for their headwear

Phoebe Phillips is watching the action in her finery from Melbourne in Australia

Nikki Samolovitch, from Colorado in the United States, has been gearing up for Ascot with her dog Champ and a glass of bubbly

James Rimmer went for a top hat to complement his bubbly while watching in Ashtead, Surrey

In Shropshire, Stephen Grogan chose a plum-coloured suit and trilby to celebrate the start of the five-day event

Christopher Weatherstone, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, donned a bow tie, while his mother Dawn and sister Lucy opted for dresses and fascinators

Several rainbow-themed hats are also being auctioned by Ascot for charity, including this design by London-based milliner Judy Bentinck

All photographs copyrighted.