Florals and pink dominate as Ascot race-goers show off millinery confectionspublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 20 June 2017



Coverage of day one at Royal Ascot 2017
Barney Roy wins St James's Palace Stakes
Ribchester wins Queen Anne Stakes
Injured Dettori out of Royal Ascot
Armed security increased at racecourse
Adam Whitty, John Hudson and Frank Keogh
Adam Whitty
BBC South
We're going crazy for all things top hat on the first day of Royal Ascot.
It turns out, that much like you need your waist measurement for a lovely pair of trousers, your top hat should be fitted to slide on like the proverbial glove.
We went along to a top hat milliner just down the road from Ascot Racecourse, to give us the lowdown on how to properly put some felt (or silk) on your head.
Adam Whitty
BBC South
It's been 30 years since a female jockey won a race at Royal Ascot, but this year the wait could be over.
It was Gay Kelleway who made history in 1987 with success aboard Sprowston Boy, and she has told BBC Radio Berkshire that female jockeys have had to put up with decades of "sexism, snobbery and harassment".
Josephine Gordon won the apprentice jockey championship at Ascot in October last year
Despite the number of women in stable yards, they are still not riding the winners at feature races.
This year though, Josephine Gordon and Megan Nicholls both have outstanding chances in races.
Gay Kelleway slates Gordon as the one to watch, being "more than capable of holding her own against the top boys".
Adam Whitty
BBC South
Throughout the week, armed police will be a feature of the Royal Meeting.
It is part of a larger security operation, made as a response to the London and Manchester terrorist attacks.
Earlier, Nick Smith, from the racecourse, spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the visible presence of armed officers.
It's the calm before the storm at Royal Ascot, where the first of the week's 30 races is due off at 14:30 BST.
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Eccentric fashion is not just for the ladies.
Take a look at this marvellous pink hat.
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The BBC Radio Berkshire team are looking wonderful this afternoon.
You can hear coverage throughout the day from this bunch, as well as live commentary of the first four races on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.
Adam Whitty
BBC South
This year, Royal Ascot has its first new enclosure for 100 years - the Village.
Described as "a pop-up summer scene", it has a bandstand and two other stages for jazz and funk in the day and bands and DJs in the evening, plus a village green.
It also stays open late, until 9pm in fact.
So you party animals will surely get your fill.
Adam Whitty
BBC South
And people say Royal Ascot is extravagant...
They're having a laugh.
It's hardly surprising that pints of beer outnumber bottles of water, is it?
One I left out, by the way, was that during the week, punters consume 30,000 chocolate choux éclairs.
How rich...
Hot, hot, hot - it looks set to be a glorious opening day for Royal Ascot.
Remember, course officials are considering relaxing the strict dress codes for racegoers.
An Ascot spokeswoman said: "It's being considered. We're waiting for confirmation. It's never happened before."
It is likely any change could include men and women being able to remove their jackets.
You can follow updates from Royal Ascot right here.
After Frankie Dettori was ruled out of Royal Ascot, his four intended mounts now have new jockeys. Here's the changes:
14:30 BST Queen Anne Stakes: American Patriot - John Velazquez
15:05 Coventry Stakes: Denaar - Pat Smullen
15:40 King's Stand Stakes: Lady Aurelia - John Velazquez
17:35 Windsor Castle Stakes: Elizabeth Darcy - Edgar Prado; Nootka Sound - John Velazquez
There are three non-runners so far today: 15:40 Ornate; 17:00 Gavlar; 17:35 Black Orange
You can check out the Ascot racecards on the BBC Sport website.
Adam Whitty
BBC South
The punters are making their way in to Royal Ascot.
That means there are, of course, some lovely hats and dresses on show.
If this woman stands still long enough, one of the gardeners might water her
Singers The Tootsie Rollers have made it inside, looking... red
Men have it a lot easier, don't they?
Adam Whitty
BBC South
Royal Ascot will get off to a belting start today with four Group 1 and 2 races.
Racing expert John McCririck, along with his trademark deer stalker and cigar, has been giving BBC Radio Berkshire his thoughts on the likely winners this afternoon.
John McCririck: He's "not feeling the Coventry Stakes"
If you're just joining us, we heard this morning that Frankie Dettori will miss the whole of this year's Royal Ascot through injury.
Dettori had been due for some fancied rides but he has been struggling with an arm injury since falling at Great Yarmouth last week.
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A minute's silence will be held before the start of racing at Royal Ascot on Tuesday following the recent terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire.The racecourse says it will also make a £100,000 donation to charities helping those who have been affected.
Racecourse chairman Johnny Weatherby said: "We have all been deeply saddened by recent tragic events around the country.
"At the beginning of this important week for racing, we wish to pay our respects to the victims and offer support to the families who have been so terribly affected."
A minute's silence will be held shortly after The Queen arrives in the parade ring
Tim Dellor
BBC Berkshire sport editor
Out of view, way above the bars, the enclosures and the parade ring is the Ascot gantry, seven storeys up.
It's there where you get the best views of the course on this balmy summers morning.
However, fitting in with Royal Ascot's reputation for exclusivity, only commentators are allowed.
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Adam Whitty
BBC South
Ascot have relaxed their famously strict dress code slightly, to allow a new female garment in.
For the first time, women will be able to wear jumpsuits in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot this summer following a change to the dress code.
Watch out, a UFO appears to have landed on top of this woman (who is wearing a lovely jumpsuit).
Organisers said the acceptance of the jumpsuit reflected Ascot's "awareness of seasonal trends".
You can read a little bit more about that here.
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Adam Whitty
BBC South
Good to firm, good in places, apparently.
That means it will be fast ground for the horses today.