Here come the girls!

Here come the girls! Lydia Bright, centre, red dress, and Danielle Lloyd, third right, pink dress, are joined by friends in their private box

In the royal enclosure, fascinators - which are often favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge - are no longer deemed acceptable. Women will also be expected to wear skirts or dresses of 'modest length' which fall just above the knee or longer. This clarifies previous guidance which stated miniskirts were 'considered unsuitable'.

Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm) are not permitted and midriffs must be covered. For men, black or grey morning dress with a waistcoat and tie are now compulsory in this area of the course and cravats will not be allowed. A black or grey top hat and black shoes must also be worn.

In the grandstand, which is open to the public and subject to less stringent rules, a hat or fascinator will be compulsory for women. For men, a suit and tie will now be imperative. Royal Ascot's Ladies' Day, held this year on Thursday, will see outlandish and incredible hats worn by female race goers. For men, a suit and tie will now be imperative.
This marks a significant change to previous years, when female race-goers were simply advised that 'many ladies wear hats'.