Women dressed to the nines and whipped out their umbrellas as they arrived at the Berkshire racecourse (Picture: Getty/PA)
Royal Ascot racegoers refused to let the bad weather dampen their spirits as Ladies Day kicked off in style.
Women battled the elements as they arrived at the Berkshire racecourse for the third day of the five-day event.
Ladies Day is typically the most glamorous day of the festival, and those in attendance might have enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far had it been held just a few days earlier.
After a welcomed stretch of scorching temperatures and blue skies, things took a turn for the worse last night as lightning and thunderstorms hit.
Yellow weather warnings have been put in place for almost all of England over the next three days with flooding expected in some parts.
But that hasn’t deterred the thousands of revellers who came out in style to enjoy the special day.
Not to be put off by the rain, racegoers hoisted their skirts up out of the puddles and smiled at photographers as they made their way into the grounds.
Racegoers brave the bad weather as they arrive for Ladies Day Of Royal Ascot (Picture: SplashNews.com)
Women battled the elements as they arrived at the Berkshire racecourse for the third day of the five-day event. (PIcture: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock)
Ladies Day is the most glamorous day of the event (Picture: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock)
The Royal Ascot stared on Tuesday with 12,000 spectators allowed daily as part of a mass events trial.
Racecourses are currently limited to 4,000 spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Last year it was held without any spectators because of the pandemic.
The Royal Family have turned out in force this week, with Princess Anne, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Sophie Wessex and Zara and Mike Tindall all making an appearance.
However the Queen has been notably absent this week, missing Royal Ascot for only the second time in 69 years
The weather took a turn for the worse last night (Picture: SplashNews.com)
Zara Tindall (centre), Dolly Maude and Chanelle McCoy (right) arrive at Ladies Day (PIcture: PA)
Revellers didn’t let the bad weather stop them (Picture: PA)
Her racing manager revealed on Tuesday that Her Majesty will be watching the action on TV at home but is hopeful of attending the festival – usually a highlight of her calendar – later this week.
John Warren told Radio 4: ‘Obviously the Queen would love to attend, as you know she’s fanatic about racing, watching racing and breeding horses, and has been going to Ascot all of her adult life. So, it’s a shame to miss an event.
‘The plan at the moment is to see how it goes towards the latter part of the week and if the Queen’s able to come because she’s got runners, then, fingers crossed, it will happen.’
He added that the monarch was ‘fanatic’ about horse racing and called her energy levels ‘incredible’ despite her age.
He said: ‘It’s remarkable. The Queen’s energy levels are incredible. She’s 95. She went down to the G7 this week, and trundled back on the train in the middle of the night and the energy will be raised higher again for a week like Ascot.’
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