Glamorous racegoers have put their best fashion foot forward upon arriving at Royal Ascot in the sunshine for Ladies Day today - as the UK braces for the start of a six-day heatwave.

Bright summer dresses, vibrant frocks and extravagant headpieces were all on display as thousands of revellers descended on the Berkshire racecourse this morning.

White crisp frocks and pastel ensembles appeared to be the theme of the day for many as they dressed for the scorching British weather, with temperatures expected to rise to 30C during the heatwave, which starts today.

A static area of high pressure building across mainland Europe – known as a 'heat dome' – is resulting in increasingly warm and humid air for southern England.

London, the East, South East and South West regions were placed under the amber alert, while the Midlands faces a yellow warning. There are no alerts for the North.

These warnings run from midday today until next Tuesday at 8pm – although the Met Office forecast currently suggests the heatwave could last until at least Wednesday.

The amber alert states that the areas covered are likely to see 'a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions', while 'significant impacts are likely across health and social care services' due to the heat.

At Royal Ascot, temperatures reached around 22C this morning and are expected to reach 27C by the afternoon. Racegoers will be joined in the sunshine by several senior members of the Royal Family, who will make their appearance at 2pm for the carriage procession.

One guest decided to stand out from the crowd with a hot pink belted dress and eye-catching bow fascinator in a matching shade, while another opted for a one-sleeved pale pink frock. 

Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday.

Radiant guests turned the racecourse into a sea of colourful ensembles as they stepped out for the prestigious occasion.

Those trying to command attention amongst the crowd of thousands opted for unique garments - including a Spanish-inspired bright red dress - but her extra-large feather hat stole the show.

The wacky, gravity-defying style of hats is permitted in most areas at Ascot, except in the Royal Enclosure. 

'A hat or headpiece with a solid base of four inches in diameter is mandatory in the Royal Enclosure,' explained the Royal Ascot website.

'Fascinators are not permitted. Novelty hats (i.e. ones which are excessively oversized, or are promoting or marketing any product or brand) are not permitted.'

The event's official lookbook this year was curated by menswear specialist Daniel Fletcher, who has previously designed for the likes of Louis Vuitton, JW Anderson and Victoria Beckham.

The guide outlines the dos and don'ts of dressing for the annual event, and for the first time ever, it's also determined the colour of the year - bright tomato. 

The festival was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for 'horses fit for kings' and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction. 

Yesterday, the Princess of Wales brought the sunshine to Royal Ascot after a two-year absence as she arrived at the races wearing a bright yellow dress.

Catherine, 44, joined the Royal Family's carriage procession alongside her husband, the Prince of Wales, as they travelled behind the King and Queen.

The future Queen's £1,095 daffodil yellow outfit was from the label Roksanda, and Catherine paired it with a hat from Jane Taylor Millinery, while Prince William pinned yellow flowers to his lapel to complement his wife's ensemble.

Yesterday marked the third time Catherine has donned the frock, having previously worn it on a State Visit to Jamaica and at the Wimbledon championships in 2022.

The mother of three carried an ivory satin clutch from Anya Hindmarch, believed to be worth £395, and rewore her cream-coloured Gianvito Rossi suede pumps.

Catherine's outfit also included sentimental details, such as the late Queen Elizabeth's gorgeous diamond chandelier earrings and Princess Diana's three-strand pearl necklace.

The princess's mother, Carole Middleton, also made the case for repurposed fashion as she arrived at Ascot yesterday wearing the same dress she wore to Pippa Middleton's wedding nine years ago.

And it seems attendees have taken note, with today's turnout wearing a variety of show-stopping outfits as they descended on Ascot for a day of equestrian fun.

Floral prints, polka dots and vibrant outfits were the order of the day for many, while others looked effortlessly elegant in crisp white frocks.

Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and The King Charles III Stakes and will run until Saturday.

Carole, 71, cut a stylish figure in the blush pink Catherine Walker coat dress, which she paired with a matching hat and shoes, both from Emmy London, as Carole happily posed for pictures alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet. 

Racegoers were delighted to see the princess riding in the second royal carriage alongside Prince William, 43, after she was forced to skip the event in 2025 while trying to 'find the right balance' after her cancer treatment.

The last time Catherine attended Ascot was in 2023, when the future Queen famously wore a 'tomato red' Alexander McQueen dress - proving Kate is always one step ahead of fashion trends.

On Tuesday afternoon, the new Mrs Peter Phillips made her official debut as a member of the Royal Family, joining her husband in the traditional carriage procession at Royal Ascot.

Before the racing got underway, all eyes were on the newlyweds, who tied the knot during an 'intimate' ceremony in the Cotswolds less than two weeks ago, as they entered the Ascot paddock in bright sunshine.

Harriet Sperling, 45, and her new husband Peter Phillips arrived in the second royal carriage, with King Charles and Queen Camilla leading the procession in the first, on the opening day of the prestigious British racing event.