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Glamorous racegoers showed off their finery as they arrived for day three of Royal Ascot today – as it was confirmed the Queen will not be attending.

Her Majesty’s colt Reach For The Moon goes for gold in the Hampton Court Stakes and the one-time Derby favourite is a warm order to deliver an Ascot victory in the Platinum Jubilee year – as such it had been hoped the monarch, 96, would make her first visit of the meeting to see him run.

However, it was confirmed on Thursday lunchtime that she will not make the trip, with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence being joined by her daughter Zara Tindall and husband Mike in the first carriage.

Guests were snapped wearing stunning outfits boasting a rainbow of colours today, as they made the most of the sunshine during Ladies Day.

The five-day society favourite event has returned to its pre-pandemic extravagance, after restrictions meant it was subdued in 2020 and 2021. 

And so far, attendees have shown their appreciation for the races’ return, donning high fashion finery and some show-stopping millinery for their big days out.

Hat's the ticket! Ladies wear eye-catching headpieces teamed with equally vibrant ensembles as they step out at the races

Hat’s the ticket! Ladies wear eye-catching headpieces teamed with equally vibrant ensembles as they step out at the races

A sea of colourful attire! Glamorous racegoers wearing sarees place bets during Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse

A sea of colourful attire! Glamorous racegoers wearing sarees place bets during Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse

Choosing a parrot theme, this woman matched the fake bird on her hat to one she carried in an old-fashioned bird cage

A racegoer wearing Ukraine colours poses for a photo during Royal Ascot 2022

 Fashion forward racegoers showed off their personal styles in colourful outfits, including a red and blue ensemble (left) and this cream look (right) at day 3 of Ascot today

Lovely in lemon! This group of ladies all donned various yellow dresses or accessories to make sure they are complemented each other for their big day out

Lovely in lemon! This group of ladies all donned various yellow dresses or accessories to make sure they are complemented each other for their big day out

Think pink! This Royal Ascot racegoer commanded attention thanks to her vibrant dress and eye-catching headgear

Think pink! This Royal Ascot racegoer commanded attention thanks to her vibrant dress and eye-catching headgear

Red roses and gold jewellery was the perfect match for this lady's black frock and black leather fingerless gloves

This lady couldn't choose one colour for her outfit - so wore them all!

Many guests chose to wear bold style statements, rocking extremely attention-grabbing headgear 

Meanwhile another racegoer put her own stylish spin on the season's favourite colour - yellow

This year’s dress code, which was more casual than in previous years, saw creative attendees don lavish Ascot looks

Winning in the fashion stakes: These glamorous ladies put their best fashion foot forward when appearing at day three of Royal Ascot

Winning in the fashion stakes: These glamorous ladies put their best fashion foot forward when appearing at day three of Royal Ascot

One woman opted for a bright look, wearing a themed hat featuring leaves and a red parrot

Meanwhile, this attendee also opted to integrate wildlife into her look, which featured butterfly decals

Headgear: These women showed off their eye-catching hats, making the most of Ladies Day to show off their style

This woman's statement geometric hat was eye-catching

Meanwhile this attendee opted to wear a similar shade, in a more traditional style

Stylish in yellow: more Ladies Day guests opt for what appears to be the top shade of the day – yellow

Say cheese! These friends all hugged one another when having their picture taken together after the racing action

Say cheese! These friends all hugged one another when having their picture taken together after the racing action

Double trouble: Beaming friends hug one another while partying at Royal Ascot in the evening after today's races

Double trouble: Beaming friends hug one another while partying at Royal Ascot in the evening after today’s races

The Queen not only has the John and Thady Gosden-trained Reach For The Moon running on Thursday, but also Saga contesting the Britannia Stakes and Tactical running in the Buckingham Palace Stakes on what is the third day of the fixture.

Her Majesty appeared at Royal Ascot just once in 2021, making the trip to watch Reach For The Moon finish second in the Chesham Stakes on the final day of the meeting.

The British royal family has been out in force this week, with the Prince of Wales, 73, and Duchess of Cornwall, 74, Princess Anne, 71, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, and Princess Beatrice, 33, and Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi, 38, all attending.

But the Queen, 96, who has been at every Royal Meeting since acceding to the throne in 1952, apart from when it was held behind closed doors in 2020, missed the first two days, amid her ongoing mobility issues. 

Hat's a look: Racegoer Anastasia Tutus went big on Ladies Day, rocking a huge hat featuring multicoloured floral roses

Hat’s a look: Racegoer Anastasia Tutus went big on Ladies Day, rocking a huge hat featuring multicoloured floral roses

Friends Angela Menz and Lisa Tan attended day 3 of Royal Ascot, choosing to make the most of their day out by showing off their bold style

Friends Angela Menz and Lisa Tan attended day 3 of Royal Ascot, choosing to make the most of their day out by showing off their bold style

The day offered an opportunity to show off some fashion forward choices, and this lady donned an asymmetric, origami-style hat

The day offered an opportunity to show off some fashion forward choices, and this lady donned an asymmetric, origami-style hat

True blue: For this couple, Royal Ascot provided an opportunity to show off their allegiance to the Union Jack, rocking a patriotic look

True blue: For this couple, Royal Ascot provided an opportunity to show off their allegiance to the Union Jack, rocking a patriotic look

Ekaterina Zherebtsova was another of the Ascot attendees to wear yellow in her outfit for day 3 of the five-day event

Ekaterina Zherebtsova was another of the Ascot attendees to wear yellow in her outfit for day 3 of the five-day event

Yellow seemed to be one of the more popular colours of the day

One racegoer matched her cream binoculars to her dress of the same colour

Ladies Day attendees posed in their carefully chosen outfits, showing off chic dresses they’d picked for the event

Patriotic: British colours including red, white, and blue were the order of the day for this trio, who donned perfectly coordinated outfits

Patriotic: British colours including red, white, and blue were the order of the day for this trio, who donned perfectly coordinated outfits

Meanwhile, this couple was more understated, opting for black as the key colour in their coordinating look

Meanwhile, this couple was more understated, opting for black as the key colour in their coordinating look 

Surely this guest donned the most colourful hat to grace the race grounds today

Simple, but no less chic, another woman topped her floral look with a black hat

Guests at Ascot today showed off a veritable range of colours and style, from a rainbow hat to a simple black option

Going all out: This Ascot attendee made a statement in an all-white look, which she paired with an unusual accessory - a gold topped wooden walking cane

Going all out: This Ascot attendee made a statement in an all-white look, which she paired with an unusual accessory – a gold topped wooden walking cane

Another racegoer shows off their parasol, which is colour-coordinated with their yellow outfit and perfect for the June sun

Another racegoer shows off their parasol, which is colour-coordinated with their yellow outfit and perfect for the June sun

This group seemed to have coordinated their look, with yellow playing a dominant role in their collective colour palette

This group seemed to have coordinated their look, with yellow playing a dominant role in their collective colour palette

An all-red outfit paired with statement animal print heels was the chosen look of this racegoer on day 3 of Royal Ascot

An all-red outfit paired with statement animal print heels was the chosen look of this racegoer on day 3 of Royal Ascot

Reality TV star Georgia Toffolo attends the event in a gold, full length dress paired with black accessories including strappy sandals, black lace gloves, and a hat

Reality TV star Georgia Toffolo attends the event in a gold, full length dress paired with black accessories including strappy sandals, black lace gloves, and a hat

British designer Amanda Wakely put her professional stamp of approval on yellow, donning a mustard-toned frock paired with black accessories as posed at the event

British designer Amanda Wakely put her professional stamp of approval on yellow, donning a mustard-toned frock paired with black accessories as posed at the event

Take a bow: Lizzie Cundy looked patriotic in a Union Jack hat, which was designed to look like an enormous bow

Take a bow: Lizzie Cundy looked patriotic in a Union Jack hat, which was designed to look like an enormous bow

Meanwhile celebrity chef James Martin opted for a more quintessentially British look, donning a top hat and tails for the da

Meanwhile celebrity chef James Martin opted for a more quintessentially British look, donning a top hat and tails for the da

Lady Victoria Hervey, who also appeared at Ascot today, chose an all-white suit, in contrast to some of the bright colours sported by others

Lady Victoria Hervey, who also appeared at Ascot today, chose an all-white suit, in contrast to some of the bright colours sported by others

Hana Cross cut an elegant figure in a cream dress featuring multi-coloured floral details with black heels and a matching hat

Hana Cross cut an elegant figure in a cream dress featuring multi-coloured floral details with black heels and a matching hat

Katie Dadrie and Nick Knowles cut stylish figures as they attended the third day of the event, both opting for traditional looks

Katie Dadrie and Nick Knowles cut stylish figures as they attended the third day of the event, both opting for traditional looks

Fashion writer Emily Cronin (left) stayed cool in open-toed sandals, paired with a floaty dress in a pale shade of eau de nil

Fashion writer Emily Cronin (left) stayed cool in open-toed sandals, paired with a floaty dress in a pale shade of eau de nil

 

Vlogger Freddy Cousin Brown paired muted shades of cream and pink to create a old fashioned look

Swedish singer Mabel chose a statement piece, wearing a suit designed to look like a chest of drawers, complete with handles

Vlogger  Freddy Cousin Brown (left) created a vintage look for her day out at the races, while Swedish singer Mabel (right) choice a statement piece

Speaking ahead of the day’s races today, which is Gold Cup Day, jockey Frankie Dettori spoke about his experience of winning the cup in previous years, and discussed Her Majesty’s passion for racing.

He said: ‘Today will be emotional.  The Gold Cup (4:20pm) is the most prestigious race of the week, and the only one where you get to receive the trophy from The Queen. I’ve been lucky enough to win it eight times and it’s the ultimate feeling really.

‘We’re very lucky to have a monarch who loves racing so much. It’s in her blood, and it doesn’t get much bigger than Her Majesty handing you the Gold Cup.’   

Talking about Stradivarius, who he will be riding today, Frankie said: ‘Win, lose or draw on Stradivarius, I’m sure he’ll get a great reception and the send-off he truly deserves on what will be his final run at Ascot.

‘He’s done a tremendous amount for racing, and no matter what happens today he will always be remembered as one of the greatest stayers we’ve ever seen.

‘To be running in the race for a sixth time is absolutely remarkable, not to mention a 12th time at Ascot, and it’s just been so good to have him around.’

Images of the queues ahead of the day's activities showed large crowds gathering, keen to get in

Images of the queues ahead of the day’s activities showed large crowds gathering, keen to get in

Guests beamed at photographers as they waited at the barriers, keen to get into the sunny Ascot grounds on Day 3

Guests beamed at photographers as they waited at the barriers, keen to get into the sunny Ascot grounds on Day 3

Some posed at the barriers, taking the opportunity to show off their carefully styled looks

Some posed at the barriers, taking the opportunity to show off their carefully styled looks

Racegoers have returned to Ascot this year, which is back to full throttle after being restricted for the last two years due to the pandemic

Racegoers have returned to Ascot this year, which is back to full throttle after being restricted for the last two years due to the pandemic

And 2022's event seems to be more colourful than ever, with Ladies Day guests showing off their brightly coloured hats and dresses

And 2022’s event seems to be more colourful than ever, with Ladies Day guests showing off their brightly coloured hats and dresses

Double trouble! These elegant racegoers appeared in all their finery, with both duos sporting red and white colours

Double trouble! These elegant racegoers appeared in all their finery, with both duos sporting red and white colours

Double trouble! These elegant racegoers appeared in all their finery, with both duos sporting red and white colours

Looking good! Racegoers wearing sarees pose for photographs during Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse

Looking good! Racegoers wearing sarees pose for photographs during Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse

This attendee was snapped wearing an extravagant purple hat as she arrived at the famous raceground ahead of Ladies Day

This attendee was snapped wearing an extravagant purple hat as she arrived at the famous raceground ahead of Ladies Day

Understated: These women chose lower key looks, showing off their style in chic blue midi dresses

One woman was snapped already holding her heels and wearing comfortable flats at the beginning of the day

Some racegoers opted for practicality, going for lower key, but still stylish, looks. One woman already seemed to have swapped her heels for flats

Fan-tastic: Canny attendees anticipated the June heat today, carrying fans to help them cool off under the hot sun

Fan-tastic: Canny attendees anticipated the June heat today, carrying fans to help them cool off under the hot sun

Sophisticated: Caramel and cappuccino shades were order of the day for this guest, who showed up wearing a chic all-brown ensemble

Hats the one! Meanwhile, this attendee opted for a simple colour palette of black and white, topped with an extravagant hat

Guests arrived at the famous Berkshire racecourse for Ladies Day, showing off their extravagant outfits, donning lavish facinators and hats alongside their glamorous frocks

Speaking about his other events, he added: ‘I also ride Reach For The Moon (5:35pm) and Saga (5:00pm) for Her Majesty, so it really is the most important day of the week for me. Reach For The Moon has some very good two-year-old form, and his first run back behind My Prospero at Sandown was encouraging.’

He added: ‘Saga’s homework has been very good but he’s yet to translate that to racecourse, so we’ve put some headgear on him in the hope that will help him concentrate a bit more.

‘He’s only had five runs so far so his hopefully yet to show his best, but the Britannia is such a hard race to win with some many lightly-raced three-year-olds.

‘Like Reach For The Moon, Saga’s form ties into the St James’s Palace too as he was clear second to Maljoom at Kempton. As for Franz Strauss in the King George V Stakes (3:05pm), he remains pretty unexposed and will hopefully take a good step forward, but these handicaps are so competitive.’

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