This week, the British royal family will be busy steaming their morning suits and preparing their hats for five days of fun at Royal Ascot [1]. The Queen invites her family to join her at the event every year, but what is it all about, and why does everyone take it so seriously? Ahead of this year's event, here's everything you need to know about one of Queen Elizabeth II's favourite social occasions.

It's a Highlight of the Summer Social Calendar

Royal Ascot is an annual horse racing event that takes place every June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire. It's one of the highlights of the Summer social calendar, and tickets can cost anything from around £60 (for the atmospheric Windsor Enclosure) to thousands (for a coveted place in a box or hospitality suites). The royal family attends every year, and the event is known for its heritage and tradition.

Racing Fans Take It Seriously

This isn't just a social event, though. Royal Ascot is a huge deal in the world of horse racing. The races that take place across the five days of the meet have a total of £7.3m in prize money. The horses and jockeys are some of the most famous in the world and the owners some of the richest and most powerful.

You've Seen It in Films and on TV

Royal Ascot has a rich history going back to the reign of Queen Anne in 1711, and Ascot racecourse has been a famous part of popular culture for decades. The 1964 film My Fair Lady (which is set during the Edwardian era) features a famous scene set at Ascot, in which Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle loses her cool during a race and screams at the horse, within earshot of earls and peers.

The Royal Family Attends

Queen Elizabeth II attends every day of Royal Ascot, and she's joined by different members of her family each day. There is a royal carriage procession at 1 p.m each day, giving everyone a glimpse of the royals before they make their way up to the royal box.

It Gives People a Chance to Get Close to the Royals

After the carriage ride, the royal family assembles in the parade ring, where they'll chat as they walk to their box. It offers the crowds a rare opportunity to see the royal family close-up.

The Queen Is All About Royal Ascot

During the day, the queen will present trophies to the owners of the winning horses for the major races. This can sometimes be problematic, though, as the Queen owns racehorses herself and often enters them into races at Royal Ascot. On the occasions that they win (such as the Gold Cup in 2013 [2]), a member of her family usually does the honours!

Other Royals Chip in, Too

Other members of the royal family also help out with official duties during the day, and celebrity guests will also put in an appearance.

We Get to See the Royals at Their Best

Though Royal Ascot is considered to be quite a "classy" event, it's also a chance for the royal family to have a little fun and let their hair down, and we often get a little glimpse at their sillier side as a result.

Everyone Really Gets Into the Races

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend every year, and it's safe to say they get pretty involved with each race!

If Your Name's Not Down, You're Not Coming In

The most highly sought-after area at Royal Ascot is the royal enclosure, which surrounds the royal box (where the royal family and their invited guests watch the races). Tickets for the royal enclosure are not on general sale and instead are reserved for members, VIPs, owners and trainers, and sponsors and their guests.

Even Royals Wear Name Badges

With the exception of the Queen, everyone in the royal enclosure wears a hand-written badge with their name on, including members of the royal family. Female attendees will often choose to attach them to their bags, to save ruining their outfits: that is what Meghan chose to do with her "HRH The Duchess of Sussex" badge in 2018 [3].

Time to Plan Your Outfit

The royal enclosure has a strict dress code. Men are expected to wear full morning dress, with a top hat (a suit just will not do). Women must wear hats or headpieces of a specified size, and dresses or skirts must have hemlines to the knee or longer and straps of a certain width (as shown here by British TV presenter Holly Willoughby). Strapless dresses, backless dresses, halter styles, and spaghetti straps are all banned.

Want Something More Casual?

The other enclosures are more relaxed, and the dress codes are scaled to match. Most people tend to dress up in their finest despite the enclosure they're in, though in these areas, you'll see as many small fascinators as you will giant hats, and there are picnic areas that are even more casual.

It's Really All About the Hats

The Thursday of Royal Ascot is known as "Ladies Day," and this is when the big guns come out when it comes to hats. Women vie to be photographed in their standout millinery, and the designs range from the sublime . . .

There's No Such Thing as Too Much

. . . to the (ever so slightly) ridiculous! Yes, that's a spaghetti hat! Royal Ascot is never short of silliness, and many brands see the occasion as the perfect opportunity for a publicity stunt. You're never far from a novelty hat.

Royal Ascot Has Always Been a Fashion Parade

As these photos dating back to 1921 show, Royal Ascot has long been an excuse for the cream of society to dress up in their finery and enjoy a day of socialising, drinking, and betting.

The Traditions Live On

Though the outfits may have changed and the crowds become a little more boisterous over the years, the traditions of the event remain and are unlikely to change for generations to come.