Hats off! Royal Ascot allows relaxed dress code measures for Friday due to heat

Racegoers at Royal Ascot will be officially permitted to remove jackets, ties and hats in all enclosures during racing on Friday, with soaring temperatures allowing for a relaxation of the dress code for only the second time in history.

The temperature is forecast to peak at 31C between 2pm and 5pm and the more lenient guidelines are to be introduced after the royal procession, which starts at 2pm.

The dress code was last amended due to the weather in 2017 when it was the hottest Royal Ascot in more than 20 years and similar measures were put in place. However, gentlemen in the Royal Enclosure were still required to wear a black or grey morning dress and top hat.

The current policy, which has been relaxed, states men must wear jackets and a tie in the Queen Anne, Village and Royal Enclosure, while it is recommended in the Windsor Enclosure. Top hats are only essential in the Royal Enclosure.

A tweet from Ascot on Thursday read: "Due to forecast high temperatures tomorrow, following the arrival of the Royal procession the dress code will be relaxed in all enclosures."

A high of 27C was recorded on Thursday and Ascot allowed racegoers to bring in their own water and soft drinks due to the heat.

It is set to be significantly cooler on Saturday, the final day of the five-day fixture, with a forecast high of 21C during racing.

For the third day running, watering commenced on the track after racing on Thursday, with clerk of the course Chris Stickels again aiming to replace the moisture lost during the day by adding 6mm of water to the entire course to maintain the going as good to firm.

A bumper crowd enjoyed Gold Cup day, with an official attendance of 63,109, comparable with 66,300 in 2019, despite the capacity being reduced in all enclosures this year.

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