Known just as much for its high fashion stakes as it is for its horse racing, Royal Ascot proved to be the perfect opportunity for British high society, royals, celebrities, and average folk alike to showcase their style prowess last week.
But some fared better than others, if the results of the Daily Mail’s poll are anything to go by. Readers were given the opportunity to have their say and vote for the best-dressed racegoer at the prestigious five-day event.
The King’s niece, Zara Tindall, took the top spot, sporting a glamorous custom Rebecca Vallance belted dress in lilac for the opening day.
The midi frock featured statement sleeves and scalloped lapels and Princess Anne‘s daughter teamed it with an elegant hat in a matching shade as well as pale pink heels and a £1,150 Anya Hindmarch shell pink ‘Mortimer clutch’.
To accessorise, Zara, 45, selected a pair of purple and gold dazzling drop earrings and a large pair of stylish sunglasses amid the warm summer weather.
Following closely behind the royal was racegoer Yoanna Hanbury, who stunned in a bespoke yellow lace belted midi dress by London-based Sassi Holford, designed specially for Ascot.
Another of the best dressed revellers, who spoke to this publication at the annual event, was Amelia Hutchins. She dressed in near head-to-toe Holland Cooper, teaming her soft pink number with a hat from Beazley Millinery.
The least popular outfits were Lottie Moss’ Karen Millen cream jacket and a matching skirt, as well as Lizzie Cundy’s controversial look.
The 58-year-old former WAG was turned away earlier in the week for flouting the strict dress code after wearing a daringly see-through netted ensemble with a racy back slit on day one at the Berkshire racecourse. Sheer materials are prohibited in the Royal Enclosure.
Lizzie has since hit back saying the outfit was actually lined with a beige slip and simply gave the illusion of being more revealing than it was. While she apologised, she also suggested that it might be time Ascot adapted to the times and updated its rules.
Read the full results of the first round below – before having your say on the worst and best dressed racegoers in our poll…
The King’s niece, Zara Tindall (pictured with her husband Mike Tindall), took the top spot, sporting a glamorous custom Rebecca Vallance belted dress in lilac for the opening day
Elsewhere, racegoer Natasha Hayes, 51, impressed in a polka dot skirt from Coast and a black top from Primark.
Securing the third spot after attendee Yoanna was once again Zara. The King’s niece put on a fashionable display in a chic belted yellow dress from Rebecca Vallance, featuring statement sleeves and pocket detailing for Ladies Day.
She teamed the glamorous frock with a matching Anya Hindmarch clutch bag and hat, from Sarah Cant Millinery, and added more height to her frame with a pair of metallic gold heels from Emmy London.
Keeping the sun from her eyes with some stylish sunglasses, the late Queen’s granddaughter, who is 22nd in the line of succession to the British throne, completed her look with dazzling drop earrings.
In fourth place, meanwhile, was the Prince of Wales, who attended alongside his wife Kate on the Wednesday. He looked dapper in a top hat, while his father King Charles secured fifth place in a similar smart look.
Proving the royal men’s style prowess, Mike Tindall was awarded the sixth spot, followed closely behind the Princess of Wales, who stunned in £1,095 daffodil yellow outfit from the label Roksanda.
Yoanna Hanbury attends day two of Royal Ascot 2026
Lizzie Cundy arrives at Royal Ascot for the first day of the races in a racy lace number
She paired the ensemble with a hat from Jane Taylor Millinery, while Prince William pinned yellow flowers to his lapel to complement his wife’s look.
This was the third time Kate had 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.
Kate’s outfit also included sentimental details, such as the late Queen Elizabeth’s diamond chandelier earrings and Princess Diana’s three-strand pearl necklace.
