Our tickets for Royal Ascot were for the Queen Anne Enclosure which meant we’d have access to the ground floor grandstand and a great view of the Royal Procession. Totally brilliant! But it also meant we had to abide by a strict dress code. For women, strapless, one-shoulder, bardot, or dresses made of sheer material are taboo. What women can wear are dresses, tops and skirts, trouser suits in matching material and color, or jumpsuits that fall below the knee, and a hat or fascinator. No Nos for men include bowties, tees, jeans, shorts, and trainers. What men can wear are a two-or three-piece suit in matching material, collared shirt, necktie, or ascot (at Ascot!) and socks that cover the ankle. Would someone really be checking sock height?!
With those guidelines in mind, I had already spent the previous two months shopping for and putting together my outfit – dress, shoes, hat, purse, jewelry, and wrap. And on the Saturday morning of the event, it took me just over an hour to get ready. On the other hand, it took Robert all of…what?…five minutes “that day” to look in his closet and choose a suit, tie, and shoes to wear. Men have it so easy!
On foot, we navigated the busy high street, and 25 minutes later we arrived at the Richmond Station. Meeting Neldie and Chris there, we made our way to the platform to catch the next available train to the town of Ascot. It’s safe to say most, if not all of the folks waiting there, were going to the races, too. Couples, friends, and families were decked out in their best finery. Though still early in the day, many had uncorked champagne bottles in hand, and were already celebrating.
Once aboard, it was a 35-minute chockablock ride, then an easy 7-minute walk from the station to the racecourse. While gates opened at 10:30am we entered just in time to order a tipple and find a place to watch the beginning of the festivities. The drink of choice there is Moet & Chandon champagne, but we chose Pimms No. 1, the classic gin flavored beverage with slices of fresh fruit, herbs, and sparkling lemonade blended to perfection. So refreshing!
At precisely 2pm, the Royal Procession kicked off the gala with the reigning monarch and other members of the royal family parading in the Royal Landaus onto the grounds. All the while the National Anthem played, and the Royal Standard flag representing the Sovereign and U.K. was raised. When Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip rode by in their horse-drawn carriage waving to the crowds, I couldn’t believe my eyes. We weren’t in close proximity, but seeing them on the track and on the large screen was so surreal…and we were actually there!
The first of the six races started at 2:30pm, the Golden Jubilee contest was held at 4:20pm, and the last competition took place at 6:10pm…on the dot. The British are so punctual! Unlike the others in our group, my bets were based solely on horse names and numbers. So it was no surprise that my strategy yielded me, not…one…single…pound! Robert and Neldie fared better and came out ahead, but Chris led early on and was the big winner.
If seeing the Her Royal Majesty and betting on thoroughbreds wasn’t enough, we had several choices when hunger struck. Sit-down dining, on-the-go purchases, or cook-to-order food? All were available. From elegant chef inspired confit of salmon, to high tea cucumber sandwiches, to curry dishes, just about anything a person could want was offered. Funny enough, we opted for margherita pizza with an order of chips and tucked right in.
From my journal: June 24, 2007, E. Twickenham, England
“Beautiful grounds! Such a festive atmosphere… race goers lack for nothing. Fine dining, food booths, coffee bars, live music, horse racing, and really fun people watching!”
Though the gates closed at 8pm, we boarded a train back to Richmond right after the last race. But instead of walking back to our flat, we hopped on a bus from the station. Because by then, thanks to my new shoes, my pinched toes were killing me. And the pretty dress that took me weeks to choose and have tailored? That went mostly unseen, as the day was cold and the wrap I borrowed covered it all day. The same goes for the beautiful necklace another neighbor lent me. Nonetheless, every year when June rolls around, I remember our time at Royal Ascot. It was one of our first tastes of British culture and tradition, and just a great day at the races with friends.
A Journal Journey 