Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot is always a feast for the eyes.
Hats, fascinators and elaborate headgear galore sit atop fashionably dressed women who attend day three of Britain's most valuable horse racing meet.
Scroll through the gallery above to see some of the most eye-catching headpieces at Royal Ascot day three
It was referred to as Ladies' Day in 1823, after an anonymous poet described Thursday at the races as such, saying "when the women, like angels, look sweetly divine", or so the story goes.
Royal Ascot doesn't officially call it that, though. "Vibrant, celebratory and steeped in tradition, the third day of Royal Ascot, colloquially known as Ladies' Day, is a day to see and be seen," reads a description on its website.
"It is a glorious occasion, when high fashion and millinery masterpieces take centre stage alongside Flat racing’s most elite stayers locking horns in the historic Gold Cup."
This year was no exception, as ladies turned out in force dressed in all colours under the sun.
An exotic, deeply hued, parrot-shaped headpiece was seen on one racegoer, while many others sported florals and pastels, and oversized, wide-brimmed pieces added drama to proceedings.
On behalf of the royal family, Zara Tindall, the Princess Royal's daughter and a celebrated equestrian, wore a stylish full-brim green hat by Justine Bradley-Hill, along with a white, puffy sleeved coat dress by Laura Green.
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex was also in attendance on Thursday, wearing full floral attire, perfect for spring. Her ankle-length dress sported a V-shaped neckline and she paired it with a bright pink fascinator.
Royal fashion on days one and two at Ascot
On day one of Royal Ascot, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, looked dapper wearing a sharp grey, shin-length morning coat with matching tie, top hat and darker grey trousers.
Sheikh Hamdan shook hands with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, on Tuesday, as he received the trophy for Coroebus's win in the St James's Palace Stakes.
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attends Royal Ascot. All photos: @faz3 / Instagram -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Royal Ascot. -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed attended the opening day of the event at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England. -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Ascot Racecourse. -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed with Prince Charles and Camilla. -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Royal Ascot. -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Royal Ascot.
Camilla, who wore an aqua-coloured coat dress while meeting Sheikh Hamdan on Tuesday, dazzled on day two of the meet in an all-white outfit with matching wide-brimmed hat, accessorised with a much-worn pearl choker and stud earrings.
Prince Charles and Camilla led the royal procession on days one and two, but were absent on the third day.
Queen Elizabeth II has been notably absent owing to ongoing mobility issues, as have Prince William and Kate.
Zara Tindall was not in attendance on the second day, but for day one she chose a waist-cinching, pastel linen dress with puffed sleeves from Anna Mason, alongside a tilted white headpiece with pastel pom-poms.
Her husband, Mike Tindall, chose a grey suit with a pink shirt and lilac tie to match his wife's pastel outfit.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the royal family on day two of Ascot
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Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are seen during the royal procession on day two of Royal Ascot. Reuters -
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi ride in a carriage for the royal procession during day two. Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse -
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, also attends. Reuters -
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, left. Getty Images -
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in a horse-drawn carriage. AFP -
The royal procession enters the parade ring ahead of racing on day two. PA -
Shane Crosse receives a trophy on the podium from Prince Charles and Camilla after winning the 3.40pm Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Reuters
On day one, Princess Beatrice, who was not there on day three, wore a white and pink Zimmermann dress with florals, paired with a straw belt and clutch, a pair of pink pumps and a headband with a pink bow by Juliette Botterill Millinery.
The next day she chose white, with a form-fitting dress that was topped with a blue and white flat top hat with slicked-back bun.
On opening day, the Countess of Wessex chose a pale pink ensemble with a wide-brimmed maroon hat, pearl-drop earrings and a pearl-encrusted brooch, while on the second day, she wore a blue lace dress with ruffles and a matching blue hat with floral adornment.
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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh wearing a Victoria Beckham dress at a charity lunch in London, March 2017. Getty Images -
The duchess, in a lace dress and cream coat, and King Charles attend the wedding of Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Maxima Zorreguieta in February 2002 in Amsterdam. Getty Images -
The duchess in red satin and Prince Edward arrive for a reception hosted by the Norwegian government in Trondheim, Norway, in May 2002. Getty Images -
The Duchess of Edinburgh in a two-tone strapless gown, and Prince Edward arrive for the wedding of Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, in May 2002. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in brown suede, attend the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2003 at Windsor Castle, England. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a formal black coat, attend the National Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for members of the armed forces killed in the Iraq war in London, October 2003. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in taupe separates, leave Frimley Park Hospital in November 2003 in Surrey, England. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in pink satin, attend the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Elizabeth Donaldson at Copenhagen Cathedral in May 2004 in Copenhagen. Getty Images -
The duchess, in a baby blue two-piece, visits Collingwood College on her 40th birthday in January 2005 in Surrey, England. Getty Images -
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a feather-trimmed hat, and Prince Edward take part in Monaco's National Day celebrations at Monaco Cathedral in November 2005. Getty Images -
The duchess, in an LBD, arrives at the ChildLine & Mission Enfance Royal gala dinner at Banqueting House in March 2006 in London. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a checked coat, arrive at a Service of Thanksgiving held to mark the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in St Paul's Cathedral in London, June 2006. Getty Images -
Sophie, in a caped grey dress, arrives at the unveiling of a new statue of the Queen Mother on the Mall in February 2009 in London. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and the duchess, in lace-trimmed navy, attend a pre-wedding dinner for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling at Eric Ericson Hall in June 2010, Stockholm. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and Sophie, in a taupe chiffon gown, attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty Images -
The Duchess of Edinburgh, in a strappy red dress, and Prince Edward attend a gala dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in April 2011, London. Getty Images -
Sophie, in a metallic dress coat, leaves Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Commonwealth Day Observance Service in March 2012, London. Getty Images -
Sophie, in navy tailoring, and Lady Louise Windsor leave a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2012, London. Getty Images -
The duchess, in a cream coat, attends the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March 2014, London. Getty Images -
The duchess, in a purple coat, attends the dedication ceremony of a new memorial at The National Memorial Arboretum in October 2014 in Stafford, England. Getty Images -
Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in Suzannah, attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in June 2015. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and the duchess, in lavender chiffon, attend a gala marking the 60th anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, England, June 2016. Getty Images -
The duchess attends the National Service of Thanksgiving as part of the 90th birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II at The Guildhall in June 2016, London. Getty Images -
The duchess, in Alaia, and Prince Edward attend the dedication service of the Iraq and Afghanistan memorial at Horse Guards Parade in March 2017, London. Getty Images -
The duchess, in Emilia Wickstead, and Philip May visit Kew Gardens during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018, London. Getty Images -
The duchess, in Suzannah, arrives for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in May 2018, Windsor. Getty Images -
Prince Edward and the duchess, in Alaia, arrive at a reception to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit at Buckingham Palace in January 2020. Getty Images -
The duchess, in a cyan gown, arrives at the biennial Rifles Awards Dinner at the City of London Guildhall in November 2021. Getty Images -
The duchess, in a cream coat and matching hat, attends the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, along with Prince Edward in March 2023. PA -
The duchess, in a pink Catherine Walker coat and cream knee-high boots, and Prince Edward depart the Easter Sunday service at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023. EPA -
The duchess, in a snake print Emilia Wickstead skirt and satin blouse, at a summit by learning disability charity Mencap at St Bartholomew's Hospital in April 2023. EPA -
The duchess, in a satin blouse and turquoise trousers, during a visit to the Bagshot Women's Institute to celebrate their centenary, Bagshot, Surrey, April 2023. PA
