The Royal Ascot horse racing meet kicked off on Tuesday, with a number of royal and celebrity guests in attendance.
After being held behind closed doors in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 event has been opened up to 12,000 daily racegoers, made up of owners and members of the public.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Anne, the Princess Royal, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, were all present. Notably absent royals included Queen Elizabeth II, a regular at the races, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Princess Anne made a statement with her face mask, which drew attention to the Injured Jockeys Fund, decorated with jockeys' racing silks.
Zara Tindall wore a black and white polka dot dress, with a bespoke Juliette Botterill Millinery headpiece, and the Countess of Wessex wore a light pink ARossGirl X Soler dress with a Jane Taylor London hat.
The Duchess of Cornwall co-ordinated her blue striped coat with her face mask for the occasion.
Also in the crowd were Simon Cowell and partner Lauren Silverman, who wore a lemon-yellow dress, as well as television presenter Rosie Tapner, in a statement red suit with a floral headpiece. Newsreader Charlotte Hawkins wore a yellow and white Laura Green London dress, with a Laylaleigh Millinery hat.
Ascot Racecourse has a capacity of 70,000, however, 12,000 racegoers are permitted to attend daily, under capped Covid-19 precautions, because it's being held as an Events Research Programme set up by the UK government.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
While you're here
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
Company%20profile
Company%20profile
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)
Saturday
Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)
Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)
Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)
Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)
Sunday
Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20(2022)
More from Firas Maksad
Company%20Profile
While you're here
Kareem Shaheen: Even a pandemic could not unite today's America
Michele Wucker: The difference between a black swan and a grey rhino
Robert Matthews: Has flawed science and rushed research failed us?
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
COMPANY%20PROFILE
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
Wonka
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
