Royal Fashion Awards: Royal Ascot 2013

That five day festival of hats and horses and everything in between is well under way at Ascot. Let's check in with the fashion winners and losers so far, shall we?

Best in Day 1

The Countess of Wessex

Left to Right: the Queen (followed by the Duchess of Cornwall), the Countess of Wessex, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Princess Haya

I had my qualms about the shape of Sophie's dress, but in the end it can't be denied: she is positively owning that color. I also loved Haya's garden festival and Serena Linley's flood of pink (she, plus more stylish royals including a well turned out Princess Anne, can be seen here). And, just for kicks, I'm gonna own up and say that I was also digging Eugenie's striped affair. I think the horizontal stripes emphasize her skirt and not what's underneath and are totally cute. Yes, I dug the stripes. (Not you, Bea.)

Best in Day 2

Hmm...

The Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla's had quite the elegant streak recently, no? She matched her emerald brooch to the Queen's (which was new to me, all deets at the Jewel Vault!) and pulled off a lovely understated look which needs some love...except that this is Ascot and understated - even in a big hat - just isn't enough! I point you to "the coolest", apparently, Lady Helen Taylor and her explosion of color. I may wish she'd done a Coco (Chanel: take one thing off before you leave the house...or in this case, maybe two or three things), but I'm in love with the fun and unexpected color combo. Click here for more royal ladies and here for Lady Helen's competition for memorable Day 2 looks, Princess Haya and her portable chess set. 

Best in Day 3

The Queen

L to R: the Queen, Autumn Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Princess Royal

I was ready to flip a coin between Autumn, who was simple but stunning, and Beatrice, who was awfully well recovered from that lace and polka dot raincoat thing earlier. And then the purple Queen stole the race, as did her horse Estimate, who won the Gold Cup. Actual royal jumpy claps! The Duke of York presented her with her cup (she was supposed to present it herself but was unavailable due to awesomeness), and I expect to see that bolted to the hood of the royal Bentley promptly. One's precioussssss. This has set a new level for Windsor cuteness. Your move, Baby Cambridge. (Click here for a full recounting of the jubilant Queen, and here for more pics and stuff from Ladies' Day.)

Best in Top Hats

The Prince of Wales and Prince Michael of Kent

L to R: the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of York and Prince Michael of Kent, the Prince of Wales, Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai (husband of Princess Haya), Peter Phillips

The Windsor Grays! Ha. Nothing says off to the races! quite like the pale color palette, don't you agree?

Updates:

And on the fourth day of Ascot Christmas, the royals gave to me... one Sophie recycling her maternity wear (but she isn't, though, and it's sad), one still delighted Queen, and two bonus Jordanian royals! Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath rode in the Queen's carriage. Also, it's important to note the box of wine handbag at the bottom of that linked article, which I've been delighting in on Twitter. I now suspect Her Maj might have a gin and tonic version. She is quite jolly these days...

And on day five...nada, basically. 

Ascot always winds down towards the end, but this one came to a particularly quiet end, royally speaking. The lovely Princess Sarvath was in the carriage next to the Queen again, though, which was the best bit.

Who wins your Ascot best dressed?

Photos: AP/AFP/Getty Images/PacificCoastNews/Reuters

Event Roundup: Royal Ascot 2012

Links to all five days of Ascot racing and fashion fun:

Day 1

Featuring Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Eugenie, the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Haya of Jordan, and the Princess Royal

Day 2

With Queen Elizabeth, the Princess Royal, Princess Haya, Princess Alexandra, and the Countess of Wessex

Day 3: Ladies' Day

With Queen Elizabeth, the Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, the Princess Royal, Princess Eugenie, Princess Haya, and Princess Michael of Kent

Day 4

With Queen Elizabeth, Princess Haya, and Princess Michael of Kent

Day 5

With Queen Elizabeth, Princess Beatrice, Autumn Phillips, and the men from all five days

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2012, Day 5

And here we are, at the end of the five day Royal Ascot odyssey of hats and brooches and butt ruffles (regrettably). Saddle up, we have one last round of awards to hand out...

Most Predictable End

Queen Elizabeth

After a week of unpredictable brooch choices, the Queen ended with the one you were most likely to have predicted (the only one of this week anyone guessed during our Ascot predicting game, I believe): the Flame Lily. To be honest, it's my first disappointment of the week from her; like many of you, I thought we might see the Australian Wattle Brooch as a little tribute to Black Caviar, the Australian mare with an impressive record that won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and was the undisputed star of day five. But that's just a small quibble in an otherwise fun brooch watching week.

Best in Yorkish Excess

Princess Beatrice

Following in the footsteps of her mother and her sister, Beatrice just can't leave well enough alone. The standard fare coral outfit is not enough, oh no; we gotta add a butt ruffle up in here! And while we're at it, let's bedazzle it! And add a technicolor fortune cookie to the hat! Sure, why not? Part of me wants to see the York sisters turn into the chicest royals on the block, and part of me (the giggly part) hopes they never, ever change.

Best Repeat

Autumn Phillips

This was a surprise: Peter and Autumn Phillips showed up! Autumn appears to be wearing what was under the Sassi Holford navy coat she sported for the Diamond Jubilee service, and possibly the same hat with some changes made to it. The Linleys and Chattos were also present; Sarah repeated the outfit she wore to Zara's wedding, and Serena repeated the coat she wore to William's wedding.

Though I'm not sure she attended day five, I can't finish out Ascot without a tip of the hat to Princess Haya. She had another first place finisher, making three for the week, and she's had just as many fabulous outfits throughout the week. Apart from the Queen (who is sort of a default winner in these things), Haya wins my overall best dressed award.

Who wins your best dressed award for the ladies?

We've focused on the ladies for the past four days, but of course the gentlemen are worthy of some praise of their own. Save the best for last, right?

Best in Philip

Day Five

Left to right, days 1-5

The Duke of Edinburgh was so far and away my favorite gent at Ascot, it just wasn't sporting to lump him in with the rest. It seemed to me that each day he looked a little more like his old self, and thus day five comes out my winner. (Though matching his boutonnière to his wife's pink outfit on day two was mighty adorable.)

Best of the Rest

Prince Michael

L to R: The Prince of Wales, Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, the Duke of Gloucester, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Kent

This is by no means a comprehensive review; other gentlemen spotted include Lord Nicholas Windsor, Viscount Linley, Charles Armstrong-Jones, the Chattos, Mike Tindall, Dave Clark (Beatrice's boyfriend), plus Sheikh Mohammed on multiple days and other members of the Dubai royal family.

L to R: Prince Michael of Kent, the Duke of York, the Earl of St. Andrews, Peter Phillips

But out of them all, Prince Michael wins it. Not only does he have style, he showed up both a black coat option with natty trim and the dapper gray option. Nicely done, sir.

Who did you admire most among the men?

Photos: Getty Images/Indigo/AP/Reuters/Contact

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2012, Day 4

Yup, Ascot is still happening. But we're nearly there; it's day 4 and as we reach the end, royal sightings are tapering off. Just three royal ladies were out today, but they were winners in every sense. (Click here for day 3 to catch up.)

Best in Brooch Whisperers

Queen Elizabeth

It's a great day for the Queen: her horse Estimate won today, and the Duke of Edinburgh presented her with the prize! {Pause for an obligatory awwww. These kids and their cuteness.} And it's a great day for us too: purple and amethysts, oh my! Coming off a week of surprise brooches and my happily fulfilled Garter Day earring request, I joked yesterday in the comments that I'd like to see Her Maj finish out the week with the Kent amethysts and the Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch; this may not be the Kent amethysts specifically, but it sure is amethyst! This is often said to have been given to the Queen for opening a bridge in Scotland once upon a time.

Best in Mystery and Intrigue

Princess Haya

 QEII's not the only royal winner today; Princess Haya found herself in the winner's enclosure once again! Her horse Newfangled won the Albany Stakes today, and Haya made her most intriguing entry in the fashion stakes in this bit of Dior couture. I'm dubious on the outfit as a whole, but I confess I can't resist a royal working the International Princess of Mystery angle as Haya was in this landslide of a hat.

Best in Backlash

Princess Michael of Kent

After her ensemble yesterday was among the nuttiest of them all, Marie Christine has jumped backward so far, in head-on shots you'll wonder if she's even wearing a hat at all. (Which turned out to be a smart move, as the wind proved to be hazardous to many an Ascot hat today.) But this is good old MC at her most elegant, and that's a refreshing jolt of reassurance after a baffling Ladies' Day.

Who comes out on top on day 4 for you?

Photos:  WPA Pool/Getty Images/Zimbio/Wenn/Daylife/Metro

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2012, Day 3

Hey laaaadies! It’s your day, Ladies’ Day, at Ascot. Day 3 is supposed to bring the wackiest hats of all, so let’s see how our royal ladies did. (And click here for Day 2 if you’re catching up!)

Most Refreshing

Queen Elizabeth

Nothing like a nice cool mint julep of an outfit on a summer’s day (even if it is a rainy one), right? And look at our Lillibet go, pulling out yet another brooch surprise: this is the Teck Corsage Brooch (more currently known as the Duchess of Teck’s Emperor of Austria Brooch), minus the diamond and pearl chain we normally see dangling from it.

Best in Last Minute Saves

The Countess of Wessex

 In which we say: thank heavens for the hat, or else the rest would’ve put us to sleep.

Best in Post-Makeover Eliza

Princess Beatrice

Erdem’s becoming a full-fledged royal trend: Lady Helen Taylor opted for the designer back at William and Kate’s wedding and again for this year’s Jubilee service, Kate’s sported Erdem a few times, and now Bea’s made her third Erdem-clad appearance in a month! I like it only because it’s sort of a patriotic version of My Fair Lady’s take on Ascot, and I haven’t made a single MFL reference in two whole days of racing. (Just you wait for the rest of this post, just you wait.) 

Worst in Pre-Makeover Eliza

The Princess Royal

 Here’s a disagreeable surprise: another 2011 royal wedding repeat for Anne today, this time her outfit from William and Kate's nuptials which one year later is still a batty pre-makeover Eliza number. Clearly she's picked the most cutting edge hat out of her closet and is daring you to continue your sniggering.

Worst in Meh

Princess Eugenie

Honestly, not even the crumpled piece of laundry north of her ears or the fierceness happening south of her ankles can get me to muster up any sort of remarks for this outfit. It’s the fit that’s done her in; it makes me too sad. She's so lovely! Enough with the business that doesn't do her justice. 

Best in Ladies’ Day Crazy

Princess Haya

 By George, she’s done it! Haya has shown us how Ladies’ Day should be done. Gargantuan hat: check. A little something out of the ordinary, just for the day: pink and orange, check and check. And yet, still elegant and not Olympic levels of famished attention seeking: check, check, check.

Best in Regular Crazy

Princess Michael

Marie Christine, I’m dashed. I have no idea what the neck ruff you heisted from an English courtroom has to do with your leftover 1987 party dress or the business blazer that has no business being on top of it. All I know is that none of it will do for the miniature bowling party you’re apparently attending later. (Surely she has a wee bowling ball in that bag, right?) But bless your heart anyway, Princess Mike, for bringing the LOLZ on Ladies’ Day, and finishing us off with your own ode to the Black and White Ascot.

Who do you say is the fairest on Ladies’ Day?

Photos:  Getty Images/Daylife/i-Images/Zimbio/Wenn/Corbis/WPA Pool

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2012, Day 2

It's day 2 at Royal Ascot, and though the Queen's horse Carlton House missed out on the winner's enclosure, we did have some royal champions on our hands - both sartorially and equestrian-ly. Read on, and click here to revisit Day 1 if you missed it.

Prettiest in Pink

Queen Elizabeth

Her Majesty's brooch wasn't as much of a surprise to me today as it was yesterday; she went with the Centenary Rose Brooch, which we've covered here before. I was surprised, however, by the set of tea cozies she added to her sleeves. I'd hate it, but this shade of pink is just so darn pretty on her.

Best in Scheduled Repeats

The Princess Royal

It was Camilla's turn yesterday to break out the notable repeats and apparently today it's Anne's, as she repeated the outfit she wore to her daughter's wedding last year. Hey, two days in and she's yet to drop a bomb on us from 1984 (I'm waiting...), so I'll call it a win.

Best in Actual Winners

Princess Haya

I prefer Haya's vintage-inspired Dior from yesterday, but today's a better day for Haya overall: she won! Her horse Joviality took first place in the Windsor Forest Stakes. And everything goes well with nice shiny trophies. 

Best in Carriage Rides

Princess Alexandra

Princess Alexandra took her annual turn in the Ascot carriages today (just for fun, the carriage procession is embedded above; Alexandra is in carriage 2, and here's a photo spotting as well). It occurs to me that a lady that dresses like this and carries herself like that should have permanent carriage transport. Get the lady a phaeton and a troop of Windsor Greys and clear the streets. Cars are just so vulgar, aren't they?

Best Dressed

The Countess of Wessex

Sophie made her 2012 Ascot debut today to rousing applause from me (and maybe you? We shall see). Not only did she take over from the Duchess of Gloucester in the fierce and fabulous Ascot hat category, she took over from the Queen in the gorgeous aquamarine brooch category! Go on, Sophie.

Who wins your prize on day 2?

Photos: Metro/Zimbio/Getty Images/Reuters/Daylife

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2012, Day 1

The races at Royal Ascot are in full swing, and the royals may be going with a color coordination strategy this year. The ladies busted out the blues today for the first of five days of hatted fashion fun:

Best Start to the Week

Queen Elizabeth

Throwing a wrench into your Ascot brooch bets right from the start, QEII busted out the massive brooch from her Brazilian Aquamarine parure which we don't get to see so often on day duty. I hope this isn’t the only surprise Liz has in store for us this week…

Best in Déjà Vu

The Duchess of Cornwall

Oh, Camilla. When she gets a good outfit (and this one, just seen at the Thames pageant, is), she just runs with it. Even when it makes her look like she only has a handful of outfits in her closet total and breaks the unspoken family color code.

Worst in Walking the Line

Princess Eugenie

There are new dress code rules at Ascot this year, particularly for those in the Royal Enclosure. Fascinators are strictly forbidden, as are miniskirts and puny little straps on your dress. The Ascot powers that be meant business, too: they stationed “Dress Code Attendants” at the gates to judge the riffraff. Leave it to a princess to test the rules in her “it’s a hat but I’ll wear it at a fascinator angle and you can’t stop me, hat police!” chapeau and her “I’ll cover my shoulders but only barely and I won’t make it look good!” dress. What a rebel. Too bad the dress code didn’t specifically address butt ruffles.

Best in Ascot Spirit

The Duchess of Gloucester

Ascot’s supposed to be about nutty hats, but with fascinators out of contention even the only York on point today didn’t bother making a run for it. Birgitte did, though! This is her outfit from William and Kate’s wedding, and the hat’s fierce enough for me to skip right over that ruffle that’s out to strangle our fair duchess. 

Cutest Dress

Princess Haya

Ascot means not just an assortment of Windsors but the always lovely equestrienne Princess Haya of Jordan, wife of Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, coming out to play. Doesn’t she just look so friendly? Anyhoo…that’s a super cute dress (from Dior), and I’m a sucker for anything with a whiff of a full skirt. 

Best Dressed

The Princess Royal

Anne, you do surprise. Best Princess Royal outfit ever? Maybe, maybe; it fits like a glove and it's not excessively shiny or anything. Even HRH herself was pumped for her sartorial success.

Who do you say wins the fashion blue ribbon on day 1?

Photos: Getty Images/WPA Pool/Cozycot/Zimbio/Daylife

Flashback Friday: The Ascot Brooch Stakes

At Royal Ascot, you can place your bets on the horses or on the color of the queen's hat. I prefer a more sparkly betting game, myself: which brooches will the queen wear this year?

Five days of Ascot should bring us five different brooches. Will she go for the old faithfuls? Will she bring something out from way back in the vault? Or will she use her Diamond Jubilee year to show us some of her most impressive rocks?

Before you place your bets, have a little context: here are the brooches worn by Queen Elizabeth for the past 5 years of Ascot (click to enlarge as usual).

2006

Left to Right: a diamond and sapphire bundle of grapes from the Queen Mother's collection, the Australian Wattle Brooch, the Jardine Star, the City of London Lily Brooch, and one of Queen Victoria's Bow Brooches

2007

L to R: a 6 petal diamond flower, the Flame Lily Brooch, her pearl and diamond quatrefoil brooch, one of Victoria's bows, and the Flower Basket Brooch

2008

L to R: the Queen Mother's Shell Brooch, the City of London Lily, Queen Mary's Russian Brooch, the Jardine Star, and Victoria's Bow again

2009

L to R: a diamond flower brooch, the Cullinan V Brooch, the Queen Mother's Shell Brooch, the City of London Lily again, and the Queen Mother's grapes again

2010

L to R: the Cullinan V Brooch, the Queen Mother's Australian Hibiscus Brooch, a feather brooch, her Aquamarine Clips, and another of Victoria's Bows

2011

L to R: the City of London Lily, the Williamson Pink Diamond, the Queen Mother's Shell, the Jardine Star, and once again one of Victoria's Bows

Okay, now put your psychic caps on:

What do you think we'll see on the queen at this year's Royal Ascot?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Polfoto/Corbis

Event Roundup: Royal Ascot 2011

Five days of racing, five days of hats and fashion galore. Relive the magic:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3 (Ladies' Day)

Day 4

Day 5

Presenting our overall winners:

Best Hat

The Countess of Wessex

Princess Michael brought some fierce competition with her ball of fur and feathers on Day 4, but Sophie's peacock turns wins the race for being fun, fierce and stylish, all at once. (Note that Princess Haya's Day 3 purple love was a close runner up!)

Worst Dressed

Princess Eugenie, Day 1

What's worse than a thirty-year-old wonder from Princess Anne? A bona fide hot mess. I still can't figure this baffling lace and snakeskin combo out.

Best Dressed

Princess Beatrice, Day 1

Not Ascot crazy, no. But sometimes lovely is all it takes to win the week.

Who wins your prizes for Ascot week?

Photos: Getty/Daylife

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2011, Day 5

The Ascot Marathon is over! Can you handle just a wee few more awards?

The Once Again Award

Queen Elizabeth

Once again, she's great. Consistency for 60 years and running: that's our Lilibet.

Best in VaVaVoom

Princess Eugenie

Excuuussseee me, why did we have to wait until Day 5 to see something like this? There are just as many of you out there clutching your pearls in abject horror as there are that are ready to join me in a resounding Hell Yes! for Eugenie here, and that only makes this little number better. This is Alexander McQueen, darlings. And if I had my druthers, Eugenie's wardrobe would be comprised solely of McQueen and Westwood, because she's got curves, and they should be shaped and shown off, not covered up. Yes. McQueen, Westwood, and a tailor. The hat's a little bit of a disco funeral, but that's all right. It's all about the dress, baby.

Are you with me, or have you clutched your pearls so tight you're about to faint?

Photos: Daylife/Getty

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2011, Day 4

You aren't getting tired of Ascot, are you? We still have a day left, you know. Seems to me the royals might be growing a little weary, though...let's see:

Best in Rain Gear

Princess Eugenie

This is how we handle the rain at Ascot. We don't bundle up like it's Christmas at Sandringham as Beatrice did yesterday; we just coordinate our outfit to our brolly and call it a day. Well played, Eugenie.

Worst Seasonal Confusion

Queen Elizabeth

This suit/hat combo is so odd to me. It's spring-ready buttercup yellow, but the accent colors are quite autumnal. All of which is to say: meh. I had to include Prince Philip in the picture just for some entertainment. He doesn't have to do a thing, and I still find him delightful.

Best Potential

Princess Haya

Hat: big, fab, check. Rest of it: damn you, rain.

Best Effort

Princess Michael of Kent

I requested that someone, anyone, bring it, and look: Marie-Christine wore a hat with a furry tail, bless her over-the-top heart. A+ for effort. Here's hoping the sun comes out tomorrow and more Windsors come out to play.

UPDATE: Found another Windsor!

Best in Youth

Lady Amelia Windsor

A new royal at Ascot, yay! Lady Amelia is the daughter of the Earl and Countess of St. Andrews, which makes her the granddaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. And yes, I reckon if you are 15 years old and you are out at Ascot, this is precisely what you'd wear. Well done, Amelia.

Is anybody tickling your fashion fancy on day 4?

Photos: Tim Rooke/Rex Features/Isopix/Newspix/Belga/Getty Images/Daylife

Royal Fashion Awards: Ascot 2011, Ladies' Day

It's day 3 of Ascot and it is it should be the best day yet: Ladies' Day! Also known as crazy hat Mecca. The question is: did the royals live up to the occasion? Let us see...

Best Roller Coaster

Princess Anne

Day 1, icy blue perfection. Day 2, stale mustard. Day 3...back on top! And dressed in purple, just for me. (Ha.) Whatever will tomorrow bring? Way to keep us on our toes, Anne.

Best in Non-Ladies' Day Form

Queen Elizabeth

There's definitely something to be said for consistency...but sometimes I just wish Liz would kick it up a notch for days like today. It'd probably scar my retinas for life, but at least we'd have a laugh. Surely that hairnet isn't the only nutty thing banging around in her closet? In the mean time, I suppose hot watermelon pink will have to do.

Best Try

Carole Middleton

All the chatter over the Middletons riding in a carriage today and being in the royal box kinda cracked me up. They have a stake in a horse racing today, why wouldn't they be there? Sophie's father was in a carriage yesterday, no comment on that. People seem to be grasping for things to hyperventilate over in Kate's absence. So good on Carole here for not giving it to them in the form of a fashion disaster. This hat is weird, but whatever.

Worst Loss of Mojo

Princess Beatrice

Seems that one princess-y effort wasn't a permanent trend (sigh). This is just...I mean...it's fine. It's not anything, really. It's like she tried to do something a little trussed up for Ladies' Day, but she forgot to work it. Bea's done lost her hat mojo.

Worst Race Rerun

The Countess of Wessex

Epsom, and now Ascot. While I can credit her for a flattering coat and for mixing up the hat on her repeat, I'm just a little bored overall. With the whole field. Poor Sophie, it's not her fault. UPDATE: I've added the hat into the equation now...and, well, at least somebody brought a little something out of the ordinary.

Best in Lovely

Princess Haya

I know some of you were a bit perturbed to learn that Haya here is one of multiple wives for the Sheikh (see our discussion on just exactly who Princess Haya is here), but I tell you, I have a soft spot for her. Doesn't she look like she'd be just lovely to have a chat with? As Crown Princess Katherine is to royal weddings, Princess Haya is to royal racing.

Worst in Missing Persons

Zara Phillips

You know what we needed today? Some Zara. Where is she? Why has she not been at Ascot for a while? She always brings something interesting to talk about. I need a Bat Signal or something.

Best in Ladies' Day Fashion

Absolutely Nobody

This whole day was a little pffftblerghsigh, wouldn't you say? The answer to my question (did the royals live up to the occasion) is: no. What's the matter, Windsors? Rain got you down? How come not a one of you really embraced the Ladies' Day spirit? People wear dead animals just for this occasion, you know. Two days left for you to redeem yourselves. Don't let us down.

How are you feeling about the Ladies' Day fashion? Am I the only one that's a bit let down?

Photos: Chris Jackson/Getty Images/Daylife/Daily Mail/Isopix/Rex Features