Despite the pouring rain, I think this year’s Royal Ascot was the best yet. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you’ll know that I go to Ascot every year with friends (see here and here), apart from last year when we decided to skip it in favour of a day in London. However this year I had a bit of a kerfuffle, I’m not a member of the enclosure, and my friend who I usually go with as their guest was away for Ascot this year, and stupidly I didn’t realise until it was too late to get any of my other friends to get me a badge as they closed the applications really early this year. But these things always have a way of materializing…
The boys won from Mahsoob winning the first race after an excellent tip off, so we went to get their winnings and find some of the other members of the group that we’d lost in the excitement of it all. During the next race most of us just took photos and participated in another hat swap, and yet again the guys won!
The hat swap got a little confusing and Harry and Peter got their hats muddled up…Peter legit thought his hat had gotten bigger from the heat, until he realized that he was actually wearing Harry’s…
The girls and I decided to go and get afternoon tea as we were a little peckish after all that drinking and celebrating the wins, so we left the boys to it and went in search of tea and cake. What we found was pretty fabulous! Delicious sandwiches, cute little scones with clotted cream and jam, and the sweetest but tastiest cakes I think I’ve ever had from an afternoon tea! Caroline had the gluten free tea, and she said it was one of the best she’s had – she particularly loved the desserts. Sadly I didn’t get any photos of hers, but here are some photos of our normal tea!
By the time we’d finished there was only one race left, sadly we missed Frankie Dettori’s win and the chance to see him in the winners circle, but the guys assured us it was pretty epic. To be honest we were happy we’d chosen the cake over Dettori – our poor feet needed a rest and our bellies needed refueling. We paid our bill (a very reasonable £50 for two afternoon teas between 3 of us in the Royal Enclosure), and made our way up to the fourth floor to see the final race.
It started pouring with rain so we stayed indoors and watched the race from over the tops of everyone else’s heads as everyone had the same idea. Then we made our way to the grandstand area where the bandstand is, for the old fashioned end of day sing-a-long.
As it was still raining we let a couple of people share our massive umbrella, and then I heard one of them say she was from Western Australia, instantly I went ‘Wait what!? Where!?’ and she said ‘Perth!’ I yelled in her face ‘NO WAY! I went to JTC!!’ and she screamed and grabbed some guy nearby. Turns out the guy went to JTC as well, and he graduated the same year as my ex-boyfriend so he knew him. It just goes to show how bloody small Perth is, forget six, there really is only one or two degrees of separation!
The rain was torrential by this point and we honestly didn’t think it could get any worse. We had our umbrellas up and sang at the tops of our voices until it all got too much. Then we ran for it in pairs, Harry and I raced from the bandstand to the Royal Enclosure squealing with laughter as we got absolutely drenched from the rain coming at us from all angles and the puddles splashing all up our legs as our feet hit the ground.
We finally got to the Birdcage in the Enclosure where a few friends had saved a table for us all. The magnums of Bollinger champagne were out and flowing, so naturally this happened….
But then I realized I was now even wetter than before. So this face happened.
Despite the weather, and despite my hat and shoes getting utterly destroyed, I actually think this was the best Royal Ascot I’ve been to so far, it was such a fun day and definitely memorable! I think this one last photo sums it up very nicely, it’s so quintessentially British – standing in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot, in the rain, in morning dress. England.
Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of Content Marketing at Amazon by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.
Sounds like such a fun day! I've never been to Ascot, but I desperately want to go! Shame about your shoes and hat, I hope there's some life still left in them?
Lauren xx
" The Lifestyle Diaries
You must go next year, it's so much fun! My mum said I should see if someone can repair it – she thinks they can steam them back into shape?! I need to have a google!
C x
I love the way you pictures really capture how much fun you're having! I've never been to Ascot, maybe next year 🙂
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
Aw thank you Angie! We had such a fun day – I love it when the photos show this 🙂
C x
LOVE your hat – and that afternoon tea! Looked like an amazing experience. x
Thanks Jamie! It's a favourite of mine, I have another one that I'm not so keen on.
C x
I've never been to Ascot but have only heard good things… it does look like an epic day out – who can say no to a day of dressing up, champagne and well-priced afternoon tea?! Lots of love, Andrea xxx
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You must go! It's such a brilliant day out, and if anything the rain made it more fun! 😉
C x
Favourite quote: 'We did manage to make the first race though, and I've seen the Queen before so wasn't too fussed about seeing her again.' poor queenie! looks like you had a lot of fun 🙂
Hahaha! 😉 #firstworldproblems
C x
I worked in the royal enclosure last year as I live close by I had such a fun week 🙂 The people were surprisingly friendly and not as uppity as I thought they might be! I'm working in France atm but I wished I'd done it again this year!
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Ah amazing! We're absolutely lovely, promise! You do get the odd idiot, I know quite a few, but 90% of us are totally normal and polite to everyone we meet. I always make sure I smile at and thank everyone on the doors and serving in the bars and restaurants.
Do it again next year and I might see you there!
C x
You look stunning as always Catherine! All that champagne must have been heavenly though. That afternoon tea looks amazing, who knew they even served that at Royal Ascot?! Fab!
Aftab | Fresh And Fearless
Thank you Aftab! It was pretty amazing, not gonna lie! Of course, Royal Ascot have everything you could ever need 😉
C x
How gorgeous is your hat?! You look stunning!
Polly xx
Follow Your Sunshine
Thanks Polly! Sadly the hat is no more 🙁 it's rather wonky from the rain :/
C x
You found an outfit in the end! Looked fab! It was such a great, would have been nice to see you in the Grandstad 🙂
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