The most aristocratic race week in the world: the royal procession opens each day, hats compete in the enclosures, and the Royal Enclosure keeps up its ritual of membership by sponsorship. Five days accessible to the public, from the relaxed Windsor Enclosure to the Queen Anne Enclosure, at the heart of the action.
The Royal Enclosure cannot be bought: access requires sponsorship by two Royal Enclosure members who have themselves been members for at least 5 years (and have attended for at least 4 years in total) and who personally know the applicant. The Member Application Form must be completed by the applicant and signed by both sponsors, accompanied by a £100 fee; processing takes up to 3 weeks and the application must be submitted before mid-May to obtain the badge for the current year — places are capped, and any surplus goes on a waiting list. Alternative without sponsorship: book a table at one of the Royal Enclosure restaurants (Panoramic, Parade Ring...), which issues a named day badge. For the Queen Anne, Village and Windsor enclosures, ticketing is open to all at eticketing.co.uk.
Four enclosures: Windsor (the most affordable, free 'smart daywear' dress code), Village (tickets around £45-100 depending on the day, smart dress), Queen Anne (tickets around £85-125 depending on the day) and Royal Enclosure (badge access only, see above). Hospitality packages from Ascot's official supplier (eventmasters.co.uk) range from around £252/person (Terrace Club) to over £2,940/person (Panoramic, Parade Ring Restaurant). Strict dress code in the Royal Enclosure and Queen Anne: details on the dedicated page ascot.com/royal-ascot/handbook.
Royal Ascot is five days during which the jet set moves between the royal grandstands, the lawns of the Guards Polo Club at Windsor Great Park and Berkshire's starred restaurants. Settle in at Coworth Park, the only British hotel with its own polo ground, ten minutes from the racecourse, or choose the historic splendour of Cliveden House, forty minutes from London. Between garden parties in the Royal Enclosure gardens and high-goal polo at the Cartier Queen's Cup, the stay extends the magic of the track well beyond the last race.