A regal day out

Each year, when the sun stays out to play and day stretch into bed time, while the Danes burn their witches, Brits of a certain social inclination flock to the Royal Ascot. And while the royal bit is not a requisite for entry, you can bet the queen will be on hand. (Heck, you can even bet on the color she'll be sporting.)

Place your bet on the queen's fashion choice!

So my friends and I shelled out for a top-notch day of people watching, with some horses on the side.

A day rubbing shoulders at the races

My eyes just could not get enough. Every turn of my head brought on an even more cleverly, creatively composed get-up, literally from head to toe. That's because at Ascot, as tradition dictates that all the ladies are to wear a hat or fascinator. And do they ever. The ambience Ascot achieves is completely unlike anything I could imagine Stateside: so many hundreds (thousands?) of people come together, all in on the classy unironic get-ups, men in tailcoats and top hats, ladies decked brightly colored works of art, and—the icing on the cake—a queen in a royal carriage. And I even achieved a life goal I never knew I had: Took a photo with the queen! (Just a fuchsia speck in the background, but still, that speck is the queen!!)

Just your regular afternoon with me and the queen (in fuchsia, on the green) 

 Now to see if I can't bring along some arm candy in the form of my husband in a top hat next year. 😁