The annual ritual of the British upper classes known since 1711 as the Royal Ascot meet is under way in rural Berkshire, England. As always, it's a stately parade of fabulous hats displayed by the royals and the filthy rich. Here, racegoers await the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II to open the first day of racing, June 20, 2006.
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Phillip, arrive at the Royal Ascot race course on June 20, 2006. The Queen officially opened the newly renovated racecourse for the start of the prestigious meet, restoring its status as the premiere event of the British high-society calendar after a one-year hiatus.
On her way to the royal box, Queen Elizabeth II walks by a commissionaire of the course, known reasonably enough as a "greencoat," on the first day of horse racing at Ascot, June 20, 2006.
The kids showed up for the day, too. The Queen's sons, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, left, and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, arrive for the first day of Royal Ascot 2006 at Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, left, and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive for the first day of Royal Ascot 2006 at Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006. The man in the background with a face full of feathers is unidentified.
Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are surrounded by top-hatted friends on the first day of Royal Ascot 2006 at Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006.
Ascot is, of course, as much about hats as it is about horses. The Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, wears a suitably festive hat as she arrives by carriage for the first day of Royal Ascot 2006 at Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006.
Sophie Rhys-Jones, Countess of Wessex, arrives by carriage for the first day of Royal Ascot 2006 on June 20, 2006. The wife of the queen's youngest son, Prince Andrew, Sophie has been seen in much worse hats.
Not to be outdone by any royal, racegoer Jodie Sykes wears a frothy hat and appears to be having a better time than any titled attendee at Ascot Race Course on the first day of horse racing, June 20, 2006. The five-day Royal Ascot event is one of the world's most famous meetings and is attended by some 80,000 people each day.
A racegoer wears an exuberant hat on the first day of Royal Ascot at the Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006.
Racegoers enjoy a slow interlude on the first day of Royal Ascot at the Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006. Part of the new Ascot grandstand can be seen in the background.
A racegoer in an extravagant hat poses at Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006, the first day of horse racing at the newly refurbished facility.
The Royal Ascot event has been a highlight of the racing and social calendar since 1711, and royal patronage continues today with a daily Royal Procession past the grandstands. Looking like they're starring in a sequel to "March of the Penguins," Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, take a public stroll on June 20, 2006.
Gender-bending is rather unusual at this event, but here's the evidence, unless they just lost their top hats. Male racegoers wear feathered hats at Ascot race course on the first day of horse racing at the Royal Ascot event on June 20, 2006.
Racegoers in traditional top hats are seen in silhouette at Ascot Race Course on the first day of horse racing at Royal Ascot, June 20, 2006.
Racegoers wait between races in the Royal Enclosure at the Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006. An invitation to the Royal Enclosure is highly coveted at this event.
Safely ensconced and ready for action, Queen Elizabeth II smiles in the Royal Box on the first day of Royal Ascot 2006, at Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006. The man with her is unidentified. He's probably some knight of the royal whatever, or maybe the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
She looks like she's telling him not to blow his money on the horses again. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, were in sight but unfortunately out of hearing range in the Royal Box on the first day of Royal Ascot 2006 at Ascot Race Course on June 20, 2006.
The coolest hats at Ascot, of course, are on the jockeys. Frankie Dettori is seen at Ascot Race course on the first day of the Royal Ascot meet on June 20, 2006.
And they're off ... The crowd watches a race on the first day of the Royal Ascot meet, June 20, 2006.