Come back fascinator, all is forgiven? This guest, above, is packing some rather lacklustre feathers

Royal Ascot's tightened dress code does not, however, stretch to guests outside the prestigious royal enclosure - and in a bizarre U-turn, organisers announced this week that they will actually hand out fascinators, along with pashminas and ties, to guests in the general enclosure who turn up with bare heads, shoulders or collars.

The event, which will play host to 300,000 ticket holders, has employed a team of 30 "Dress Code Assistants" to scour the grounds for people whose attire does not meet its increasingly high standards.

Women have been told that skirts or dresses should be of "modest length", with anything falling above the knee in disregard of the official dress code. Men in the royal enclosure are banned from wearing cravats and must don black or grey morning dress with a waistcoat and tie, as well as a black or grey top hat and black shoes.

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