What is Ladies Day at Royal Ascot?
Get our ultimate guide on things to do in Berkshire with our What's On email Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. After 2020s event ran behind closed doors, Royal Ascot 2021 is set to go ahead, with spectators returning to the racecourse to watch some of the worlds finest horses compete for more than 6million in prize money. There are 35 races scheduled over five days, including eight top-class Group 1 races and the oldest and most valuable race of all, the Ascot Gold Cup, set for Thursday, June 17 at 4:20pm. Though this years meet will be different, with a maximum of 12,000 in attendance for each day in line with the Governments Covid-19 roadmap, Thursdays Ladies Day still looks to be a highlight of the prestigious racing event. Nowadays, Ladies Day is the biggest and most glamorous day of the annual five-day meet, with thousands of well-dressed women flocking to the Berkshire racecourse every year. Rather it is a colloquial term adopted by the public to refer to day three of the event, which traditionally was when women were given free or discounted tickets. In fact, the earliest mention of the name Ladies Day actually dates back to an 1823 poem about the event: Ladies Day when the women, like angels, look sweetly divine. Though gender discounts no longer exist, the tradition of high fashion and glamour lives on, with many racing fans, celebrities and members of the Royal Family dressing up for the day, which also sees the renowned Gold Cup race take place. Royal Ascot Ladies Day schedule  Here are all the Royal Ascot races scheduled for Ladies Day on Thursday, June 17:  2:30pm The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)  3:05pm The Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)  3:40pm The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)  4:20pm The Gold Cup (Group 1)  5:00pm The Britannia Stakes (Handicap)  5:35pm The King George V Stakes (Handicap)  6:10pm The Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)  BerkshireLive email updates: We bring the stories to you Signing up to the BerkshireLive newsletter means you'll receive our daily news email. It couldn't be simpler and it takes seconds - simply press here, enter your email address and follow the instructions. You can also enter your address at the top of this page in the box below the picture on most desktop and mobile platforms. There's an 'unsubscribe' button at the bottom of every newsletter we send out. You can also sign up to our website and comment on our stories by pressing here and signing in. This years event will take place at the Ascot Racecourse from June 15 to 19, running between the usual days of Tuesday and Saturday. The Village, Windsor and Heath Enclosures will remain closed this year because of the reduced capacity, but the Royal Enclosure and the Queen Anne Enclosure will both be in operation, each with their own strict dress codes. Those lucky enough to get Royal Ascot tickets this year should be sure to read up on the style guide for each of the enclosures in advance.