Vintage Royal Ascot Jewels

Today is the first day of Royal Ascot, one of the best weeks of the whole year for royal fashion and jewelry. (There’s a reason I called it Hat Christmas back in the days of Mad Hattery!) Before we see the modern pieces worn today by the royals who attend the races, here’s a look back at ensembles worn at Royal Ascot in days past. Which is your favorite Ascot era?

Royal Ascot fashion plates by Jules David, ca. 1880s

Detail of an Arthur Hopkins illustration of the Gold Cup race, ca. 1890s

Fashionable members of the enclosure crowd, 1900

Women in white at the races, 1907

Constance Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster chats with Lord Shaftesbury, 1908

The Marchioness of Camden and companions attend the famous “Black Ascot” meet of 1910. The races were held shortly after the death of King Edward VII, but the new king, George V, requested that the races go on as planned, so racegoers attended in black and white mourning attire. The event was immortalized in Cecil Beaton’s costumes for the famous Ascot scenes from My Fair Lady

Late Edwardian fashion weeks before the outbreak of World War I, 1914

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Post-war pearls at the races, 1920

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Mrs. Hedges draws stunned glances from onlookers with her fur, 1922

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A fashionable silhouette, 1928

Brooke/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The legendary Amelia Earhart wears pearls on her way to Ascot, 1928

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Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji and Lady Bomanji make a star-spangled appearance, 1930

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Sylvia, Ranee of Sarawak (left) cuts an elegant silhouette, 1935

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Pleats and pearls on the second day of the races, 1939

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Raine, Countess Spencer (then Mrs. Gerald Legge) wears jewels and a hat trimmed with fruit, 1949

We’ll be covering the jewels worn at this year’s Royal Ascot every afternoon this week!