Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot 2012 - in pictures

OK, let's get the new ladies' dress code clear: hats in the royal enclosure but no fascinators; hats OR fascinators in the grandstand; anything goes in the silver ring (within reason, naturally) Photograph: Tim Ireland/PA

Pop art + pearls = one much-photographed hat Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Ah, the inevitable nod to the jubilee. Let's hope the Queen spotted this hat in the crowd. Actually, can we be sure this isn't the Queen? Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP

Or maybe this is Her Majesty? Alas, we'll never know Photograph: ANDY RAIN/EPA

A more inventive way to wear your patriotism on your sleeve - and by 'sleeve', we mean 'head' - the full English breakfast hat Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Even dogs are not exempt from the new rules. Zoey wears this natty little hat with style Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Puts you in mind of the Occupy movement, doesn't it? But this protest is for a far more important cause. Thanks, Debenhams, for bringing the plight of the much-maligned fascinator to our attention Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

And in support of the protest, here is a fascinator with a musical bent Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Strapless or sheer strap dresses are not permitted in the grandstand, so these women have chosen wisely Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Let's hope this chap isn't in the royal enclosure - men's shoes can be any colour as long as they're black Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

Sorry, ladies, he's just not that into you Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Royal Ascot can be a bit stick-in-the-mud Photograph: David Davies/PA

Two legs good, four legs better Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters