Royal Ascot 2011 Ladies' Day - in pictures

A handy multi-purpose hat: you can wear it, and when you get peckish, grab a strawberry liquorice bootlace for a snack Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Not a good day for sandals at Royal Ascot today Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Insert your own birds of a feather gag here Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

There were plenty of patriotic umbrellas left over from the Royal Wedding planning ... Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

And a thousand other ladies look on in envy Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

The rush hour on South West trains does not usually look quite so glamorous Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Coloured pheasant feathers. Or, it being Royal Ascot, possibly peasant feathers Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

An excellent plan to save time queuing for a cuppa and a cake Photograph: Charlie Crowhurst/EPA

Canada Dry, not the natural brand for an umbrella logo? Photograph: Charlie Crowhurst/EPA

This hat was commissioned by the Malaria Awareness Campaign to raise awareness of malaria amongst UK travellers. Serious issue, somewhat lost in millinery translation? Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Milliner David Shilling proves that gents can look as daft in giant stuffed birds as the ladies Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Hollow laughs at the weather forecast? Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

And you thought they just put the horses in blinkers Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Odds on this picture appearing in a tabloid, with a caption involving fillies/pairs of legs/ankles have now shortened to 2-1 Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

It's hard work following the form Photograph: Julian Herbert/Action Images

It's just been too long since you saw a Middleton, no? So here's Carole arriving as part of the royal carriage procession Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Rainy day. Lots of posh people. Titantic-themed hat. Surely asking for disaster? Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA