It's Fabulous Friday! Royal Ascot revellers defy the demure dress code

It's Fabulous Friday! Royal Ascot revellers defy the demure dress code The weekend is almost here and those lucky enough to have secured a ticket for Royal Ascot got proceedings off to a very glamorous start. As racing fans began streaming through the gates at 10.30 early arrivals made sure to set the style standard for the day head. After a week of elaborate millinery and fabulous frocks, today looks to be shaping up to be another stylish affair as racegoers showed off hats festooned with feathers and decadent blooms. GMB presenter Charlotte Hawkins led the glamour, looking chic in a burgundy jumpsuit teamed with a matching feathered hat. Visitors to the Royal and Queen Anne enclosures have to abide by a strict dress code, which does not allow bare midriffs or strapless dresses, but for guests in the Windsor and other enclosures the rules are more relaxed. And today plenty of glamorous racegoers took the opportunity to flash the flesh in daring hemlines and plunging dresses. Today is the unofficial Armed Forces day at Ascot with concessions available for military personnel and volunteers from the Navy, Army and RAF as a show of support. Ladies Day on Thursday was a typically glamorous affair, but some were feeling the worse for wear after a day of flowing Pimms and champagne, and ended up kicking their heels off for a nap on the grass. And today is expected to be an equally lively affair as punters make an early start to the weekend with feature races including the Coronation Stakes. Up to 300,000 people are due to descend on the event over the course of five days and naturally the stylish event is a magnet for celebrities, with today predicted to be a star-studded occasion. So far this week, the iconic course has hosted stars including athlete Sir Mo Farah, Declan Donnelly, Alexandra Burke, as well as a host of reality TV names from Georgia Toffolo to Olivia Attwood. With the clue in the name, Royal Ascot is hugely popular with the monarchy and Her Majesty has attended every year since ascending the throne. She's expected to appear this afternoon for the fourth day running, accompanied by family members, arriving in the parade ring via the traditional carriage procession. Over the course of the week, she's been joined accompanied by Harry and Meghan, Charles and Camilla, Sophie and Edward, Prince Andrew and his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. However, Zara Tindall will be a notable absentee from proceedings this year after giving birth to her second child - a baby girl - on Monday, while the Duchess of Cambridge is also expected to bow out, as she focuses on spending time with newborn Prince Louis. Revellers at this year's festival have faced heightened security measures, including armed police and sniffer dogs patrolling the course for both explosives and drugs. Read more : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/art... Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook