Royal Ascot.

Our fashion industry is an important part of the economy. The WFA will be restored annyway and for all we know many race goers could be regular contributors to food banks.

Your post comes across as a bit chip on shoulder. DD and DSil will be there tomorrow.They are both hard working people who enjoy their annual trip to Royal Ascot. I love to see the outfits and hats, especially the one worn today by the Duchess of Gloucester. It was commissioned by her and made by a student who has benefited from the King’s Trust.
What a wonderful start to his career.

Toff bashing.

Absolutely not.
Just observation and stating equality is ever present.
I have no chip on my shoulder and never have had.
I am really insulted by that remark.

And to say that many are probably regular contributors to food banks is so ludicrous it is beyond my belief.

Always has been, always will be, The King lives in a castle, for many years I lived in a 3 bedroomed house in Wales, there
were people living in flats, people homeless

It is an unequal world and will always be so. The extravagance just feels super-heightened when contrasted with current news.

One could make that case about any major entertainment event.

One more positive way to look at it is how much work this creates which provides jobs and wages; how much money is spent and how much revenue all this generates for the Treasury. The amount of betting duty must be huge.

Some facts and figures:

www.ascot.com/about/facts-stats

I read there that 65,000 bottles of champagne are sold over the course of the week. Some news sources say that a bottle of Moet at Royal Ascot costs £250. Half the cost of a bottle of wine is excise duty and VAT. If they are all sold for £250 those 65,000 bottles would yield over 8 million in tax.

What happened over WFP was always a political decision dressed up as an economic one. Even paid to everyone of pension age it was a piddly amount in the great scheme of things.

Usedtobeblonde

And to say that many are probably regular contributors to food banks is so ludicrous it is beyond my belief.

That’s not what I said.

Ascot itself donates hundreds of thousands every year to both local and other charities. One race today (the Britannia Stakes) and every year since 2019, has in those last 6 years donated over 6 million to various charities including Prostate Cancer and Missing People.
I know it looks and is very extravagant utbb but others do benefit as well.

Usedtobeblonde

This is a post I have never made before, perhaps never considered making but I have just gone on to my IPad to be regaled with photographs of the Royal Family , friends , race goers in the the most elaborate, extravagant fashions , not for one day but for the the third with one more day to go.
And families are using food banks to feed their children and themselves.
Just one hat would pay the WFA for several OAP’s for a year.
Multiply that by thousands of racegoers.
Equality lives and thrives in Britain today.

Wm Shakespeare, ""Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?"

Ascot is a truly international event with horses travelling over from America, Australia and France; I’m sure that, along with seeing all the beautiful horses and carriages, it’s good for tourism.Not that I go anywhere much these days, but I always used to think that racing was one of the few occasions where women could wear the expensive wedding outfits that we’ve all bought and never been able to wear again. I’m sure that there will be lots of wining and dining at Wimbledon next week.

And some people spend large sums on festival tickets. So what? I have no wish to wear extravagant hats and go to Ascot but see no reason to begrudge others. I don’t think envy is very helpful.

How much more can I say I have no envy.
I just think of the hundreds of thousands of people in Britain today who are so hard up they can hardly feed their families seeing the spectacle of Ascot.
They aren’t concerned how much the fashion industry is helped or how much racing brings in , it is beyond anything they understand.
I am just trying to be understanding of how they feel.
I can see I am no longer able to get my point across, age has taken my ability to express myself more fluently.
I am just very happy my sympathy and empathy is still with me.

I do understand that what you feel is not coming from envy.

Jaxjacky

Ascot itself donates hundreds of thousands every year to both local and other charities. One race today (the Britannia Stakes) and every year since 2019, has in those last 6 years donated over 6 million to various charities including Prostate Cancer and Missing People.
I know it looks and is very extravagant utbb but others do benefit as well.

Not to mention the number of jobs involved, all those people paying tax too.

Should we all cease spending because some people are poorer than others? Not go out, go on holiday, buy nice clothes for special occasions? That would bring the economy to a grinding halt.
A healthy economy benefits everyone. Those who can afford to help others less fortunate.
Royal Family members support innumerable charities too.

Republicans do not seem to debate which system would be better, a monarchy or a presidential system, rather they just seem to present the argument that the Royal Family cost too much money.

If I ever go (which is unlikely) I'll make sure to wear the hat I had for DD's wedding 20 years ago! I'm more frugal than ostentatious.
👒

If it's 20 years old it will probably have come back into fashion. Maybe Ascot should have a competition for best charity shop outfit?

If Donald Trump declared himself king of the USA there'd be a revolution. I guess those who think the monarchy is the best system would approve.

I guess on the surface Ascot looks frivolous and extravagant, but like others have said it isn't money frittered on nothing because it benefits the economy. The ladies' dresses and hats are mainly British labels, I believe, like ME+EM.
I don't think you're coming from envy. At least you're not being personal about anyone, just finding the set up puzzling. I guess anywhere the monarchy turns up in numbers, all in their finery, makes the divide between them and us seem all the greater.

Should we all cease spending because some people are poorer than others? Not go out, go on holiday, buy nice clothes for special occasions?
Well said, Allira.
If you have money, it's up to you how you enjoy it.

Quote escaped Fri 20-Jun-25 06:11:25
I guess on the surface Ascot looks frivolous and extravagant, but like others have said it isn't money frittered on nothing because it benefits the economy. The ladies' dresses and hats are mainly British labels, I believe, like ME+EM.
I don't think you're coming from envy. At least you're not being personal about anyone, just finding the set up puzzling. I guess anywhere the monarchy turns up in numbers, all in their finery, makes the divide between them and us seem all the greater.

‘Anywhere the monarchy turns up’ is personal

Why are the RF cosying up with the Saudis?

Still they have had dubious tastes in friends over the years.

I have been to Ascot and other race meetings, I enjoy watching Ascot.

I know there are people struggling, I also know that some of those will be putting their money on horses down the local bookmakers instead of towards their own families.

I cannot police the situation, all I can do is live my life in a way not to hurt others and to help those less fortunate while I can.

I think you are wrong Silverbrooks
I think the duty on the champagne is about £2.77 a bottle so 65,000 bottles is about £180,000

Duty is paid according to alcohol content;

Duty Rate per Litre of Pure Alcohol: For wines of between 8.5% and 22% ABV, - from February 1, 2025, - is £29.54 per litre of pure alcohol^ as the champagne is in this 8.5% to 22% ABV range and bottles tend to be a standard size I can't see how you got your tax estimate.

Still worth having of course!

If you think that Royal Ascot fashion is a waste of money, take a look at the debenture resale prices for a single Wimbledon tennis ticket -

£1K to £19K +