Royal Ascot.

Quote NotAGran55 Fri 20-Jun-25 07:58:03
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

And a member of The Kings family attends every year , shocking

NotAGran55

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 +

I suppose the Royals support Wimbledon as well as Ascot.

Think of the Royal Box.

I’m a supporter of the Monarchy, I know they are extremely wealthy, live privileged lives that most of us can only imagine.

But as my late mum used to say, ‘There’s always been rats and mice, and there always will be’.

Meaning there has always been great wealth, and also great poverty.

It will never alter, it’s a fact of life.

I don’t read your post as envy usedtobeblond. I don’t share the sentiments that because there has always been great wealth and poverty we should simply accept that and move on. The gap between rich and poor is widening, which doesn’t create a healthy society.
Royal Ascot and Wimbledon showcase the royal family but they’re no longer the preserve of the very rich.
It’s true that sport, including football, tennis, horse racing, cricket and more create employment which benefits all of us. Sport in its various forms raises huge amounts for charities. And yes, our fashion industry contributes. I’m live n let live on this.

I am with you Blondie this is hereditary privilege and conspicuous wealth on parade. Not just hereditary privilege also flaunting of wealth. I know some of these people came from nothing but why is the measure of a successful life for so many people in the UK how much cash you have to splash on silly hats and champagne.

If we had a fairer, properly run welfare system we wouldn't be so reliant on the bounty of rich nobs and their charitable donations to plug the gaps.

I refuse to accept that this is some kind of natural order because as long as we have this mindset there will be an unacceptable gap between the haves and the have nots.

Not Spaghetti. Tax on alcohol comprises excise duty based on ABV plus 20% VAT. You have forgotten the VAT and other taxes. The more expensive the wine the more VAT is charged.

The seller’s profit will attract business taxes at say 25% for the standard rate of Corporation Tax.

My numbers were based on a rough average of the price being charged at this year’s Royal Ascot. According to one news report:

The cheapest bottle of champagne,Moet and Chandon Brut Imperial. is priced at £210, for a 1.5 litre bottle.

The most expensive price for a bottle of bubbly is £560 for a 1.5 litre Cuvee Dom Perignon Blanc.

Other sky-high prices include a £250 Moet and Chandon Rose Imperial.

Obviously, the seller’s margin at RA is very high.

If you spend £8 on a 12.5% ABV bottle of wine from your your local supermarket, £4 of that is excise duty (£2.67) and VAT £1.33). Only £1.56 is money for the actual wine itself. The rest is logistics, packaging and profit for the seller all of which will yield taxes.

I'm totally against RA for the way the horses are treated. Harry's Girl is another death recently, the poor babe had a broken/damaged leg.

''Animal Aid are horrified that another innocent animal, Harry's Girl, only two years old, was killed at Royal Ascott today. Her name joins more than 3,000 before her who have been killed due to racing on British racecourses since 2007. For everyone who still believes the disturbing fantasy that Ascott is glamourous, stylish or impressive, let this be a turning point. Champagne and expensive clothing cannot disguise the ugly truth: horse racing is animal abuse. No animal should suffer for sport''. Iain Green, Director. Animal Aid.

Some breeds of horses were born to run, not run to death. Same with the ''Grand'' National. Another 88 since 1839 with countless other injuries at both RA and GN. I personally couldn't give a hoot about the jockeys and punters etc. it's all those poor innocent horses tortured to death I feel very sorry for.

No one can possibly know anything about the people who go to such events, they could possibly contribute to all sorts of charities, I think it's people's prerogative to spend their money on what could be deemed the utterly frivolous. I lived up on Epsom Downs in my growing up years so was well aware of the amount of money spent on hosting the Derby, in my town's case it generated loads of revenue, spectators came from far and wide. There was always a heaving throng that descended on our area, equally the turnout to try and spot the Royal cavalcade passing through the town was immense, it was felt a big deal that The Queen was there for such an occasion. The Royal Family have never really bothered me, we don't live in feudal times, they're just figureheads, on the whole I think they're good ambassadors for our country. Whilst their lives are privileged in some respects, they pay a price they have massive restrictions placed on them, and everything they do is put under immense scrutiny, who would want that?

I can't say the sort of event such as Ascot ever appealed much to me, maybe because it was on my doorstep for a long time, but horses for courses and all that, pardon the pun! Money needs to be spent every which way for the sake of the economy and clearly it is on these occasions. I must admit to my own prejudices regarding new phenomena that to me appear ridiculous waste of money, extravagant hen dos, proms, over the top weddings, the price people pay for the concert tickets of top acts. I went to a few in my time, the cost didn't seem so disproportionate to earnings, the outlay these days, to me seems shocking! but it's a free country, and as others have pointed out we need to spend, spend, spend for the sake of the country's economic health. I'm not so confident that my own spending on say travel were it to be analysed, it wouldn't be deemed profligate, it has been in the past, far less so now, more local destinations.

I'm not sure I'd make a correlation between people dressed up to the nines to attend Ascot and food banks. To me they are distinct from each other. Of course we need to look after the poorest in our society. Although I think there have been events that I regard fly in the face of the spurious reasons they are held for, talking about climate change at Davos for example, when umpteen gas guzzling jets fly in or discussing food poverty by grandstanding billionaires who probably don't contribute enough through their own taxes. I get more annoyed with all of that quite honestly than events such as Ascot and Wimbledon.

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.

And does it occur to you they are watching the spectacle of Ascot at home, because they are not at work, and on a large television supplied with several expensive subscription channels?
Evidence from CAB volunteering, struggling to help people sort out their debts; TV regarded as an absolute essential expense, non-negotiable.

Why isn’t Aintree being criticised where there is just as much money spent on fashion and hospitality?

Is that because it’s the Chav’s version of Ascot? 😂

I agree Terribull. The extravagant hen dos. Etc etc deserve an eye roll. The jest in and out of Davos. Conferences which could be held on zoom annoy me more thsn Ascot.

I live in a nearby town and very ordinary folk rock up here to catch a stretch limo to Ascot. The girls in sleeveless dresses and little protection against the sun worry me more. I have in the past watched the changeover in the park for the Royals. From car to carriage. Was always great fun for the crowd of us young mums with littlies in pushchairs and a picnic after. And a long walk back home under shady trees. Lovely memories.

I have also had 2 days at Ascot in the last 10 years courtesy of a friend. No feeling of them and us. Just a good day out for all. I am more offended by tax evasion by individuals and companies and the subsequent loss to the country's coffers...now that does affect us all.

MayBee70

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?

It's never gone out of fashion, Maybee because it's probably never been in fashion 😁

Or one could say it's a timeless classic!

Calendargirl

NotAGran55

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 +

I suppose the Royals support Wimbledon as well as Ascot.

Think of the Royal Box.

I’m a supporter of the Monarchy, I know they are extremely wealthy, live privileged lives that most of us can only imagine.

But as my late mum used to say, ‘There’s always been rats and mice, and there always will be’.

Meaning there has always been great wealth, and also great poverty.

It will never alter, it’s a fact of life.

And I wouldn't swap my life for theirs for all the tea in China - or the world!

If we had a fairer, properly run welfare system we wouldn't be so reliant on the bounty of rich nobs and their charitable donations to plug the gaps.

So you are labelling any of us who donate to a charity, put food into the cage for the food bank a rich nob are you, Magenta?

Allira

^If we had a fairer, properly run welfare system we wouldn't be so reliant on the bounty of rich nobs and their charitable donations to plug the gaps.^

So you are labelling any of us who donate to a charity, put food into the cage for the food bank a rich nob are you, Magenta?

I’ll take being called a rich nob better than some of the names I have been called on GN…

vegansrock

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.

In political terms, we don't have a monarchy. We have a king or queen, but they don't rule the country by "executive orders" as Mr Trump does (ie, dictats from a dictator) - and as Mr T and much of the US believe a king can and always does do.

I certainly understand your feelings OP, but, thus has it always been (that saying doesn’t sound right!) There are the top hat and tails brigade, but there are also coach trips - they were very popular where I used to work- where ladies tog themselves up from Next and Top Shop and take Prosecco and tins of cocktails. I love seeing pictures of young girls all coordinated and dressed in outlandish frocks and hats.

Our town is usually full of racegoers coming and going on the train to Ascot or by coach/limo. It's fun to see the outfits. It's Ascot week like Chelsea, Cowes, Wimbledon fortnight,Goodwood. Its summer time..its great amongst all the horrors of the news.
Just watch for the sun and overdoing it on the Prosecco/Champagne!!

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

Absolutely sums it up!👏.

No matter what crap I’m dealing with in my life (and like every other poster it flows and goes before another stream arrives 🤬) I never tire of reading about fun things happening and seeing folks enjoying themselves.

I’d be a failure in my own head if I lost that generosity.

Approximately 600,000; attend Ascot each year, that’s a lot of wealthy people

Allira

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.
👒

You'd fit right in with Princess Anne who wore an outfit to Ascot this week that she previously wore to Trooping the Colour in 1987.

Anniebach

Approximately 600,000; attend Ascot each year, that’s a lot of wealthy people

Depends on what you define as wealthy.

I have been watching some clips from Ascot etc this summer. The young woman attending look lovely. Some of the hats, clothes, shoes are from their local charity shops and very proud of that fact. Others are from the British high street. Don’t begrudge these lovely young women getting dressed up and enjoying a day out with their friends. I don’t. It was a pleasure to watch and listen to them.

Quote merlotgran Fri 20-Jun-25 13:31:36
Anniebach
Approximately 600,000; attend Ascot each year, that’s a lot of wealthy people
Depends on what you define as wealthy.

O/P seems to think Ascot = wealth ,

The Queen looks lovely today. She always looks better in pale outfits. I didn’t like Wednesday’s bright green. Too ‘Kermit’!

Yes, but she looks lovely in all shades of blue