Those racy royals of Ascot

OF all the Queen's annual engagements, the one she probably enjoys most is Royal Ascot ¿ the racing world's most traditional and prestigious carnival.

Champion ... Irish stayer Yeats, winner of the Gold Cup at Ascot in 2006 wa s a strong contender for this year's Melbourne Cup / Reuters

OF all the Queen's annual engagements, the one she probably enjoys most is Royal Ascot – England's counterpart of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Each year in late June, Her Majesty, an unashamed horseracing lover, heads off for the racing world's most traditional and prestigious carnival.

Since 1768 the royal family has been attending the famous Royal Ascot five-day carnival at Ascot Racecourse, west of London. In a time-honoured ritual, the royal entourage makes the trip each day from nearby Windsor Castle to Ascot, arriving by horse and carriage in a spectacular procession along the racetrack.

Gushing with pomp and ceremony, Royal Ascot is king of the racing world and from where many of the sport's enduring social and fashion rituals derive.

One of the last true public displays of aristocratic Britain, a trip to Royal Ascot is like taking a trip back in time.

Undoubtedly the hottest place to be seen during Royal Ascot is in the exclusive royal enclosure. It's a veritable "who's who", where royalty and celebrities rub shoulders with Arab sheiks, business tycoons and the high and mighty.

Royal Ascot is perhaps most famous for its dress code. It is one racing event where men get as much attention for their attire as women. In a tradition started by Beau Brummell, a trend-setting English socialite and Royal Ascot regular in the early 19th century, the customary attire for men is top hat and tails.

Royal Ascot is also famed as a fashion catwalk, with women dressed in elegant, colourful race outfits and stunning hats. On Ladies' Day, the carnival's most popular day, women wear the most flamboyant millinery creations.

From picnics in the members' car parks, to the royal enclosure, in and behind the Grandstand, right down to the public areas, this amazing racecourse vista is dominated by a sea of top hats and vibrant women's headwear.

The rituals and sophistication of Royal Ascot have changed but the racecourse backdrop has gone through a number of incarnations. In 2005, Royal Ascot was temporarily shifted to York while Ascot Racecourse underwent a huge multi-million dollar facelift. While some of the racecourse's delightful historic architecture has been preserved, the highlight of this development saw a huge 400m-long grandstand replace all other stands.

Of course, the state-of-the-art stand included a plush new Royal Box, containing literally the best seat in the house. Here, Her Majesty, whose racehorses have won 19 times at Royal Ascot over the years, can watch her favourite sport in royal comfort.

Matching the calibre of Royal Ascot racegoers, the carnival also lures the big names of world racing. While jockeys such as Frankie Dettori and Michael Kinane sit aboard the most regally bred thoroughbreds, trainers such as Dermot Weld and Sir Michael Stoute, dressed in their morning suits, are all there aiming for Royal Ascot glory.

The highlight of Royal Ascot's racing is on Ladies' Day, with the running of the 4000m Ascot Gold Cup. Many of the runners are aimed at another great staying race – the Melbourne Cup.

Perhaps one of Royal Ascot's greatest traditions happens at the end of each day.

When the racing is over and jubilant punters have collected their winnings, everyone heads to the bandstand behind the Grandstand for a spectacular communal singing session accompanied by a full brass band.

Waving their small Union Jacks, the joyous crowd belt out such perennial British favourites as Rule Britannia, Tipperary and Auld Lang Syne and many more.

Sunday Herald Sun