The Craziest Fascinators at Royal Ascot
Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The five-day Royal Ascot, Britain’s largest horse race, has begun, and so has its over-the-top display of peacockery. Each day begins with a royal procession (the queen has avidly attended every Royal Meeting during her reign), followed by races hanging on millions of dollars in prizes. As usual, the competition isn’t just among the horses: Racegoers adorn their heads as if there were a prize for gravity-defying accessories at stake, too. Click through to see the most impressive and impractical fascinators from the first two days of the races — including butterflies, giant hibiscus flowers, and mini umbrellas — and marvel at their top-heavy wearers’ ability to stay balanced.


Anouska Lancaster Photo: Chris Jackson/2015 Getty Images

Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein

Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein

Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency

Jackie St Clair Photo: Chris Jackson/2015 Getty Images

Lizzie Cundy Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein

Photo: Anwar Hussein/2015 Anwar Hussein

Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Photo: Anwar Hussein/2015 Anwar Hussein
Georgina Parham Photo: Chris Jackson/2015 Getty Images
Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Isabell Kristensen Photo: Anwar Hussein/2015 Anwar Hussein
Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein
Photo: Chris Jackson/2015 Getty Images
Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein
Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Photo: Anadolu Agency/2015 Anadolu Agency
Sophie, Countess of Wessex Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/2015 Max Mumby/Indigo
Sally Bercow Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/2015 Max Mumby/Indigo
Isabell Kristensen Photo: Julian Parker/2015 Julian Parker
The Tootsie Rollers Photo: Chris Jackson/2015 Getty Images
Martha Ward Photo: Kirstin Sinclair/2015 Getty Images
Lily Lewis Photo: Kirstin Sinclair/2015 Getty Images
Mary Portas Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein
Photo: Chris Jackson/2015 Getty Images
Pei Bei Photo: Chris Jackson/2015 Getty Images
Jackie St Clair Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein
Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein
Denise Lewis Photo: Kirstin Sinclair/2015 Getty Images
Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Autumn Phillips Photo: Samir Hussein/2015 Samir Hussein
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