16/06/2026
Royal Ascot starts today, so naturally I have gone down a small historical rabbit hole.
It is easy to dismiss Ascot as hats, champagne and social theatre.
But it is much more interesting than that.
It began with Queen Anne. It became a royal ritual. It developed rules about access, divorce, gender, dress and respectability. It has mourning history, car-park theatre, betting culture and, most importantly for me, jewellery.
Because racing jewellery was never just decorative.
Jockey silks became enamel. Horseshoes became lucky charms. Stick pins and tie pins carried the language of the turf. Horse names became jewels. Makers such as Garrard and Alabaster & Wilson turned racing, ownership, colour and victory into something wearable.
So no, Royal Ascot is not just hats and horses.
It is monarchy, class, racing, ritual and jewels.
And if you are going this week, it is the perfect excuse to bring out your pearls, brooches, stick pins, horseshoes and all the jewellery that suddenly makes perfect sense at the races.
Historic Ascot images from Tatler, Sketch, Country Life and The Illustrated London News archives. Jewellery images include examples from the Royal Collection Trust, Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Alabaster & Wilson, Antique Jewellery Company, Wildsmith Jewellery, Charlotte Sayers and Parkin & Gerrish. Used for educational / jewellery history commentary.
