Just back from Day 1 of Ascot: there is an age limit of 16 in the Royal Enclosure during the week, although on Fridays and Saturdays [after school ends for the week] children aged 10-16 can be admitted with their parents / godparents etc. Zara's appearance as a youngster caused controversy because she was too young [from memory it was to deflect attention from some difficulty or other - enagement of the Princess Royal or something.
I have the honour to be in the Royal Enclosure all week - I have a blue badge like Sophie is wearing [see above photo]; it is a little more elaborate than usual because of Ascot's 300 year anniversary.
Camilla's outfit - beautifully made and all that but ladies who understand fashion said that it was cut in such a way that it made her derrriere look larger than it was:
Queen peering over rail: very perceptive observation; when Ascot Racecourse was remodelled in 2005 HUGE design errors were made - the Queen literally could not see over the rail of the newly-remodelled Royal Box and complained like anything after the first race in 2006. Since then, a bit of tweaking has gone on, but there are still huge problems with visibility, including the Queen's line of sight. Brigadier Erskine Crum, who led the 'remodelling' quickly left his job...................!
Must go and get some sleep now;
Alex