5 takeaways from my first experience at Ascot: 1. The fascinator game is serious - go bold or go home. These aren’t just accessories; they’re expressions of personality, tradition and a bit of fashion theatre. I loved seeing how much individuality was packed into each headpiece! 2. While Royal Ascot in June is the crown jewel, Ascot runs a full calendar of 26 race days annually. That includes both flat racing (spring to autumn) and National Hunt or jumps racing (autumn to spring). I visited during King George Weekend - a midsummer highlight with a slightly more relaxed energy, but still full of style, tradition & world-class sport. 3. The day runs long so pace yourself. From the moment gates open to the final race, it’s a full-day affair. There’s racing, dining, socialising & lots of champagne along the way. It’s worth carving out time to explore, people-watch and soak up the atmosphere between races (and maybe bring a backup pair of shoes!) 4. King George Weekend features one of Eur...