2022 in photos: Royal Ascot

Actress Helen George turned heads with her puffed-sleeved dress, bright red lipstick, and a chic black headpiece to top things off. She was one of the stars at Royal Ascot 2022.

Lindsay Wallace and Peter Phillips also attended Royal Ascot, one of the most important high society events of the year.

The men donned their top hats and the women chose their sunniest outfits and headpieces for the Royal Ascot horse races.

Co-hosts of the event were the dukes and duchesses, counts, countesses, and princes of the British royal family. It was a carefree event, a few months before the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Members of the cultural elite, such as classical cross-over singer Camilla Kerslake, attended the equestrian event of the year.

Artists and poets Robert Montgomery and Greta Bellamacina were there too, the latter wearing a dress by The Vampire's Wife and millinery by Julia Bradley.

UK top model Delina Ghezu was one of the representatives of the fashion world at the racing event.

The boxing champion represented athletics at the Royal Ascot. She wore a wonderful green and blue plaid suit as she accompanied her pregnant girlfriend Ella Baig.

British entertainment sent many attendants throughout the event, and one of the most striking guests was Holly Willoughby. The presenter of 'This Morning' and 'Dancing on Ice' looked delightful in pink.

ITV presenters Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Heyes were there every day, broadcasting live. Day 2 of the Royal Ascot was one of the hottest days of the year, but Hawkins' colorful dress with long sleeves did not seem to bother her. She looked stunning.

A striking appearance on day 1 was the English TV personality and DJ Maya Jama, who appeared in a fuchsia Zimmermann dress, a custom hat and jewellery by Bvlgari.

Lady Eliza Spencer, wearing millinery by Jane Taylor, and Lady Amelia Spencer, wearing a Michael Kors design and millinery by Jane Taylor, were some of the most striking guests of Royal Ascot.

Carole and Michael Middleton were other, much-noticed, aristocrats (by proxy) at the event. The mother of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, drew much attention with a dress that seemed to resemble another garment previously worn by her daughter. Did she borrow it?

Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, was pure grace at the Royal Procession on day 2 of the races.

A horse lover and horse jumping champion herself, Princess Anne did not miss the Royal Ascot. She arrived on the first day of the event in a beige ensemble with a hat that was a little more flowery than her usual but that fit in perfectly with the Ascot crowd.

The 33-year-old princess has become one of the fashion influencers of the royal family. She wore a floral dress from Zimmerman on day 1 of the races.

On day 2, Beatrice sported a remarkable cream dress and blue-and-white boater hat. Several media noted that she went to the event by the 'non-royal' title of Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi rather than 'Princess Beatrice.' That's a break with royal tradition!

On day 5, the Mrs. delighted us with a polka dot dress and lovely creme and black headpiece.

Often by the side of then-Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, the Countess of Wessex showed once more that she became more central in the public life of the British royal family after Queen Elizabeth took a slight step out of the limelight. The Queen would pass away in September 2022.

Every day at Royal Ascot it was wonderful to see how the Countess of Wessex dresses. On day 2 of the races, she wore heavenly blue.

On the first day of the races, the Queen's granddaughter and her husband, former rugby star Mike Tindall, came to the Royal Ascot together. Zara Tindall wore a short, tie-die Anna Mason gown with a pompom-adorned hat.

She won Royal Ascot on day 3, stunning the fashion-loving audience with her long, pale pink Laura Green dress - a look topped with a jolly green and fuchsia boater hat. Also, note the fuchsia pumps!

The royals wore relatively modest hats compared to the other headpieces spotted at the 2022 Royal Ascot. Bright colors, yellow and red/fuchsia seemingly dominating among them, turned heads at the race track and its festivities.

They had lunch at the invitation of luxury footwear designer Ghazal Paris and then went on to watch the races: model and influencer Kelly England Prehn, the Ghazal brand's founder Houda Ghazal, and model Ikram Abdi Omar.

Every day at exactly two o'clock, the Royal Procession started. It introduces the Royal Ascot's honorable hosts (such as Charles and Camilla) to the race-going public. On day one, Camilla wore a light-blue outfit for the occasion.

During the second Royal Procession, Charles and Camilla left a seat empty in their carriage, Express and other media noted. They did so in a tribute to the Queen, who could not attend.

While Royal Ascot is Britain's prime horse racing event, attracting the world's finest horses to compete for millions of pounds in prizemoney, it is also a family affair for the royal cousins, uncles, aunts, and other relatives to catch up.

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, wore bright blue as she shared the carriage with Princess Michael of Kent and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

For those not participating in the Royal Procession or taking the center stage in another way, it was most important to see who they knew at the fancy event as well as to get noticed themselves.

Model and journalist Kate Waterhouse wowed the racegoers with her tailored Gucci outfit. The charming little headpiece was from Nerida Winter.

South African dance queen and talent show judge Oti Mabuse wore green satin on the second day of Ascot.

Irish culinary royalty Clodagh McKenna wore blue Vintage and a modest white brimmed hat. Her partner Harry Herbert, the businessman and racing expert, was obviously by her side.

Celebrity stylist Nana Acheampong stunned in bright yellow.

A member of the international jet set, this Chinese-Norwegian entrepreneur wore a striking black Preen dress and millinery by Awon Golding to the races.

Black-and-white ensembles were contrasted at the races with bright-colored outfits and voluminous hats.

The Royal Ascot is considered one of the fashion events of the year.

Admittedly, it's a niche type of fashion. According to the official Ascot website, the races are a gathering of "sartorial elegance, being awash with exquisite fashion and magnificent millinery creations."

In any case, it is a perfect opportunity for those searching the spotlights and access to the upper echelons of society to go all-out and make a big impression.