Fetch your 2m toppers! Ascot fears Covid rules are here to stay

Richard hammond has survived life-threatening prangs. But the Grand Tour star did not expect an explosion from co-host James may. ‘i was making breakfast in the hotel and James suddenly detonated at me,’ he tells me. ‘he doesn’t like the way i spread my marmite right to the edge of my toast. For 20 years, it had been annoying him.’

ALREADY the most exclusive section of the Queen’s race meeting, the Royal Enclosure could be about to become even more rarefied. Ascot Racecourse chief executive Guy Henderson has written to members of the invitation-only enclosure, warning them that social-distancing is expected to be still in place by the time of Royal Ascot next summer.

Even though yesterday marked the ‘first step on the road back to normality’ as British patients began receiving the Covid- 19 vaccine, Royal Enclosure members, who include aristocrats, billionaires and famous personalities, were sent the letter the same day.

In it, Henderson made clear that, although the Government had started allowing spectators to return to sport stadiums and arenas, there was unlikely to be a return to the packed stands of previous years.’

At least the rigorous Royal Ascot dress code will remain the same.

While top hats are a sartorial requirement in the Royal Enclosure, they — and some of the ladies’ famously more extravagant hats — could come in handy to help social distancing. ‘We could keep a top hat’s distance from our fellow racegoers,’ says one regular.

Henderson’s letter went on: ‘Naturally we were delighted to hear the Government’s recent announcement about the planned phased return of the public to sporting events, [but] it is likely that we will be operating under some form of social-distancing regime and we expect to be restricted to a reduced capacity across the racecourse and its enclosures.’

He said the Queen’s representative, Sir Francis Brooke, would spell out in the new year how many members would be allowed to attend.

This year’s meeting was held behind closed doors and racegoers had hoped that things would return to normal by next June.

The Queen, who usually arrives each day of the race meeting in a carriage procession from Windsor Castle alongside other members of the Royal Family, wrote the introduction to the racecards, even though she watched from home.