Queen's hat at the centre of bizarre Ascot betting scandal

The Queen was caught up in a strange betting scandal today on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

Bookmakers suspended bets before her arrival at the racecourse on the type of hat she would be wearing.

There was fevered speculation that Her Majesty would opt for a fascinator after Royal Enclosure racegoers were specifically told they could wear a feathered headdress instead of a hat, as part of the changes to the dress code this year.

However, she disappointed many punters by arriving at the course in a pale blue ensemble by designer Stewart Parvin and a hat in the same colour, designed by New Zealand milliner Philip Somerville.

Her jacquard silk shift dress was accompanied by a matching coat with tie bow at the front.

Hat's off: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh make their entrance

Autumn Phillips, left with Princess Eugenie arrive by open carriage

Pure style: Princess Beatrice, pictured arriving with Princess Anne, opted for white flower creation, perched elegantly on her flame-red hair

The Queen was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of York, both in top hats, as she made her traditional entrance, in a horse-drawn carriage, to applause from the crowd.

Once again she was forced to hang on to her hat as the racecourse was hit with high winds for the second day running.

In the second carriage was the Princess Royal and Princess Beatrice. They were followed by a smiling Princess Eugenie, her cousin Peter Phillips and his new bride Autumn Kelly.

Earlier, a spokeswoman from William Hill said it had closed its books after large bets on The Queen turning up wearing a fascinator.

"We slashed our odds from 10-1 to 5-1 for the fascinator at 3.30pm yesterday after several large three-figure sums were bet', she said.

'It was a warning signal  -  we thought some information may have leaked out of the Palace.

'More bets kept being put on for the fascinator this morning and we closed the books at 10.30am."

Surprise, surprise: Cilla Black was among the famous faces at Ladies Day today, as was Bruce Forsyth accompanied by wife Wilnelia in yellow

William Hill expected to pay out "a good four-figure sum" if the Queen swapped her a traditional hat for the more modern fascinator  -  a headpiece attached to the hair by a comb or clip and usually made with feathers, flowers or beads.

Organisers said the general standard of dress at Ascot this year was the best for a decade.

In the new dress code, mini skirts and dresses with straps less than an inch wide were banned from the Royal Enclosure.

Ladies were also reminded to wear knickers "but not on show" and avoid streaky fake tan.

Nick Smith, head of public relations, said: "It's easily the smartest, best-dressed Ascot we've had in a decade."

And they're off: Spectators look on to catch a glimpse of the Queen as the Royal carriage arrives

Top to toe: A young spectator in his glad rags (left) and a woman in her finery