Royals Dodge Ladies' Day Brawl At Ascot

The Duchess of Cambridge's parents attended Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot, where they avoided a vicious fight during which besuited men fought with table legs and Champagne bottles.

At least five men were involved in the full-scale brawl, which saw stunned racegoers scatter in fear.

One man wearing a tie was seen to swing a table leg at a man on the ground, while another grabbed a £98 Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne bottle to use as a weapon.

Another was held in a headlock as the fighting flared around a Champagne bar more used to being a place to trade tips than swap punches.

At least two men fled into the crowd to avoid being apprehended by course security officials.

No-one was arrested after the fracas, which was believed to have started over a young blonde woman.

Police revealed that one man ended up with a 50mm head gash during the melee.

Famous faces able to enjoy the day's races unhindered included motoring writer Richard Hammond, newly knighted Sir Bruce Forsyth and recently divorced Elizabeth Hurley.

Carole and Michael Middleton took part in the traditional horse-drawn carriage procession for the first time.

Their carriage followed the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family.

The couple waved to the public who were braving the weather, the carriages entering the royal enclosure just as the heavens opened, prompting a flurry of umbrellas to be opened.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, was greeted by applause as she arrived.

Once in the enclosure, she spent time talking to jockeys, but made a fairly swift exit when the rain became even heavier.