Rowing fans opt for chic floral gowns and dapper blazers

Merrily, merrily! Rowing fans opt for chic floral gowns and dapper blazers as they attend the second day of Henley Royal Regatta

• Today is the second of the six-day Henley Royal Regatta in Oxfordshire 
• Attendees arrived in chic, pastel coloured floral gowns and bright blazers
• Read more: Henley revellers make a splash as they fall in the river

A host of very glamorous revellers showed off their fashion prowess as they attended the second day of the Henley Royal Regatta.

The rowing event, which was established in 1839, takes place every year and sees teams compete in more than 300 races along the River Thames in Oxfordshire. 

Spectators were dressed to impress for the second of the six-day event, in pastel shades and statement headpieces – while the men largely opted for a suit and tie.

However, some went for a more casual look, pairing their floral dresses with comfortable trainers and opting to forgo the traditional hat.

In 2021 it was announced that women would be allowed to wear trousers to the Henley Royal Regatta for the first time since it was established in 1839.

A host of very glamorous revellers showed off their fashion prowess as they attended the second day of the Henley Royal Regatta

The long-standing sartorial rules – which asked for over-the-knee skirts and no trousers, and a blazer or smart jacket – crumbled under pressure from campaigners who branded the former dress code ‘symbolic of an era when women couldn’t compete and were just there to look pretty.’

There was a sea of brightly-coloured blazers making their way to the Henley Royal Regatta on Wednesday, with one family dressing their young children in matching stripes.

It was a similar scene to that spotted on Tuesday, which ended in a rather boozy display – with some spectators finishing their night in the water.

The regatta will see national clubs from up and down the country vying for glory on the River Thames in a number of races.

The popular sporting event, which was established in 1839, comes hand-in-hand with a day of picnics and drinking.

Teams compete in over 300 races of an international standard on the Thames, which can include Olympic rowers as well as crews new to the event.

It was first staged in 1839 and has been held annually every year since, except during the two World Wars and 2020 due to Covid-19.

This year, the six-day regatta will for the first time allow international entrants to the junior men’s eights, as well as teams from British private and state schools. 

The rowing event, which was established in 1839, takes place every year and sees teams compete in more than 300 races along the River Thames in Oxfordshire

Spectators were dressed to impress for the second of the six-day event, in pastel shades and statement headpieces – while the men largely opted for a suit and tie

However, some went for a more casual look, pairing their floral dresses with comfortable trainers and opting to forgo the traditional hat

Sir Steve Redgrave, chairman of the Henley Royal Regatta, said one major British private school feared opening up the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup to international teams would mean students competing against ‘superclubs’.

Sir Steve said he attended a meeting of 55 schools where one private school, which he didn’t name, wanted the cup to remain closed to international competitors.

But he added it was going to happen ‘sooner or later’ and it was the ‘right thing to do’.

In a podcast this month, Sir Steve was asked whether schools, including Eton College, St Paul’s School and St Edward’s School, should be concerned about the rise of ‘big US clubs coming over to race – they are very fast’.

In 2021 it was announced that women would be allowed to wear trousers to the Henley Royal Regatta for the first time since it was established in 1839

There was a sea of brightly-coloured blazers making their way to the Henley Royal Regatta on Wednesday, with one family dressing their young children in matching stripes

It was a similar scene to that spotted on Tuesday, which ended in a rather boozy display – with some spectators finishing their night in the water

The regatta will see national clubs from up and down the country vying for glory on the River Thames in a number of races

He said: ‘One of those top schools didn’t want it. But it was going to happen sooner or later. We can’t stop this, in fact it’s the right thing to do.’

Sir Steve explained that rowing cities in the United States were ‘huge’ and clubs were state-wide and not school-oriented like in Britain.

He said this meant their rowing clubs were a ‘little bit bigger’ because they draw upon rowers from more schools.

The chairman added: ‘What we don’t want is any country to be able to put a crew together, which is almost a national eight [team].

‘It’s not an event for national eights – it’s for the top juniors from their rowing establishments.’

The popular sporting event, which was established in 1839, comes hand-in-hand with a day of picnics and drinking

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