Glamorous celebrity wears Ulverston-made hat to Royal Ascot

The TV personality had asked social media followers to recommend a milliner to make her a hat for Royal Ascot.

Ms Wells said: “She reached out to me out of the blue. She had put a shout-out on Instagram, and somebody locally had suggested me. But thousands of other people had suggested thousands of other milliners, so I am not sure what led her to me specifically.”

Royal Ascot is a five-day event which runs from Tuesday to Saturday. The third day, colloquially known as ‘Ladies’ Day’, is described by the racecourse as ‘a day to see and be seen’.

Celebrities and fashionistas go all out to look the part – and apart from their contemporaries, wearing outlandish garments to steal the gaze.

And Ampika Pickston, wearing Tracy Wells’ handmade hat, was deemed to have the best hat on the day.

Ms Wells said: “It’s a bit surreal, really.

“I’ve been milliner for 12 years but to have made the hat that won Ladies Day at Royal Ascot is very nice and a big surprise”

The hat was supposed to be a pre-pandemic showpiece, but the onset of Covid halted spectacles like Royal Ascot.

Which is why Ms Wells is all the happier to have helped Pickston look the part.

She said: “It’s all about how they look and their personality. There are not many people who would want to wear a hat like that, but she is very flamboyant and self-assured.

“I’ve never come across anybody like Ampika before, I knew she would be able to carry something large off.

“She was made up and messaging me all the way through, and the next day she kept sending me all the different pieces that had been published about her.”

Ms Wells makes couture hats for weddings and other big occasions, like Royal Ascot or Queen’s Honours. She can be contacted on 07895 780200 but will need notice of at least six weeks.