Bookies lose out on Queen's milinery

Bookmakers William Hill have been caught out for the second time in three years over the colour of the hat worn on Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot by the Queen.

The Queen is traditionally driven down the course before the start of racing in a carriage at the head of a colourful horse-draw procession and much interest centres on her outfit, including the hat.

On Thursday it was predominantly cream, which was 5-1 in the betting. That will cost William Hill well over 10,000 pounds, following a 20,000 pound pay-out two years ago when she wore brown.

Hill's spokeswoman Jennie Prest said: "The biggest bet we laid on cream was 150 pounds at 5-1 and we had dozens of requests at smaller stakes and a number of new customers opening new accounts, specifically to have this bet."

Betting has already opened for Ladies Day 2008 with blue the 3-1 favourite, followed by yellow at 5-1 with a repetition of cream rated a 7-1 chance.