Henley revellers were spotted making the most of the sunny weather and packing in some last-minute tipples while the third day of the regatta came to a close.
Glamourous attendees and their dates headed home with drinks in hand alongside the riverbank as the cleaning crew got to work.
The rowing event, which was established in 1839, takes place every year and sees teams compete in more than 300 races along the river in Oxfordshire.
Fans looks in high spirits as they made their way home along the riverbank.
One woman supported by a male friend could be seen bent double with laughter.
Glamourous racegoers and their dates sluggishly headed home along the riverbank as the cleaning crew got to work on day three of Henley’s Regatta
A stylish couple enjoyed one last glass of prosecco as they headed home from the race last night
Two racegoers sat on the floor, gazing at their phones as they contemplated how to get home
Elsewhere, racegoers sat down on the floor, contemplating their day while waiting for their ride home. And some women took off their shoes after a whole day on heels.
Police officers patrolling the event had their work cut out for them, with certain revellers urinating in the Thames and others piling on boats already filled to the brim.
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.
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’.
Those in attendance this year took full advantage of the relaxed rules, with a number opting to pair their floral gowns with trainers, sandals or Converse sneakers.
Others wore stylish summer gowns with elegant headpieces and wedged heels, while some emulated Wimbledon fashion and wore immaculate white ensembles.
A couple leaned on each other as they were spotted leaving the event. The woman wore an elegant blue day dress
While others headed home, a group of revellers kept the party going on the banks, sitting on empty plastic bags
Keeping their composure! A couple donning stripes and a glamourous racegoer dressed in red were spotted heading home
One coordinated couple matched their outfits with tones of white and lilac
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 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 – except during the two World Wars and 2020 due to Covid-19.
One reveller proudly wearing his rowing club’s jacket scrolled on his phone while polishing off his beer
Some racegoers took to the water in their own boats to enjoy a refreshing glass of rose
A trio of stylish racegoers sporting maxi summer dresses chatted as they left the race
Two rowing enthusiasts took their shoes off and sighed with relief after a day in their strappy heels
As some racegoers began heading home, others kept the party going with some more drinks by the pier
One reveller could count on the support of her friends as she left Henley holding on to a gentleman’s jacket
Laughing out loud, the woman, who seemed to be having a blast, was bent double last night
Eventually the two gentlemen stepped in to escort the glamourous racegoer on her way back home
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.
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, 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’.
A most needed swap – a racegoer in a floral summer dress was spotted switching her heels to flats
A black-clad racegoer checked his watch as he was spotted leaving Henley with friends
Two revellers were spotted chatting away on their way out of Henley, while a couple were also spotted leaving
These racegoers looked composed as they left, but one looked worse for wear with their shirt half-tucked into their trousers
A rowing aficionado sported a wide grin as he was seen carrying two umbrellas, a bumbag and flip flops
A racegoer in a pink dress put a guiding hand on her partner’s collar as they left the party
Several racegoers all followed each other as they made their way back to the roads when the event came to a close
Revellers lucky enough to have access to a boat of their own kept the party going into the evening
Two glamourous racegoer chatted with friends while finishing their beers in the car park
Police officers arrived at the site to make sure the third day’s proceedings didn’t get out of hand
Some officers were seen chatting away as they patrolled Henley. Meanwhile, revellers packed up their belongings
Emergency responders were seen touring the site on their bike, equipped with all the necessities
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’.
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.
Cleaning crew members in orange jackets swooped in to pick up the mess left after a third day of partying on the riverbank
Elegant boating enthusiasts enjoyed one last drink at sunset while the common of the mortals went home
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.’