Meghan Markle's favourite look banned from Royal Ascot

The Duchess is expected to attend the event later today

Meghan Markle’s favourite neckline has been banned from Royal Ascot.

Since becoming a royal, the Duchess of Sussex has been increasingly stepping out for public appearances in enviable outfits that have quickly elevated her to fashion icon status.

A new and sophisticated source of style inspiration, it’s clear that the Duchess of Sussex has a number of go-to looks that have come to make up the so-called “Meghan effect.”

One of which is the bardot neckline, which she famously sported in the form of a pink Carolina Herrera dress to Trooping the Colour.

Markle’s breath-taking Givenchy wedding gown, designed by Clare Waight Keller, also featured a similar “boat” neckline, as did a dress she wore when visiting Wales with her then-fiancé in January.

However, while the style may certainly turns heads and has even sparked a fashion trend - statistics provided to The Independent by fashion brand Lyst, suggests searches for that particular neckline have risen by an impressive 52 per cent in the last two months – Royal Ascot has chosen to remove it from it’s annual Style Guide.

When the 2018 guidelines were released for the event back in March, it was confirmed that Bardot-style necklines would not be permitted in several enclosures this year – including the Royal Enclosure, where the Queen and members of the royal family congregate.

The look, which exposes both shoulders, is also banned from the Village and Queen Anne Enclosures.

“Strapless necklines have never been permitted in the Royal Enclosure and haven’t been allowed in the Queen Anne Enclosure for more than three years,” a spokesperson for the racecourse told Harper's Bazaar.

“What we have added this year is more clarification around what we consider to be strapless and therefore not compliant with the official dress code, i.e. Bardot, one shoulder and off-the-shoulder dresses.”

The news comes as the Duchess of Sussex is expected to make her debut at Royal Ascot today with Prince Harry, one month after they married.

The newlyweds are expected to attend alongside the Queen and will present the trophy for the 4.20pm race, the St James’ Palace Stakes.