Hats off to the Irish milliners who are already winners at this year's Royal Ascot, before the race meeting has even happened

Nicole Kidman wearing a Carol Kennelly jewelled headpiece

Bairbre Power

Two Irish milliners are winners at Royal Ascot this year, and the race meeting hasn’t even happened yet.

Carol Kennelly from Tralee and Evelyn McDermott from Dubai, but originally Ballymacelligott, Co Kerry, have been selected to be part of a prestigious 12-strong Royal Ascot Millinery Collective with an array of hat designers from Europe, America and the Middle East.