A photograph of The Queen with two of her Fell ponies has been released to mark Her Majesty’s 96th birthday.
The organisers of Royal Windsor Horse Show released the picture, of The Queen with Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale. Taken last month in the grounds of Windsor Castle, it is the fourth in a series released by the show, following pictures taken in celebration of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, her 90th birthday in 2016 and the Platinum Jubilee this year.
A spokesman for the Royal Family said Her Majesty has attended every Royal Windsor Horse Show since its first running in 1943.
A spokesman for the event, which takes place from 12 to 15 May in the grounds of Windsor Castle, said: “Her Majesty has a record number of entries at the 2022 show, with 41 horses entered to take part.
“The 2022 edition of Royal Windsor Horse Show will also celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with ‘A Gallop through History’, taking place each evening of the show and featuring more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers.”
Fell ponies, a breed close to The Queen’s heart, will also feature in a parade at the show, led by the late Duke of Edinburgh’s granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor. More than 30 ponies, in hand and ridden, will take part in the parade in the main ring following the Horse & Hound-supported mountain and moorland in-hand championship.
The Queen became patron of the Fell Pony Society, which is celebrating its centenary this year, in 1982, and the Duke of Edinburgh competed his Fell ponies for many years at national level in the four-in-hand pony teams class.
You might also be interested in:
The Queen reveals her all-time favourite horses to Horse & Hound
‘We are thrilled that next week we will be bringing readers our royal special with a first’
Celebrating The Queen’s love of horses on her 90th birthday
Horse & Hound's commemorative publication The Queen’s and her horses is published today to mark her 90th birthday
The Queen’s favourite horses – 8 riding horses and 5 racehorses #H&HArchives
Subscribe to Horse & Hound this spring for great savings
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
