Her Majesty’s love of Royal Windsor Horse Show stretches back almost 80 years

It remains unclear how many engagements the Queen will be able to carry out in person this year as she continues to struggle with mobility issues, but the organiser of the Royal Windsor Horse Show is hopeful she will still attend.

Her Majesty, who celebrates her 96th birthday later this month, would typically have a packed schedule to look forward to over summer, including outings to events like Royal Ascot and the Braemar Games. 

Yet a reduced in-person schedule, which has seen the Queen carry out engagements via video link, means she might not be seen as much over the coming months as she would have previously.  

At the helm – Her Majesty drives herself around the carriage driving course in a trusty Land Rover in 1982

Her Majesty presents a prize for Services Team Jumping event, made to the Royal Army Service Corps, in 1965

Among the highlights of her calendar is the Royal Windsor Horse Show, an event that celebrates her love of horses and is made even more special because it is held in the ‘back garden’ of Windsor Castle, where she now lives.  

Simon Brooks-Ward, event director of the Royal Windsor Horse Show since 1996, explained it remains a highlight of Her Majesty’s year and an event that she prioritises. 

‘The Royal Family has continuously supported the event ever since it started – the Queen in particular,’ said Simon Brooks-Ward, event director of the Royal Windsor Horse Show since 1996.

‘Despite her many commitments, Her Majesty will always, always make Windsor.

‘The show is a very private, important part of her calendar and everybody involved knows that – her diary is kept clear.’ 

The late Queen Mother and her two daughters, Princess Elizabeth (right in hat with flowers) and Princess Margaret (next to Queen Mother) and King George chat to a young girl (unknown) presented to the Royal party in 1945

Prince Charles, the Queen, Princess Anne and Prince Philip  (pictured L-R, in 1955) shelter from the sun. The fold-up chairs were borrowed from Windsor Castle and are still used to this day

Princess Margaret (background right), the Queen and a young Princess Anne walk through the crowds in 1957. Beside them is Sir Henry Abel Smith (left), who married King George V’s niece, Lady Mary Cambridge

The Queen, who learned to ride at the age of three, attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show as a horse-mad teenager in 1943.

Together with Princess Margaret, the 17-year-old showed off her equestrian prowess by winning the Pony & Dogcart class.

The original one-day event was known as the Windsor Horse & Dog Show. 

The morale-boosting festival was the brainchild of Hungarian Count Robert Orssich, together with equestrian friend, Geoffrey Cross, who had been invalided out of the Army.

The aim was to raise £391,197 for the Wings for Victory campaign – enough money to help the Royal Borough buy 78 Typhoon aircraft to battle the Luftwaffe.  

A footman hurries to attend as the Queen arrives at the show in an Ascot Landau carriage in 1969 – one of five purchased during the reign of Queen Victoria and kept at Windsor Castle

All major members of the Royal Family attended, including King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

However, the show almost fell at the first fence when a lurcher stole a piece of chicken from King George VI’s plate. Mortified, the organising committee immediately banned dogs from the showground for good.  

‘It was staged on May 26 to help raise funds for the War effort and has been run every year since,’ Brooks-Ward explained. 

‘The only break in proceedings was 2001, when Foot and Mouth disease forced a cancelation, and during the pandemic lockdown in 2020.’

Even during the year of the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak, the Queen still visited Hyde Park Barracks to present the Best Turned Out Trooper award.

Windsor is the only horse show in the UK to host international competition for dressage, endurance riding, dressage and carriage drive – the latter being the late Prince Philip’s beloved pastime.  

Her Majesty watches the evening entertainment intently from the Royal Box during her 90th birthday celebrations in 2016

The Queen is introduced to Carl Hester, owner of dressage ‘king’ Valegro in 2019. The dancing horse won gold at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, with Charlotte Dujardin in the saddle

 Her Majesty watches her horse Donation ridden by Katie Jerram-Hunnable in Class 153 during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2021

Up to 60,000 spectators usually attend – depending on the weather.

Now organisers will be hoping the Queen is able to visit the event in person this year. 

‘I explain Royal Windsor Hose Show as the equine world’s Crufts. It has 3,500 horses of all breeds, shapes and size,’ said Brooks-Ward.

‘The Queen enters her horses in show classes – especially rare British breeds, such as the Cleveland Bay and Highland.

‘She has a huge interest and takes great pleasure watching them. When she wins, Her Majesty is a picture of complete delight. 

‘The photographs say everything – the Queen really enjoys Royal Windsor. Like everybody else, we look forward to seeing her again in this special jubilee year.’ 

Tickets for the Royal Windsor are available at rwhs.co.uk.