King Charles and Queen Camilla have stepped up their participation in a sport that the late Queen always loved. The King and the Queen have become joint patrons of the Jockey Club and succeeded the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was the Patron of the organisation for 68 years.
Both are currently Honorary Members of The Jockey Club. During the previous season, King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated their inaugural victory at Royal Ascot with Desert Hero.
Sandy Dudgeon, senior steward of The Jockey Club, said: “We are honoured that Their Majesties have accepted our invitation to become joint Patrons of The Jockey Club.
“They have shown great enthusiasm and support for equestrian sports over many years and everyone in racing in Britain and overseas was thrilled to see them enjoy success at Royal Ascot last year.”
The late Queen developed a passion for horses at the tender age of four when her grandfather, King George V, gifted her a small Shetland pony.
By six, she had already developed a deep love for horseback riding, honing her skills as an accomplished equestrian throughout her teenage years and continuing to enjoy riding for leisure throughout her life.
From her initial participation in the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony until 1986, the monarch made a point of attending the event on horseback.
Her first appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show occurred when she was a fervent teenage equestrian in 1943. Alongside Princess Margaret, the 17-year-old showcased her equestrian talents by clinching victory in the Pony & Dogcart class.
Following the passing of King George in February 1952, Queen Elizabeth inherited his breeding and racing stock, leading her to own several thoroughbreds for racing purposes.
Her reign’s pinnacle as a racehorse owner was in 1953, the year of her coronation, when her cherished horse Aureole finished second to Pinza, marking the closest the Queen came to securing victory in the Derby.
She assumed patronage of numerous horse-focused organisations, including the British Horse Society, the Fell Pony Society, and the Highland Pony Society.
Recognised globally as a distinguished racehorse owner and breeder, Queen Elizabeth II commemorated her affection for these animals by erecting life-size statues in Windsor in honor of two of her horses.
In 1974, her passion for horses became the subject of a documentary titled The Queen’s Race Horses: A Private View, which she personally narrated.
Her devotion to horse racing led to her induction into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame in the Special Contributor Category, a tribute to her unwavering dedication to the sport over the past eight decades.
