SPOT THE ROYALS Where to see The Queen and other royals in 2019 Enviably knowledgeable, a royal in the mix at an event adds a certain something to proceedings. Madeleine Silver finds out where to spot ‘The Firm’ this year

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL, GLOS BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS, GLOS 12-15 MARCH 1-5 MAY JUMP racing might be forever indebted to DIG into the archives and you’ll find pictures of Her the late Queen Mother — she is considered Majesty glued to the action at Badminton, signature one of the most influential owners of the headscarf in situ; in 1974, her then son-in-law Captain post-war era — but her family has taken on took the title on her own Columbus. While the mantle with their enthusiasm for this the five-star (previously four-star) no longer seems to sport. Nearly 40 years after ’s feature on The Queen’s schedule of engagements, both two-mile champion chase was renamed Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Tindall have vied the Queen Mother Champion Chase in for the title. And with Zara back in action after the birth 1980, you will spot her granddaughter of her second daughter Lena in June last year, all eyes the Princess Royal, great-granddaughter will be on the 37-year-old when the start-list is released. Zara Tindall and the Duchess of Cornwall Failing that, you’re likely to get your royal fix at the prize- donning their tweed to brave the weather giving; Princess Anne presented the trophies last year at Prestbury Park. and the Duchess of Cornwall the year before.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL OF POLO, GLOS PARADE, LONDON 8-9 JUNE 8 JUNE PACK a picnic and bag a spot pitch- FOR a clean sweep of royal-spotting, bag side at the Beaufort Polo Club for the yourselves tickets to The Queen’s Birthday Festival of Polo, where Parade, when 200 horses from the Household Princes William and Harry have traditionally Cavalry and the King’s Troop Royal Artillery played in the charity game for a variety of and 1,400 soldiers take to Horse Guards causes — last year’s match was in aid of The Parade. The Queen last rode at Trooping the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and homeless Colour in 1986 on the mare Burmese, and charity Centrepoint. Eagle-eyed spectators while she is now escorted down The Mall from will get a glimpse of a dressed-down Duchess Buckingham Palace by carriage, her children, of Cambridge as she tries to keep up with as well as Prince William, are mounted in full her young royal charges on the sidelines. military regalia for the parade.

THE QUEEN’S CUP ROYAL ASCOT, BERKS FINAL, BERKS 18-22 JUNE 16 JUNE A GLUT of Group One races might be MODELS, actresses and pop stars descend what puts Royal Ascot on the map, on Guards Polo Club for this jewel in the but the most ardent of racing fans polo calendar, but it is Her Majesty who would struggle to deny the allure steals the show as she emerges from her of The Queen’s arrival each day by discreet royal box to present the trophy to carriage. Binoculars at the ready to the victorious high-goal team. The Queen spot who else has made the cut for first presented the trophy in 1960, since the carriages (lucky lunch guests at when her husband Prince Philip has taken Windsor Castle), and locate the royal the runner-up spot in 1964, and her son box to get a glimpse of Her Majesty, Prince Charles received the trophy when flanked by her racing adviser John he won with Les Diables Bleus in 1986. Warren, watching the action unfold.

OLYMPIA HORSE SHOW, LONDON 16-22 DECEMBER AS a keen horsewoman, the Duchess of Cornwall — who has been a patron of the British Equestrian Federation since 2006 — traditionally embraces the Christmas cheer at Olympia, where Shetlands have stood to attention in their stables, and has been gripped by the puissance and gone backstage to pose alongside Chilean Huasos. H&H

30 Horse & Hound 3 January 2019 Enviably knowledgeable, a royal in the mix at an event adds a certain something toproceedings. something Enviably knowledgeable, addsacertain aroyalinthemixat anevent Where to see The Queen andotherroyals in2019 Queen The Where tosee presented thetrophies. event in2017 when The Countess of Wessex and spectators got theirroyal fixatthe Captain MarkPhillips, took thetitlein 1973) winners to compete attheevent (herfather, Zara Tindall istheonlychildof two former recently invited to present theprizes in2011. Championships here in1971 andwas most competitors. Princess Anne won theEuropean it hasbeengraced withroyal visitors and SINCE thefive-star event began in 1961, 5-8 SEPTEMBER TRIALS, LINCS BURGHLEY HORSE Madeleine Silver Madeleine

2017 withthehome-bred Fell Balmoral Phantom. She madeherRoyal Windsor carriage-driving debutin LouiseLady Windsor, 15, hasfollowed inhisfootsteps. Rover thanacarriage, hisyoungest granddaughter, be more likely to bespotted atthehelmof hisRange crowned supreme. While 97-year-old Prince Philipmight in 2017 whenherformer racehorse Barbers Shopwas her natives thathave form. She also hittheheadlines in 1944 withtheNorwegian drivingpony Hans, itisnow Windsor. Having madeher winningdebutattheshow spectator standing ringside inherwellies atRoyal be forgiven for mistaking The Queen for any other IF itweren’t for thearmy of photographers, you would 8-12 MAY ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW, BERKS intense asthewholefamily descends onEpsom. her —whichmakes themediaglare allthemore House came inthird. Butthetop spotstill eludes finished second, andagain in 2011 whenCarlton in theyear of hercoronation in1953, when Aureole Prince of Wales). The Queen came tantalisingly close he did1909 (having won ittwice before asthe reigning monarch to have clinchedtherace, which 1788 withSir Thomas, butEdward VII istheonly one. George IV, asthePrince of Wales, won back in involvement inthis race’s 239-year history thanthis YOU would struggle to finda family withgreater 1 JUNE THE DERBY, SURREY finds out where to spot ‘The ‘The Firm’ findsoutwhere tospot thisyear September) fixtures. spring (23-24 March) andautumn(13-15 a more low-key affair, make anote of the as Zara’s brother Peter andhis family. For husband Mike andtwo daughters, aswell The estate isalso hometo Zara Tindall, her Intermediate andNovice Championships. , incorporating theBritishOpen, for theFestival of British hills atthePrincess Royal’s home at DON your trainers to tackle therolling 2-4 AUGUST EVENTING, GLOS FESTIVAL OF BRITISH Lawn for theprize-giving. vantage pointontheimmaculate Smith’s crowds mean thatyou can grab atop first played in 1955, andthemanageable is Guards’ oldest competition, having been tournament of theEnglish poloseason, it Considered thepremium medium-goal Cup finalontheSunday after Royal Ascot. present theprizes attheRoyal Windsor means the92-year-old Queen isableto IT’s anenviable kindof stamina that 23 JUNE FINAL, BERKS ROYALCUP WINDSOR

3 January 2019

Horse & Hound

31

Pictures by REX/Shutterstock, Peter Nixon, Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock, PA Archive/PA Images and Getty Images