Queen Elizabeth II has had a lifelong passion for horses that dates back to her childhood. The British monarch, who is now 92, was reportedly out riding when she heard the news that Kate Middleton was giving birth to her third child with Prince William, Prince Louis of Cambridge, in April this year.
According to press reports, Her Majesty lets little interfere with her morning ride around the grounds of Windsor Castle on her black Fell pony, Carltonlima Emma, accompanied by head groom Terry Pendry. Even the impending arrival of her great-grandson, who is fifth in line to the throne, was no reason to interrupt her riding routine!
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The Queen has cared for animals for the past 88 years, having been given her first pony, a Shetland named Peggy, at the age of just four. She was a proficient rider by the age of six - having taken riding lessons - and has continued to ride throughout her life.
As well as having had many horses, she is also well known for her love of dogs and is most associated with the corgi breed. There have always been corgis around Buckingham Palace, as well as "dorgis" - a Dachshund and Corgi cross.
Earlier this year, the Queen was reportedly devastated by the death of her beloved corgi, Willow, at the age of almost 15 years old. The Queen mourns the death of every one of her animals - and there have been plenty of four-legged companions in the royal household over the past eight decades.
Early life
Ever since the Queen was given Peggy as a child, she has adored horses. She entered horse shows as a young woman and in 1944, the then Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, won trophies at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Princess Elizabeth received a silver trophy after winning the class for Best Turn Out Not Exceeding 13 Hands with her pony, Hans. She was later spotted giving Hans a celebratory feed from the cup!
The Queen's lifelong love of horse-riding is legendary. She has ridden in a ceremonial role since 1947, when she made her debut at the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony on horseback.
The ceremony is performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies in honour of the Queen's birthday. A parade of 1,400 troops, 400 musicians and 200 horses from 10 different bands takes place, with Her Majesty taking the salute.
In years gone by, she always travelled on horseback, but recently, she has begun using a horse-drawn carriage. She inspects the Household Division's mounted and foot guards and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Horse racing
The Queen is renowned for her love of horse racing, as was the Queen Mother before her. One of her favourite race tracks is the historic Ascot, where the five-day Royal Ascot meeting attracts a 70,000-strong crowd every summer.
The racecourse was founded by Queen Anne and constructed in 1711. It has enjoyed royal links ever since and the Queen and other members of the royal family always attend Royal Ascot every June.
The Queen has been no stranger to success at Ascot in the past, with her horse Aureole's famous victory there in 1954.
The Queen owns her own stable of racehorses. She inherited her late father King George VI's racing and breeding horses in 1952. Her registered racing silks - comprising a purple and red jacket with gold braiding and a black cap - are worn by her jockeys. They are the same colours her great-grandfather King Edward VII used.
Her most famous racehorses have included Estimate, a bay filly born in 2009, the winner of the Royal Ascot Queen's Vase as a three-year-old. Another of her notable horses was Highclere, born in 1991, who won the Prix de Diane at Chantilly and the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Boxing Day racing
On Boxing Day, one of the most famous royal races, the King George VI Chase, will be held at Kempton Park Racecourse. The Grade 1 National Hunt race takes place over a three-mile course for horses aged four years and above.
The tradition of Boxing Day racing began because the 26th of December is the feast day of St Stephen, the patron saint of horses, so it is now associated with horse racing. The reigning champion, Might Bite, is aiming to defend the crown he won in brilliant style on Boxing Day 2017.
Although the Queen doesn't have a runner in this year's King George VI Chase, whatever the result, it will be a thrilling spectacle and the highlight of the Boxing Day races.
The Queen's interest in horses featured in a 1974 documentary entitled The Queen's Race Horses: a Private View, narrated by the monarch herself. As part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation, Clare Balding hosted a BBC documentary, The Queen: a Passion for Horses, in 2013.
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