Queen Elizabeth II receives her award from Princess Haya. Photo courtesy of Anthony Devlin/PA Wire.
As a longtime supporter of equestrian sport, it comes as no surprise that Queen Elizabeth II has received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the FEI. Princess Haya presented the award at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, and the story has since picked up quite a bit of mainstream attention.
The Queen has been involved in many equine industries, from racing to the mounted police. She’s heavily involved in the Thoroughbred industry as a breeder and has enjoyed great success with the horses she has bred.
And, of course, horses run in the family as well, with Her Majesty’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, rising to eventing stardom, representing Great Britain on the international and Olympic stage. The Queen’s daughter Princess Anne also achieved international success in eventing as the first member of the British Royal Family to compete at the Olympic level.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is a lifelong lover of horses who has inspired millions around the world, and I am honored to be able to present the first-ever FEI Lifetime Achievement award to Her Majesty on behalf of the FEI today,” Princess Haya said after the presentation.
“She is a true horsewoman, who still rides whenever State business allows, and her knowledge of breeding and bloodlines is incredible. The bond between The Queen and horses is truly extraordinary, and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to receive this very special FEI award in the Year of the Horse. I am very proud to be giving this award on behalf of the FEI family.”
Last year, BBC’s Margaret Rhoades interviewed The Queen for the documentary The Queen: A Passion for Horses, saying, “when she became Queen, she had to sacrifice an awful lot of emotions and thoughts of the future, but with horses it’s another world in that it reduces you to just the person in relation to the animal, and you’re not a Queen, you’re just a human being.”
Check out the gallery below of photos that tell the story of the Queen’s relationship with horses.
[HM Queen Elizabeth II Receives Inaugural FEI Lifetime Achievement Award]
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- Queen Elizabeth II attracts the attention of Ed, a two month old Irish Draught colt foal, shown by Katherine Montgomery from Augher, County Tyrone at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show, Balmoral on the final day of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee visit to Northern Ireland. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
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- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II braves the adverse weather conditions as she presents rosettes to the Services Team Jumping contestants at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
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- The Queen taking the salute as the Scots Guards marched past at Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade marking her official birthday. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
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- The Princesses enjoyed an off-duty break from the royal tour of South Africa when they went riding on the golden sands of Bonza Beach, East London, Princess Elizabeth (centre) is riding Yvonne Hayhoe’s ‘Jill” while Princess Margaret rides ‘Treasure’ owned by Pat O’Reilly of East London, who is seen escorting the Princesses. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
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- Princess Anne helps her mother Queen Elizabeth adjust the bridle of the pony ‘Greensleeves’ in the grounds of Balmoral on their summer holidays. Photo courtesy of S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive.
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- Queen Elizabeth II and her son, the Prince of Wales, out riding at Windsor Castle. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
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- Queen Elizabeth II on Burmese during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London. On the left is the Duke of Edinburgh. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Image.
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- A ‘well done’ pat for Doublet as the Queen congratulates Princess Anne and her mount after they had taken fifth place in the Badminton Horse Trials. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
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- U.S. President Ronald Reagan goes riding in Windsor Home Park while staying as a guest of the Queen. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
