As King Charles could be set to attend Cheltenham 2023, a look back at Queen Elizabeth's love for horse racing

With Royal fans and the British media both speculating that the monarchy is being rebranded ahead of the May coronation, Zara Tindall is also hoping that the ‘times will change’ in terms of King Charles’ attendance at the Cheltenham Festival.

It has been 17 years since the monarch visited Prestbury Park, and with the 2023 festival starting from 14 March, all eyes are set on whether King Charles will appear in the Royal Box.

The monarch owns some of the runners at Cheltenham Races this year, including Steal A March, who holds a special place in the Royals’ hearts as the 8-year-old gelding not only won over the Platinum Jubilee weekend last year, but also was bred by the late Queen Elizabeth herself.

King Charles inherited his mother’s 37 race horses in September 2022, and has shown a slight interest in their exploits appearing at Royal Ascot and Epsom in recent years.

Some may remember that King Charles was once a wannabe-jockey who also ran at Cheltenham Festival in 1981, a few months before his marriage to the then-Lady Diana Spencer. 

The monarch pulled on his racing stripes and entered as an amateur jockey but unfortunately fell off his steed at fence number 10. In following years, Charles opened up about his struggles to continue riding as a jockey after his horse died during a training session leading up to Cheltenham and he did not meet the required weight for a rider.

Evidently, the Cheltenham Festival and the Royal Family have a long history, and even though there may be some doubt as to whether King Charles will return to the races, his mother Queen Elizabeth was an unwavering supporter.

Royal Ascot 2013

In 2013, people were able to see a rare side to the Queen when her public front slipped as she urged her mare, Estimate, to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot; it was a moment reminiscent of when the late Queen was ecstatic to see Jersey cows at the Royal Show in 2018, and truly highlighted her love for the sport.

The Queen, who was a patron of the racetrack, never missed a Royal race meeting at Ascot and owned 22 of the race winners, including Estimate.

Cheltenham 2009 

Friday 13th may be unlucky for some, and this also goes for Queen Elizabeth as her horse Barbers Shop and jockey Barry Geraghty finished in seventh place at the Gold Cup in Cheltenham 2009.

Barbers Shop lost out to favourite Kauto Star, before the Queen was seen chatting to her jockey in the parade ring wearing a dark burgundy outfit.

Cheltenham 2003 

Elizabeth II may have inherited her love of horses and horse racing from her mother, who was also a regular visitor to Cheltenham Festival.  

One of Elizabeth’s first royal appearances at Cheltenham was in 1953, the year of her coronation, and 50 years later, the Queen returned to Prestbury Park, in honour of the Queen Mother as she unveiled a statue at the National Hunt Festival.

Queen Mother Champion Case

The leading race in the National Hunt calendar falls at Cheltenham Racecourse, and has links to the Royal family as indicated by its name, ‘The Queen Mother Champion Case’, which was given in 1980 for the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday. 

The name continues the Queen Mother’s legacy to attend Cheltenham, and was even presented by the then-Duchess of Cornwall in 2019, as one of the honorary members of The Jockey Club.

Camilla/The Jockey Club

Despite King Charles not attending Cheltenham in nearly two decades, his wife the Queen Consort has visited several times and shares her love of horses by being associated with seven equine charities, including The British Equestrian Federation.

Camilla, alongside Charles, Princess Anne and Zara Tindall, are all honorary members of The Jockey Club - the largest horse racing organisation that owns 15 of Britain’s biggest racecourses such as Aintree and Cheltenham.

Zara and Mike Tindall at Cheltenham

While the royals are often seen riding horses in polo matches or around the palace grounds, Princess Anne and Zara Tindall are the family’s most experienced equestrians who have taken part in the Olympic Games.

Zara expressed her interest in Charles and Camilla returning to Cheltenham this year, where she is a committee member and Mike Tindall has a hospitality venture at the venue, saying: 

"I think with Steal A March it would be great to see Charles and Camilla back at Cheltenham. Having the involvement and having the runner here would be great for the future too. We'll see what happens - it's a changing of the times."

Kate and William at Cheltenham

Although all eyes are focused on whether King Charles will be seated in the Royal Box located in the Princess Royal Stand next week, it must be noted that Kate Middleton has not been back to Cheltenham in a decade.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last attended Cheltenham together in 2013 to watch the Gold Cup when Kate was pregnant with Prince George, and had been spotted at the Festival once before in 2007.

It has since been revealed that Kate is in fact allergic to horses, which may potentially serve as reasoning for her lack of attendance at the race courses.