Royals’ connection to the Grand National: Did Queen Elizabeth’s horses ever win and who attended in the past?

As we gallop towards Charles’ coronation, there are a few large fences to jump before the big day on May 6. However the Royals could have some fun at the Grand National which takes place this weekend.

While the Royal Family’s connection to Ascot is more well-known since it became an official Royal week in 1911, the monarchy has quite the past with one of the most controversial racecourses in British history.

Labelled as the ‘most valuable equestrian race in Europe’ that tests the horse’s courage and had an all-time high jackpot in 2014 of £1 million, the Grand National was first founded in 1839 by hotelier William Lynn who leased the land from William Molyneux, the 2nd Earl of Sefton.

The Royals’ connection to the Grand National stems right back to its first race as the Liverpool racecourse was given the royal seal of approval by the Earl’s friend the Prince Regent. 

Since then, members of the Firm including the late Queen Elizabeth, Diana, Princess Anne, Zara Tindall and King Charles to name a few, have all made appearances at Aintree for the Grand National.

Significantly, Charles was seen at the grounds with Diana one year after they tied the knot, when the then-Princess of Wales was pregnant with Prince William.

Although Charles was not seen at Royal Ascot this year, the monarch does have a passion for horse racing inherited from his mother as well as gaining her entire racehorse collection, and even turned his hand to jockeying for a short time.

Racing runs throughout the royal DNA as just like King Charles, Queen Elizabeth shared her love of horses with the Queen Mother who attended numerous events through her lifetime and won over one thousand races. 

Despite the vast number of victories, the Queen and her Mother were never able to lift the trophy at the Grand National. 

They came closest in 1956 when the Queen Mother’s horse Devon Lynch was in the lead, set to win, but unfortunately collapsed less than 50 yards from the finish line and was passed at the final ‘hurdle’.

The Grand National runs from 13 to 15 April 2023.