Since coming to the Throne in 1952, most photographs that we see of Queen Elizabeth II are of her performing her duties, dressed in a colourful garment and hat.
But the photo below, taken over Easter, shows the 85-year-old monarch of 16 countries, including the UK, Canada, Belize and Jamaica, performing a much more personal duty: that of grandmother.
It shows the Queen in her civvies riding through bluebells in Windsor Great Park with her two youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise Windsor, seven, and her three-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn.
Lady Louise, who is 9th in line to the Throne, was one of the bridesmaids at the recent wedding between her cousin Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Her younger brother Viscount Severn is 8th in line to the Throne.
The Queen is wearing white jodhpurs, brown riding boots and a tweed hacking jacket with gloves.
And, despite repeated calls by safety campaigners over the years for her to wear a helmet, she is still stubbornly sporting her famous knotted headscarf.
The Queen loves horses and has been riding on them since she was a little girl. She attends horse racing's Royal Ascot Festival every year.
The children's parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have always fiercely protected their children’s privacy, particularly as Lady Louise suffers a rare eye condition which gives her a squint.
But apparently, the Queen loved the photo so much she agreed to have it published.
Windsor Great Park is a large deer park of 5,000 acres to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey, 20 miles west of London. The park was, for many centuries, the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle and dates from the mid-13th century. It is now open to the public.
Grandma, the reining monarch: Queen goes riding with Edward's children
By Daily Mail Reporter
11th May 2011
Smiling broadly and looking every inch the proud grandmother, this is the Queen as few have seen her before.
The touching family snapshot shows the 85-year-old monarch belying her years as she looks relaxed on a pony ride with Lady Louise Windsor, seven, and her three-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn.
Their parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have always fiercely protected their children’s privacy, particularly as Lady Louise suffers a rare eye condition which gives her a squint.
Touching moment: The Queen looks every inch the proud grandmother alongside Lady Louise Windsor, 9th in line to the Throne, and James, Viscount Severn, 8th in line, during a ride in Windsor Great Park over Easter
The Queen's husband Prince Philip rides through the grounds of Windsor Castle today during the Royal Windsor Horse Show. It is the largest outdoor equestrian Show in the UK, with over 3,000 horses and ponies taking part in more than 250 jumping, showing, and carriage driving classes
Confident: Lady Louise Windsor was one of the bridesmaids at the Royal wedding of her cousin Prince William and Catherine Middleton
But the Queen was so taken by the picture, taken on Easter Monday amid the bluebells in Windsor Great Park, that she agreed to publish it to highlight the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which starts today.
A passionate rider since childhood, the Queen’s relaxed pose on her small black pony belies her advancing years.
Despite repeated calls by safety campaigners over the years for her to wear a helmet, she is still stubbornly sporting her famous knotted headscarf.
Her clothes are still reassuringly formal – white jodhpurs, brown riding boots and a tweed hacking jacket with gloves.
The Queen is leading casually-dressed three year-old James on a rein but Louise has clearly inherited her grandmother’s confidence and looks more than in control of her own white steed.
The children live only a short drive from Windsor and stable their ponies at the royal mews, as does their mother, the Countess of Wessex.
As revealed by the Mail, the Countess suffered a broken rib following a nasty fall from her own horse while riding in the Great Park just days before the royal wedding.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said last night: ‘The Queen thought it was a particularly lovely photograph and gave her permission for it to be released.’
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is the largest outdoor equestrian Show in the UK, with over 3,000 horses and ponies taking part in more than 250 jumping, showing, and carriage driving classes.
The event has been running for over 65 years and takes place in Her Majesty’s private grounds at Windsor Castle.
Helping hand: Sophie, the Countess of Wessex and her son James, Viscount Severn, walk alongside the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips (the only son of the Princess Royal) and his Canadian wife Autumn following the Royal family's Scottish cruise last year. Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and their father Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, follow on
dailymail.co.uk
But the photo below, taken over Easter, shows the 85-year-old monarch of 16 countries, including the UK, Canada, Belize and Jamaica, performing a much more personal duty: that of grandmother.
It shows the Queen in her civvies riding through bluebells in Windsor Great Park with her two youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise Windsor, seven, and her three-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn.
Lady Louise, who is 9th in line to the Throne, was one of the bridesmaids at the recent wedding between her cousin Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Her younger brother Viscount Severn is 8th in line to the Throne.
The Queen is wearing white jodhpurs, brown riding boots and a tweed hacking jacket with gloves.
And, despite repeated calls by safety campaigners over the years for her to wear a helmet, she is still stubbornly sporting her famous knotted headscarf.
The Queen loves horses and has been riding on them since she was a little girl. She attends horse racing's Royal Ascot Festival every year.
The children's parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have always fiercely protected their children’s privacy, particularly as Lady Louise suffers a rare eye condition which gives her a squint.
But apparently, the Queen loved the photo so much she agreed to have it published.
Windsor Great Park is a large deer park of 5,000 acres to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey, 20 miles west of London. The park was, for many centuries, the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle and dates from the mid-13th century. It is now open to the public.
Grandma, the reining monarch: Queen goes riding with Edward's children
By Daily Mail Reporter
11th May 2011
Smiling broadly and looking every inch the proud grandmother, this is the Queen as few have seen her before.
The touching family snapshot shows the 85-year-old monarch belying her years as she looks relaxed on a pony ride with Lady Louise Windsor, seven, and her three-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn.
Their parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have always fiercely protected their children’s privacy, particularly as Lady Louise suffers a rare eye condition which gives her a squint.
Touching moment: The Queen looks every inch the proud grandmother alongside Lady Louise Windsor, 9th in line to the Throne, and James, Viscount Severn, 8th in line, during a ride in Windsor Great Park over Easter
The Queen's husband Prince Philip rides through the grounds of Windsor Castle today during the Royal Windsor Horse Show. It is the largest outdoor equestrian Show in the UK, with over 3,000 horses and ponies taking part in more than 250 jumping, showing, and carriage driving classes
Confident: Lady Louise Windsor was one of the bridesmaids at the Royal wedding of her cousin Prince William and Catherine Middleton
But the Queen was so taken by the picture, taken on Easter Monday amid the bluebells in Windsor Great Park, that she agreed to publish it to highlight the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which starts today.
A passionate rider since childhood, the Queen’s relaxed pose on her small black pony belies her advancing years.
Despite repeated calls by safety campaigners over the years for her to wear a helmet, she is still stubbornly sporting her famous knotted headscarf.
Her clothes are still reassuringly formal – white jodhpurs, brown riding boots and a tweed hacking jacket with gloves.
The Queen is leading casually-dressed three year-old James on a rein but Louise has clearly inherited her grandmother’s confidence and looks more than in control of her own white steed.
The children live only a short drive from Windsor and stable their ponies at the royal mews, as does their mother, the Countess of Wessex.
As revealed by the Mail, the Countess suffered a broken rib following a nasty fall from her own horse while riding in the Great Park just days before the royal wedding.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said last night: ‘The Queen thought it was a particularly lovely photograph and gave her permission for it to be released.’
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is the largest outdoor equestrian Show in the UK, with over 3,000 horses and ponies taking part in more than 250 jumping, showing, and carriage driving classes.
The event has been running for over 65 years and takes place in Her Majesty’s private grounds at Windsor Castle.
Helping hand: Sophie, the Countess of Wessex and her son James, Viscount Severn, walk alongside the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips (the only son of the Princess Royal) and his Canadian wife Autumn following the Royal family's Scottish cruise last year. Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and their father Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, follow on
dailymail.co.uk
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