On September 8, local time, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. A period of national mourning has begun in the UK and will continue until the Queen's funeral, which is expected to take place 10 days after her death. According to British media, the queen's body will be transferred to Buckingham Palace, where it may stay for five days.
Elizabeth II ascended the throne on 6 February 1952 after the death of her father George VI and was crowned on 2 June 1953, making her Britain's longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch to date. As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II fulfilled her lifelong vow: "Solemnly dedicate your life". All British Prime Ministers from 1955 to the present have been appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, including Winston Churchill, Anthony Eaton, Harold MacMillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Andres Terrass.
In 2012, Whitehall Palace, the Queen held a military parade on her birthday. Image source: Hans-Peter Merten, high-quality image
She transformed from a reserved young princess into a calm and calm public figure, as a female king, taking on the image of a country. During the time of her reign, the decline of the former "British Empire" was linked to the modern Commonwealth states. For the political history of the contemporary world, she is an unforgettable witness to history.
And for horse lovers all over the world, they have lost a "horse friend" who has loved horses all his life, has had an important positive impact on the horse industry, and is always passionate and innocent when he is with horses!
Loved horses and was still riding horses three months ago
Since last September, due to medical reasons, doctors have advised the Queen to temporarily abandon horseback riding. This advice made the Queen feel uncomfortable, because horseback riding had become an indispensable habit in her life. However, members of the royal family have said that in order to be healthy, the queen still gave up this hobby for the time being and waited for a break before riding.
In June, the Queen, who had just passed her 96th birthday less than two months later, returned to her horse and made a comeback on horseback.
The British Royal Family released a commemorative photo of the 96-year-old Queen of the United Kingdom
Commemorative photo of the Queen of the United Kingdom's 90th birthday
A source at Windsor Castle told The Sun, "The Queen enjoys riding a horse again. During these nine months, the Queen missed her riding skills" and said it was remarkable to do so at the age of 96!
But the queen's return to horseback means and influences beyond that.
Queen of Horseback Riding, a unique symbol of the United Kingdom
Because the Queen of England loves to ride horses too much, as long as the British Royal Family reveals to the public that the Queen is still riding horses, it means that she is in good health, which has become a unique social phenomenon.
It is worth mentioning that in the past two years, the elderly Queen of England has been able to bring surprises every time she appears, and the positive signals released by her words and deeds are inspiring enough.
For example, during the epidemic, on the first day of the unsealing of the United Kingdom, the Queen appeared on horseback at Windsor Castle. At the time, the BBC report read in the headline: "The Queen's appearance on horseback has a clear inspirational signal".
On that day (31 May 2020), the Queen, wearing a brightly coloured turban, dark green coat, breeches and white gloves, rode a horse in Windsor Castle, the day was sunny, the first day the Uk began to lift the quarantine blockade.
This photo is also the first photo of the Queen in the outdoors released to the public since the United Kingdom hit the epidemic, which is intended to inject vitality and hope into the people's return to normal life.
British media have reported that at a time when the wave of strikes has emerged one after another and the British railway traffic has been paralyzed, the British energy and prices have risen, the cost of living crisis has intensified, and the British inflation rate has risen to 9.1% at a new 40-year high.
Now, the Queen is back on horseback, which is not only an exciting event for the British people, but also the greatest comfort for the Queen herself in 9 months.
Love Horse's Life Sees Important Moments Together
As we all know, the royal family's love of horse racing has a long history. On the Queen's 4th birthday, her grandfather, George V, gave her a Shetland mare named Peggy.
This little pony, which was about the same height as the queen of that year, opened the "bondage" of the queen and the horse's life.
As a young woman, Elizabeth II often rode her own horse to the races, and she was even the head of the major British horse racing associations; At the Queen's Birthday Parade, she dressed in a military uniform and rode a horse to parade.
And this love continued, her daughter Princess Anne also loved horseback riding, and also represented Britain in the Olympic Games; The Queen's granddaughter Zara is also an equestrian enthusiast who has also participated in the Olympic Games, and the Queen is very proud to watch them compete.
Her husband, Prince Philippe, is also a great rider and has been president of the INTERNATIONAL HORSE Federation for 22 years.
In 2014, the Queen was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the INTERNATIONAL HORSE Federation in recognition of her contribution to the international equestrian movement.
At a military parade in London's Hyde Park on 19 October 2017, the Queen smiled at a beautiful horse in the Royal Cavalry Artillery Unit
It is worth mentioning that the Queen has two horse farms and has more than 30 racehorses or stallions of good blood, which have won more than 1600 horse races.
On 19 June 2021, the fifth day of the Royal Jockey Club, the Queen was at Ascot Racecourse
The horses, which are worth more than £3.6 million, are a fairly significant part of the Queen's private property, according to a top horse racing agency.
In 2019, the British "Daily Mail" reported that in the past 30 years, the Queen's horse has helped her win about 7.77 million pounds (about 67.73 million yuan) in more than 500 races, and the Queen's horse has a winning rate of 16.1% at the racecourse, an average of 9 races per year.
Before the outbreak, she was a regular at Berkshire Racecourse.
On 10 May 2019, the Queen stroked a pony at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor
The Queen of Grace has loved the passionate speed horse race of her life
Queen Elizabeth II has a very important influence on the British horse industry and the international horse industry. But the elegant queen's favorite of her life is the most passionate speed horse racing!
In 1984, Queen Elizabeth II and the legendary American horse racing "Secretariat"
In 1984, Queen Elizabeth II raced with the 10th triple-crowned horse in American history, "Seattle Whirlwind"
Some of the jockeys who have ridden Queen Elizabeth II's horse are grouped together in their iconic royal colourful attire