Despite being a devout horse-lover from childhood, Queen Elizabeth II had a hard and fast rule when it came to the Grand National.
The late monarch owned over 100 thoroughbred race horses at the time of her death, many of whom had won many major races, with her biggest win being Estimate in the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup.
© Getty ImagesBut the Queen only attended the Grand National a handful of times, which, according to reports, was due to the high rate of equine deaths and injuries that occurred at the event, despite regularly entering her racehorses in the event at Aintree.
The Queen did, however, regularly enter her horses at the competition, one of which occurred on the wedding day of her son, the then Prince Charles, to Camilla Parker Bowles and she made sure to reference it in her speech on the big day.
© GettyElizabeth said: "They have overcome Becher's Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles. They have come through, and I'm very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves."
Daily ritual
The Queen's commitment to horses was one she nurtured daily, according to race manager John Warren, who, in 2021, revealed Elizabeth read the Racing Post every morning.
"Every race that takes place every day of the week, the Queen will certainly read the Racing Post every morning," John explained. "[She'll] look at the breeding of all the winners the day before, and see that these stallions that she uses will be potential horses for her own mares."
What happened to the Queen's horses?
Following her death in 2022, King Charles inherited the horses, which are part of a multi-million-pound racing empire. In October 2022, he began selling some of the horses, including 14 of the late Queen's racehorses, for roughly £1 million.
