King Charles and Queen Camille Shed Tear as ‘Desert Hero’ Bred by Late Queen Elizabeth Emerges Victorious at the Historical Royal Ascot

Legacy is perhaps the most important impression any individual can leave behind when they move on to a better place. For almost a century, the late Queen Elizabeth II was part of a family that has been intertwined with equestrian sports since times immemorial. On Thursday, June 22, a special horse forming a part of the equestrian legacy of Queen Elizabeth proved to be a hero at the Royal Ascot Race.

Desert Hero, a horse bred by Queen Elizabeth herself, emerged victorious at the King Geroge V Stakes, an equestrian event forming part of the Royal Ascot meet. The win was particularly an emotional one for King Charles and Queen Camilla, the central survivors of the Royal Family who lost their beloved Queen and mother less than a year ago, in September 2022.

Equestrian win: a perfect tribute to the late Queen

Since her grandfather put her on the back of a horse when she was just a 3-year-old girl, Queen Elizabeth was absolutely mystified by the creatures. Horses played a central role in her life, and the Queen was a master breeder as well. It was one of her very own thoroughbreds, Desert Hero, that won the King George V Stakes. The late Queen was always overjoyed by all her horse racing victories. In a similar fashion, when her son, King George, witnessed Desert Hero storm to the finish line, he could not control his emotions.

Watching the horse bred by his mother, no doubt, drowned the King in a sea of nostalgia. This is probably why His Majesty shed a tear or two as Desert Hero attained glory. Queen Camilla was not impervious to the special moment, as she wiped tears of joy away as well. According to the Telegraph, his niece, Zara Tindell, described the moment as “bittersweet” saying, “how proud and excited our grandmother, the Queen, would have been.” Queen Elizabeth’s love for equestrian sports was not a secret from anybody. Her passion for the races was unmatched, and she had 24 winners all across the history of Royal Ascot.

Read more: Vintage Horse Racing Event, With Centuries of Royal Tradition, Achieves a Never-Heard-Before Feat

For King Charles and Queen Camilla, Desert Hero served the first victory of the Royal Ascot meet, after they came up short in the previous two days of the race. Just like Queen Elizabeth claimed her first Royal Ascot victory two weeks and four days after her coronation in 1953, King Charles got his first Royal Ascot win six weeks and five days after his coronation on May 6 this year. This year’s Royal Ascot was the first time the late monarch did not attend the event in person since she became Queen. Although, it seems like her son, the King, is taking over the reins.

Her Majesty the Queen, an accomplished equestrian breeder

During her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth was a master breeder and her thoroughbreds won over 1,600 races. The only classic British equestrian event where the late Queen’s thoroughbreds could not score a win was The Derby at Epsom. The late Queen Elizabeth bred horses such as Shetlands, the breed her grandfather gifted to her on her 4th birthday, and Highlands and Fell ponies, which enjoyed considerable success in the show ring.

Her Majesty was an active member of the British Horse Society, the Fell Pony Society, the Highland Pony Society, the Shire Horse Society, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. Desert Hero is a testament to the extensive knowledge the Queen had with regard to breeding horses. While she might have left us for heaven, a piece of her will always live on in the horses she bred.

Watch this story: Days After 12 Horse Fatalities Rocked Equestrian Community, Massive Step Announced for the Future