ONE of the greatest equestrian events in our area was another galloping success this year. 

Badminton Horse Trials recently returned last week and over the weekend marking the event’s 75th anniversary. 

The Queen attended the final day of the event yesterday, Sunday, May 12 and presented trophies to prize winners.

Camilla, patron of British Equestrian, also watched the final show-jumping phase of the competition.

Gazette Series: Queen Camilla attends the final day of the Badminton Horse Trials 2024Queen Camilla attends the final day of the Badminton Horse Trials 2024 (Image: PA)

Gazette Series: (left to right) Queen Camilla, Peter Phillips, Isla Phillips and Savannah Phillips attend the final day of the Badminton Horse Trials(left to right) Queen Camilla, Peter Phillips, Isla Phillips and Savannah Phillips attend the final day of the Badminton Horse Trials (Image: PA)

Gazette Series: Queen Camilla and and Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort attend the final day of the Badminton Horse TrialsQueen Camilla and and Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort attend the final day of the Badminton Horse Trials (Image: PA)

Gazette Series: Queen Camilla presents second placed Lucy Latta from the Republic of Ireland with her trophy following day five of the Badminton Horse Trials 2024Queen Camilla presents second placed Lucy Latta from the Republic of Ireland with her trophy following day five of the Badminton Horse Trials 2024 (Image: PA)

She met guests associated with the trials, including representatives of the British Equestrian Federation, past winners of the competition, as well as volunteers and officials involved with this year’s event.

Images showed the Queen chatting with beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury and the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, Rose Hanbury. 

She was also seen watching the trials in the grandstand, sitting next to the Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset.

A member of the Beaufort Pony Club also presented Camilla with a book detailing the trials’ 75-year history and an anniversary model horse.

The horse trials are one of seven five-star equestrian events in the world. 

Five-star competitions see the best horses and riders in the sport compete against each other in three phases: dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

Badminton Horse Trials was established in 1949 to prepare British riders for the Olympic Games. 

Queen Elizabeth II presented the Badminton trophy on the event’s 50th anniversary in 1999, to five-time British Olympian Ian Stark.

Camilla last presented the trophies at Badminton in 2016, when Michael Jung won the “grand slam of eventing”.

This accolade is awarded to those who win three consecutive five-star competitions: the Badminton Horse Trials, the Kentucky Three-Day Event, and the Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire.

All photos by PA photographers David Davies and Chris Jackson.