Another royal retirement
He’s got his own postage stamp and statue. Now Daniel, star of the Royal Wedding and the Queen’s favourite carriage horse for 15 years, is being put out to grass
DASHING around a Buckinghamshire paddock without a care in the world, another important member of the Royal Household is enjoying the first days of a well-earned retirement this week.
While Prince Philip might be looking forward to a few lazy afternoons birdwatching, painting or relaxing with a good single malt or two, Daniel, the Queen’s favourite Windsor Grey, is happy to gallop around with the wind in his mane, the sun on his glorious snowy white back and mud under his hooves.
Having spent the past 15 years drawing the Queen’s carriages as a member of the Royal Mews, he is probably one of the most famous, and eminent steeds in the land.
Aged 22, he has certainly earned his retirement: he has been present at Her Majesty’s birthday parade, the State Opening of Parliament, the annual Trooping the Colour and the Garter Day procession through Windsor Castle’s grounds.
In fact, the Queen’s love for her favourite horse — which has seen him immortalised in a life-size bronze sculpture and featured on the face of a Royal Mail stamp in 2014 — saw him placed at the head of the carriage carrying William and Kate to their wedding in 2011.
‘He’s a handsome boy — but he knows he’s a looker,’ says Jeanette Allen, CEO of the Horse Trust, which runs the Home of Rest where Daniel will live out his final years. ‘You could see that from the way he carried the Duke and Duchess to their wedding. Greys normally love mud but it took him days to roll in a puddle after he arrived here. He’s very refined.’
The Queen is famous for her love of horses, riding from the age of four. Now 91, she can still be spotted on horseback in Windsor Great Park riding alongside head groom Terry Pendry. And while she never rode Daniel — he is a carriage horse — their bond was deep.
His fine figure adorns an invitation on Buckingham Palace’s gates for visitors to explore ‘one of the world’s finest working stables’.
One of Daniel’s other regular duties was to convey newly appointed High Commissioners and foreign ambassadors to Buckingham Palace so they could present their credentials.
Windsor Greys have been drawing carriages for the Royal Family since the reign of Queen Victoria, even doubling as a postal service carrying letters between Buckingham Palace and St James’s.
But this royal horse hasn’t always managed to maintain regal behaviour. ‘Daniel is an old stalwart and rather cantankerous,’ said sculptor Robert Rattray, who spent hours with Daniel and another Windsor Grey called Storm before crafting the life-size, £200,000 bronze sculptures that appear to trot across the grass on the roundabout near the Long Walk in Windsor. They were commissioned by residents to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
When they were unveiled in 2014, Robert says the Queen recognised her favourite horse, and had a huge smile on her face. ‘She knew him immediately, you could tell,’ he said.
Daniel will live out his days on the Horse Trust’s 300 acres near Princes Risborough. Yesterday, he was gallivanting about the paddocks in what looked like sheer delight. He’s already met old friends. Fellow Royal Mews veterans Flint, Marsa and Big Tom are among the 130 retired and rescued horses at the home.
‘The Queen knows all the Royal Mews horses, she’s a real expert, and Daniel has had a fabulous career,’ says Jeanette Allen. ‘We heard he was a bit of a ladies’ man but so far he’s been a perfect gentleman.
‘We expect him to live to 27 — 30 would be magnificent. After years of being primped and preened he’ll be a hairy, muddy horse again. He’s going to have a ball.’