Still a charmer at 93 ... Philip and his flirty admirer
MOST 93- year- olds would be forgiven for taking things gently, but in his tenth decade Prince Philip is still driving a horse-drawn carriage – and making beautiful women roar with laughter.
Never one to sit back and let others take the reins, the Duke of Edinburgh wrapped up to drive his carriage at the Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday.
The Duke spent much of his time in the company of his great pal Lady Romsey, with both enjoying the show put on by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery yesterday – putting their fingers in their ears during a noisy display of cannon fire.
Sitting two seats away was the Queen, who seemed less fazed by the military pyrotechnics. Philip and Lady Romsey were also pictured in their carriages, joking together at the start of the Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society.
Lady Romsey, known as Penny to her friends, is the Duke of Edinburgh’s regular companion at carriage-driving events.
The Royal family are known to admire Penny, who is regularly invited to their private events.
Her husband, Lord Brabourne, is Prince Philip’s godson and lifelong friend, and a cousin of the Prince of Wales.
Through the years, the Duke and Lady Romsey have remained close and have competed in countless riding shows across the country.
Formerly Penelope Meredith Eastwood, Lady Romsey is the daughter of a retired major who founded the Angus Steak House chain. She first met the Duke – who is 30 years her senior – at a polo match when she was 20 and in a relationship with Lord Romsey, Earl Mountbatten’s grandson Norton Knatchbull.
The pair married in October 1979, two months after Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb. The five-day riding show is an unmissable event in Her Majesty’s diary and she has turned out every day to pass her knowledgable eye over the equestrian talent on display.
The Queen has attended every annual show, which is held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, since it began in 1943.
It has strong links to the Royal Family, with both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh competing in it when they were younger. Prince Philip entered the Carriage Driving event for 30 years and won it in 1982.
More recently, the Queen has watched many of her own horses take part in the showing class competitions.
Display of cannon fire