Queen on sofa in her ‘comfy clothes’ as star jockeys pay tribute at Epsom
Zara Tindall said the Queen would be watching the Derby on TV in her “comfy clothes” after the 96-year-old monarch was forced to pull out of Saturday’s meeting on Epsom Downs.
Mrs Tindall, 41, told race goers at the track in Surrey that her grandmother was “well” but wanted to watch the action in comfort at Windsor Castle.
“She will be watching on TV – she has a few runners dotted around the country, so she knows exactly what’s going on,” she said. “She’ll be on the sofa … in her comfy clothes.”
Asked if she had spoken to Her Majesty recently, Mrs Tindall added: “Yes. She’s well, but obviously she was in London on Thursday. She’s got runners today, so she’ll concentrate on that and watching the Derby.”
Although her absence was keenly felt, the Queen was at the Derby in spirit, not least when a guard of honour of 40 current and retired jockeys assembled at the final furlong before the afternoon’s race.
The royal party drove between the two lines jockeys, who have all ridden for the Queen, and Mrs Tindall said: “It was amazing. It was so nice to see so many faces. It was funny seeing them trying to fit back into the colours again, all the retired ones.
“Obviously, we’d love her (the Queen) to be here. But it’s nice to be here. I’ve never been to Epsom before. It’s exciting. I need to go and explore.
Her husband, the former England rugby player Mike Tindall, added: “The Queen is such a wonderful woman and I have said this numerous times, but in terms of how you want a leader to be, she is that person – someone who sets an example.
“It’s such a shame that she’s not here with us but I know she’ll be tuned in and watching from home.”
The couple, who have three children, joined Mrs Tindall’s mother, the Princess Royal, 71, who was representing the Queen with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, 67.
Mrs Tindall’s brother, Peter Phillips, 44, made his first public appearance with new girlfriend Lindsay Wallace, 40. The Queen pulled out of the event after what the Duchess of Cambridge said was a “very tiring” day at Trooping the Colour on Thursday and also missed Friday’s Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.
A Jockey Club source said she would watch the race with her racing adviser, John Warren.
Desert Crown was the decisive winner of this year’s race, giving trainer Sir Michael Stoute his sixth victory at the Derby. Ridden by Richard Kingscote, Desert Crown had started the race as the 5-2 favourite.
Her Majesty’s absence did not dampen the celebrations of her enormous contribution to horse racing – with jockeys such as Willie Carson, Frankie Dettori and AP McCoy wearing the Queen’s distinctive racing silks of
purple, scarlet and gold. Describing the pride he has felt riding for the Queen, Mr Dettori said: “Every time you see these (colours) on your peg you (have) this sense of importance and it’s a great honour.
“She’s been breeding horses for over 60 years she knows all the blood lines and she’s won lots of races and she’s very knowledgeable.”
The Jockey Club also announced that the Queen’s Stand will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Stand.
Thoroughbreds owned by the Queen have won four out of the five flat racing classics, with only the Derby eluding her. Her horses have won more than 1,000 races, including the Oaks, the One Thousand Guineas, the Saint Leger and the Two Thousand Guineas. It had been hoped that her colt Reach For The Moon would romp to Derby victory on her jubilee weekend, having won at Sandown last August, but it was withdrawn last month after failing to recover from an injury. Her only remaining runner, Just Fine, was removed from the World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap at the 48-hour declaration stage on Thursday. She did, however, have a winner yesterday with Steal A March, ridden by Nico de Boinville, at Worcester.
The closest she came to winning the Derby was a second place with Aureole, four days after her coronation in 1953. Having first attended the race, which dates back to 1661, as a 22-year-old princess, with her father King George VI in 1948, she has barely missed a Derby since. The Queen’s love of horse racing was highlighted at Friday’s thanksgiving service when Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, praised her for “staying the course” and said she was “still in the saddle”, even though she was unable to attend.
Unseen footage of the Queen caring for her horses at the Royal Stud Sandringham was due to be broadcast by ITV yesterday as part of its coverage of the jubilee celebrations. She is seen feeding, observing and talking affectionately to several horses and foals, alongside Mr Warren. In one clip, as she observes two horses, the Queen says: “I often wonder what goes through her head.”
The Princess Royal, a former eventing world champion who competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, arrived to cheers from the crowds. Later, she was given a painting of Dunfermline, the Queen’s winner at the Oaks in 1977, painted by Jeremy Houghton, as a jubilee present for her mother. Mrs Tindall is also an accomplished equestrian and won the Eventing World Championships in 2006, and team silver at the London Olympics in 2012.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did not attend the Derby because they were visiting Cardiff with their oldest children Prince George, eight, and Princess Charlotte, seven. Prince Louis stayed at home.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not expected to be at Epsom, as it clashed with the first birthday of their daughter, Lilibet, who has travelled to the UK for the first time with her parents and brother Archie, three.