Obituary: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Photograph by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

On Thursday 8 September, the UK’s longest serving monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland aged 96. The Queen was passionate about horses and this included polo, which was a favourite pass-time of HM King Charles III and the late HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Guards Polo Club was founded on 25 January 1955 with The Duke of Edinburgh, as the Club’s first President, a role he held for 66 years until his death in April 2021; the Club was originally named the Household Brigade Polo Club, only changing to its present form in 1969, Guards Polo Club became a fully civilian club in 2000.

Brian Stein, Guards Polo Club Chairman reflected on Her Majesty’s contribution to the Club and the sport, “HM Queen Elizabeth was an integral part of Guards Polo Club for almost seven decades. It was Her Majesty that first recommended Smith’s Lawn as the ideal location for a polo field and then wholeheartedly supported HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in his efforts in establishing the Club. We are hugely proud of our unique connection to the Royal Family and the Club was honoured to host Her Majesty in a private capacity at polo several times each year. Knowing that HM The Queen would be presenting the prizes made winning a major trophy at Smith’s Lawn even more memorable. I believe some players were more nervous about meeting The Queen than playing in a high goal Final but Her Majesty always put them at their ease and spoke knowledgably to the players about the game and their ponies. The Board will now meet to discuss how best we can honour Her Majesty, without doubt the Club’s greatest supporter.”

Her Majesty was regularly spotted on the sidelines as well as presenting many a trophy in her time. One such occasion was in 1966 when Her Majesty presented The Cowdray Gold Cup to her beloved husband after he won the prestigious trophy with Windsor Park. The Cartier Queen’s Cup, one of the UK’s most coveted trophies, was first presented to Guards Polo Club in 1960 by Her Majesty and remains one of the top high goal tournaments in the country.

In tribute to not only her lifelong commitment to serving Great Britain, but also her involvement and support of polo, no polo was played on Friday 9 September and a minute of silence was held before matches were played in the days following her death.

The Hurlingham Polo Association’s Chairman, Nick Wiles, wrote, “I have no doubt the polo community will be deeply affected by the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen. Her Majesty the Queen has been a huge supporter of polo and of her family’s involvement in polo for decades. Her presence has graced our sport. It is with great gratitude, respect and sadness that we remember her.”

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II pictured enjoying polo over the years