Visit By Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Presentation of The Princess Elizabeth Cup 2001 By Captain W Bartle-Jones, RHG/D oot and Mouth disease had taken a terrible toll across the country, not only in terms of livestock and tourism, but utterly raping the countryside of most local shows and events. This included the annual Windsor Horse Show, a great supporter of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) for numerous years. It is at this prestigious event, Her Majesty presents the Princess Elizabeth Cup (Richmond Cup) to the best turned out trooper at mounted duty. Fearing this would not be able to take place, plans were hatched in Regimental Headquarters, behind closed doors and out of earshot, to invite Her Majesty to Knightsbridge.
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The Regiment was delighted when the date of the 10 May 2001 was put forward by Buckingham Palace. Regimental Headquarters started meticulous planning, sending proposed programs, interview notes, menus and detailed timings to the Palace. It was finally agreed that the ceremony would take place in Hyde Park, where Her Majesty would also present a new Drum Horse (Talevera – or Vera to her friends) which had been in training with SCpl Weller LG and her groom, Cpl Ross Scots DG since October 2000, to Lt Col D Allfrey MBE QCVS, Commanding Officer of the Scots Dragoon Guards. Her Majesty arrived in the park, much to the surprise of the public who happened to be close by and lucky enough to see the parade and was met by the Commander Household Cavalry, Colonel HPD Massey RHG/D. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel NMA Ridley LG and the Adju-
The Commanding Officer, Lt CoL NMA Ridley LG, is presented to Her Majesty by Commander Household Cavalry, Colonel HPD Massey RHG/D.
tant, Captain W Bartle-Jones RHG/D were presented to Her Majesty, along with the organisers of the Windsor Horse Show, who had been specially invited by the Regiment. Lieutenant RSI Derry LG called the competitors to attention, after which Her Majesty congratulated them one by one on their out-
The winner of The Princess Elizabeth Cup, Tpr Morgan, receives his prize from Her Majesty.
standing achievements. The final eight on parade had been chosen from over one hundred and fifty of their fellow soldiers and had undergone a rigorous inspection the week previously, by a team including the Brigade Major Lieutenant Colonel MG Bence-Trower SG, Lieutenant Colonel AP de Ritter LG
Talavera, Cpl Ross, Scots DG and SCpl Weller LG are presented to Her Majesty as The Life Guards Sqn look on.
Household Cavalry News
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