Groom For Camilla?
June 24 2021, Published 3:09 p.m. ET
The Queen’s passion for racing is well known, but what will happen to her horses when she’s gone?
It seems the Duchess of Cornwall is being groomed to succeed her mother-in-law at the Royal Stud.
During Royal Ascot week, both Camilla and the Queen’s racing manager John Warren dropped hints that Her Majesty is already planning ahead.
Asked if she would like the legacy established by the Queen and the Queen Mother to be continued in the next generation, Camilla told the ITV Racing channel: “Oh, I certainly would.
“I love it.
“I hope it will continue.
“Royal patronage of racing is extremely important for the whole industry.”
She added: “There’s nothing to describe the excitement of winning.
“It’s the most exciting thing in the world.
“I’ve got a couple in training at the moment.”
In a separate interview Mr. Warren said: “The Duchess is besotted by racing.
“It has been a slow burn for Prince Charles.
“He has always followed it, but it has been his mother's interest, so it has been at arm’s length.
“He owns a few horses himself with the Duchess.”
The Queen had 33 horses in training last year and has great success over the years, winning around $10 million in prize money, although a Derby winner still eludes her.
But this season she has only won $150,000, mainly through one horse, Tactical.
She has had 24 winners at Ascot meetings and made history in 2013 when her horse Estimate romped home at the Gold Cup — the first time a reigning sovereign had won the race.
Camilla has admitted that taking over from the Queen would be a hard act to follow.
“The Queen is the biggest expert of all time,” she said.
“There’s nothing she doesn’t know about it.
“This is her passion in life and she loves it.
“She could tell you every horse she’s bred and owned from the very beginning — she doesn't forget anything.
“I can hardly remember what I bred a year ago but she’s encyclopedic about her knowledge.”
