The 2023 edition of Royal Windsor Horse Show, from May 10-14, has a packed schedule, featuring world-class international equestrian sport, alongside traditional favourites and a range of spectacular acts and events. The show started life in 1943 as part of a ‘Wings for Victory’ wartime fundraising effort, which was attended by King George VI, The Queen and their daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. 80 years on, it is one of the most prestigious shows in the world, attracting top-class athletes and featuring over 2,800 horses.
Royal Windsor Horse Show has an elaborate and unique history, which has shaped the show as we know it today. In 1947, five years after its inception, the show expanded to run over three days. One of the new additions that year was the Coaching Marathon, featuring four-in-hand teams as they embarked on a six-mile drive across the Windsor countryside. The Coaching Marathon remains a popular element of the Show, generating an iconic annual scene as they make their way down the Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle.
The first international Driving event came to Royal Windsor in 1970 – the brainchild of The Late Duke of Edinburgh. A notable member of the crowd that year was Prince Edward, who in 2022 succeeded his late father as the show’s president, and became the Duke of Edinburgh earlier this year. In 1982, The Late Duke of Edinburgh, a regular competitor at Royal Windsor, won the Horse Teams class in the International Driving Grand Prix. Today, the world’s best carriage drivers travel to Windsor to compete, including in 2023, three of the top four ranked drivers in the world – Boyd Exell, Ijsbrand Chardon and Koos de Ronde.