Queen Elizabeth II's Grand National quip to Charles and Camilla on wedding day

Queen Elizabeth II's lifelong love of horse racing was perfectly captured in a remark she made during her speech at King Charles' wedding to the future Queen Camilla. Elizabeth had been a passionate equestrian enthusiast since childhood, having had her very first riding lesson when she was just three years old.The following year, she received her first pony, Peggy, and kept up her love of riding right up until she was 90. Although she chose to stay away from the Grand National due to its high horse fatality rate, as a former racehorse owner, she regularly entered her horses at Aintree Racecourse.Her lifelong devotion to horses was plain for all to see as she delivered her speech at Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005. On the morning of the ceremony, Camilla was reportedly so nervous that she refused to get out of bed.But the then-Queen's reassuring words, which came on the very same day as the Grand National in which she had a horse running, helped to ease Camilla's nerves. Elizabeth then delighted the gathered guests with the news that her horse, Hedgehunter, had won at Aintree.‌JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook pageHer subsequent words were far more poignant as she expressed her joy at welcoming Camilla into the family. She said of the newly-weds: "They have overcome Becher's Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles.READ MORE: Which channel is the 2026 Grand National on? Streaming and TV informationREAD MORE: Grand National expert who tipped 33-1 winner last year gives 1-2-3 in 2026 and backs 10-1 horse"They have come through and I'm very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves."The late monarch kept up a daily routine of staying on top of all things horse racing, as her racing manager John Warren revealed in 2021. He said: "Every race that takes place every day of the week, the Queen will certainly read...