News
The Duchess of Cornwall attends the London International Horse Show
15th December 2011
The Duchess of Cornwall complimented a group of students dressed as knights on horseback tonight.
Her Royal Highness told the first year musical theatre students: "You all look very smart," when she met them at a horse show at London's Olympia.
"I like your horses, they look very difficult to ride," she said.
The six men, from the Arts Educational School in Chiswick, west London, all had wooden horses attached to their imitation chainmail knight's armour.
Brad Veitch, 19, was one of the students who posed with The Duchess in front of a Christmas tree.
"It was quite inspiring," he said. "When you see royalty it gives you butterflies."
Jacade Simpson, 20, said: "It was exciting, I have never met anyone in the royal family before."
The students were performing part of the West End musical Monty Python's Spamalot for The Duchess, who is a Patron of the British Equestrian Federation, in the finale of tonight's event.
It is the seventh year The Duchess has attended the London International Horse Show.
The Duchess, dressed in a black sequinned jacket, black pleated skirt and black boots, met Olympic and Paralympic riders, charity workers and children who were taking part in the show during the interval.
Mick Foulds, a rider with two artificial legs, was part of a team of severely wounded servicemen who drove a horse-drawn First World War replica ambulance from Land's End to John O'Groats for charity.
"The Duchess said it was a fantastic challenge," said Mr Foulds, who helped raised money through the Horses for Heroes campaign by riding his own horse next to the ambulance.
"If you can't walk very well but you can ride you get your independence back, you are in the real world again," the 59-year-old from Essex said.
The Duchess also met children from the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, of which she is Patron.
Rebecca Hennessy, 15, from Brixton, is part of the riding club which aims to give disadvantaged children better life skills, education and aspirations.
"It was an honour to meet her," said Rebecca. "She talked to us about the club and how much she loves horses."
The Duchess also spoke to children who rode in front of her in the Shetland Pony Grand National.
Megan Leslie, 12, from Shetland, said it was "brilliant" to meet her. "She asked us how we were and how it went," she said.
Katy Darkings, 12, from North Yorkshire, rode in front of The Duchess. She said: "It was really nerve-racking, but it made you feel really privileged to be riding in front of her."
The Duchess also spoke to two record-breaking British Paralympic dressage riders after presenting them with British Equestrian Federation medals of honour.
Natasha Baker, 21, from Uxbridge, suffered nerve damage as a teenager which means she finds it difficult to walk, but helped the team score the highest ever points total at the European Championships.
"The Duchess said what a fantastic year we have had," said Ms Baker. "She is great, it is nice to have somebody so supportive of Paralympic equestrians."
Her teammate, Emma Sheardown, 26, from Lincolnshire, suffers from cerebral palsy and said The Duchess remembered her from a previous meeting.
"She remembered me, she said we have met before," said Ms Sheardown.
The pair are red hot favourites to help Team GB win gold at next year's Paralympics in London.
During the evening, The Duchess also watched the Kennel Club medium dog agility stakes final, the Lusitano Ride from Portugal, and stunt rider Lorenzo the Flying Frenchman.
At the end of the evening, The Duchess presented British rider Ben Maher, of Essex, with the Christmas Speed Stakes winner's rosette and a bottle of champagne.