United Kingdom

A new portrait, published for Queen’s 96th birthday, shows her happiest – with her ponies

The Purebred, owned by the Queen, won four of the five flat racing classics – 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger – with only the Derby slipping away.

This year’s derby day will see the Queen and her family in the Royal Lodge of Epsom Downs as part of her platinum anniversary celebrations, with three of her horses vying to be selected for the international event.

Her horse Dunfermline, ridden by jockey Willie Carson, gave the Queen her most famous victory, triumphing at Oaks and St. Leger in her silver jubilee year, 1977.

In recent years, the Queen has entered sports history when she became the first reigning monarch to win the Royal Ascot Gold Cup with her thoroughbred rating in 2013.