It’s been nearly one month since Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on the grounds of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace has released a new photograph of one of the funeral’s “break-out stars”, Emma the Fell pony.
Millions of people around the world watched the elaborate funeral take place. It was a striking display of pomp and circumstance mixed with the right degree of solemnity. One moment that struck many horsey and non-horsey people alike was the image of Emma, the Queen’s favourite pony, standing on the side of The Long Walk that procession followed to the service at St. George’s Chapel.
Held by her handler and the Queen’s groom, Terry Pendry, Emma stood, dignified, as the hearse carrying her former owner drove past, a Hermes scarf of Her Majesty draped across the saddle in tribute. And in a moment out of a Disney film, Emma raised her leg as though in salute to her fallen rider.
According to a report in the BBC, Emma, now 26, came to be in the Royal Mews as an eight-year-old show pony who had competed throughout England, eventually qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show and Olympia. During her tenure as the Queen’s mount, Emma took part in various pageants during the Diamond Jubilee at the Royal Windsor Horse Show as well as the 90th birthday celebrations and the Platinum Jubilee.
The new portrait is a headshot befitting a movie star and was released on the Palace’s Instagram account. The post read in part, “For the past fifteen years, Queen Elizabeth regularly rode Emma for light exercise in the grounds around Windsor Castle, during Her Majesty’s private time. Emma will continue to be much-loved and cared for at the Royal Mews, Windsor, and regularly exercised by its small, dedicated team.”
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