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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leaves Holy Trinity Church, Stourpaine after attending the funeral of her brother Mark Shand on May 1, 2014 near Blandford Forum in Dorset, England.

Queen Consort Camilla admits she is 'too old' to continue with this beloved passion

The wife of King Charles has been forced to give up her favourite hobby

Georgia Brown
Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
April 2, 2023
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Queen Consort Camilla has been forced to give up one of her beloved hobbies due to being "too old." 

The 75-year-old wife of King Charles spoke with a group of schoolchildren during her State visit to Germany last week, revealing that she is now "too old" to continue horseriding, the Mail on Sunday reported.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 13: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meets one of the riding school horses as she visits the Ebony Horse Club, Brixton on October 13, 2020 in London, England.
Queen Consort Camilla has been forced to give up horseriding

The candid admission from the royal was made during her trip to Hamburg, where she told the schoolchildren that while she used to have horses, she "sadly can't ride any longer." 

Queen Camilla's confession may come as a surprise to royal fans, considering that Camilla's mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, continued riding well into her nineties. 

WATCH: All about Queen Elizabeth II's love for horses

While there is no official reason age can prevent someone from horseriding, health complications as a result of age, such as limited mobility, arthritis, and frailty can contribute to reasons why someone may wish to give up the high-risk sport. 

Queen Consort Camilla's passion for equestrianism echoes the late Queen's lifelong love affair with her beloved horses

LATEST: Queen Consort Camilla leaves fans all saying the same thing after latest royal visit

Camilla Parker-Bowles rides a horse in Wiltshire© Getty
The Queen Consort shares her passion for equestrianism with the late Queen

Her Majesty had her first riding lesson when she was just three years old, and was given her first pony, a Shetland mare, by her grandfather King George V when she turned four. 

The late monarch enjoyed horse racing well into her ninth decade, and her passion became synonymous with her 70-year reign. Broadcaster Clare Balding previously revealed the sweet reason behind the Queen's love of horse racing. 

READ: The Queen's fitness secret: how her favourite hobby has kept her fit and well

Speaking on the BBC during the Queen's final journey from Northolt to Buckingham Palace, Clare said: "The Queen's passions were horses and dogs. Racing was the passion she shared with the public. 

Queen Elizabeth II reviews the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery during their 70th anniversary parade in Hyde Park on October 19, 2017 in London, England. © Getty

The Queen loved to go to the stables to see horses on gallops in the morning and talk to all the grooms. The broadcaster went on to share that Her Majesty enjoyed horse racing because all eyes were not on her for a change. 

"Racing was such a wonderful thing for her to be able to enjoy, she liked the attention to be on others and that was the case at the races," Clare said.

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