Princess Charlotte's newfound love of horses is shared by generations of royals. Aged just 17 months, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's daughter is the newest member of the Queen's family to take up the reins, echoing the monarch's enduring passion for the animals.
Charlotte was mesmerised by the miniature ponies she met at a children's party in Canada last month and her fascination will surely have delighted her 90-year-old great-grandmother, who was pictured last week riding with her head groom Terry Pendry near Windsor Castle.
Her Majesty has enjoyed a lifelong love of riding, taking her first lesson at three and receiving her first pony the following year from her grandfather George V.
© Photo: PAPrincess Charlotte's newfound love of horses is shared by generations of royals
Following in her mother's footsteps from an early age was Princess Anne, who became the first member of the royal family to compete at an Olympics when she represented Great Britain in the three-day event in Montreal in 1976. Her father, the Duke of Edinburgh once joked of her: "If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she isn't interested."
Anne's daughter Zara was just three when she started riding, on a "quite naughty" Shetland pony called Smoky. She went on to take silver at the London 2012 Olympics as part of the British Eventing Team, receiving her medal from her proud mother Princess Royal.
© Photo: PAHer Majesty has enjoyed a lifelong love of riding
Meanwhile, Prince George appears to share the same fondness. He looked comfortable in the saddle – happily sitting astride miniature horse Honey during the party in Canada and playing on a rocking horse previously given to him by President Barack Obama and the First Lady when they visited Kensington Palace in April. By any standards his sister Charlotte is unusually young to have started riding.
Having shown early promise, could we one day see her bring home an Olympic medal? Upmarket bookmaker Fitzdares tells HELLO!: "As she has so many sporting genes in the family, we think Charlotte is a 10/1 chance to represent Team GB and 100/1 to win a gold medal."
