Queen Elizabeth visited the Duchy of Lancaster’s Needwood Estate on Thursday (25.05.17).
The 91-year-old monarch made the trip to the estate – which is owned by the Queen under the title of the Duke of Lancashire – near Burton in East Staffordshire, where she was treated to a spectacular display from four members of the Eland Lodge Equestrian team.
The royal is known for her love of horses and is an experienced rider herself, and according to local newspaper the Burton Mail, she could be overheard saying the four-horse display looked like "good fun".
After watching the display, the Queen then met with Eland Lodge managing director John Coupland and his wife Veronica, who said he was "excited" about getting the chance to meet with the royal.
Before meeting the Queen, John said: "It’s the first time Her Majesty has come to the Lodge in the 13 years I have been in charge. Surprisingly, they’ve let me meet the Queen, so I’m very excited."
The pair discussed their plans for the centre with the monarch, before introducing her to the staff of the Duchy, including Sir Patrick McLoughlin, who became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in July 2016, as well as tenants from the estate’s Staffordshire farms.
After meeting the staff, the Queen was then invited to join a special lunch with invited guests, before she left the estate.
Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the Duchy was delayed by an hour after the monarch first visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in the morning, where she visited some of the victims who were injured in the terror attack which claimed the lives of 22 people and injured more than 50 others after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena earlier this week.
Staff at the Lodge had been preparing for her visit for a number of days, but understood the reasons for her delay.
Groundsman Paul Austin said: "What’s happened in Manchester is horrible, but the Queen has to go to places like that. We observed the minute’s silence earlier, so we all understand."
Queen Elizabeth visits Needwood Estate
