CASTLE CARY: Queen Elizabeth indulged her love of horse racing on Thursday with a visit to England’s west country where she toured the stables of trainer Paul Nicholls.
Six of his horses were paraded before the 92-year-old monarch, who fed them carrots.
Elizabeth has been passionate about horses ever since she was given a Shetland pony as a child. She is a keen rider and owns racehorses herself.
She also met students from the University of Bath who are working on research projects on equestrian sport spinal injuries and racehorse welfare.
Later, she was visiting King’s Bruton School, which was founded in 1519. To mark 500 years of the school at Bruton in the county of Somerset, she opened its new music centre.
Elizabeth also officially named a horse of the local Avon and Somerset police force.
Her trip ended with a tour of Hauser & Wirth Somerset, a gallery and multi-purpose arts centre.