The Windsor Horse show was one of the late Queen Elizabeth’s favourite annual events, and she attended it since she was a young girl – but one year she was hilariously refused entry

Each year, the Royal Windsor Horse Show attracts tens of thousands of visitors, and during her lifetime, the late Queen Elizabeth was pretty much always one of them.

The Queen was well known to be an accomplished horsewoman who reportedly began riding at just three years old, and she didn’t miss the chance to nip down to the horse show that takes place so close to Windsor Castle.

However, one year, a bit of a mix-up meant that her entry to the show was denied by a security guard who clearly took his role very seriously. The incident took place back in 1991 when the late Queen was 65 years old, and was denied entry to the show by the enthusiastic staff member for one simple reason: he didn’t recognise her at all.

According to Hello! the guard told her: “Sorry love, you can’t come in without a sticker.” However, the Queen, who was well-known for her wry and understated sense of humour, replied by saying: “I think if you check, I will be allowed to come in!” – and sure enough she was allowed to enter.

The guard is said to have later admitted that he thought that she was “some old dear” who had got lost.

This year’s show is currently underway and will see the usual competitions of dressage, endurance, jumping, and driving take place, amongst others. Two years ago to mark the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a special extravaganza took place called A Gallop Through History.

The special event was attended by Queen Elizabeth, and she got to witness Lady Louise Windsor, her granddaughter, lead the royal horses by driving a carriage previously owned by Prince Philip – who had died the year before.

The Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2017 (Image: Getty Images)

The Queen with one of her horses at the Royal Windsor Horse Show ( Image: Getty Images)

The emotional moment was one of the grand finales of the night, and it was also one of only a few Platinum Jubilee events the late Queen managed to attend in person as she suffered from “episodic mobility problems” in the last few months of her life.

The Express reported that the late Queen looked “emotional” as she watched her granddaughter lead the tribute to her late husband, and she was accompanied by Louise’s parents: Prince Edward and Sophie, now the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The competition was founded to raise money for the war efforts back in 1943, when they managed to successfully raise enough funds to buy a 78 Typhoon fighter aircraft. Initially, dogs were part of the programme too, but when a lurcher decided to grab a piece of chicken from King George V’s plate in the first year of the competition they were swiftly banned by embarrassed organisers, per the show’s official website.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show has remained close to the hearts of the Royal Family ever since, with Prince Philip regularly competing in the carriage driving categories until his retirement in 2003.