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Queen Elizabeth II

Queen set for dash across the Channel for the Derby

<![CDATA[The Queen will be kept busy in June as she carries out some morning engagements in France to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D Day landings before dashing back to the UK making sure that she does not miss the Derby.

The Queen's favourite past time is horse racing.

The Queen’s favourite pastime is horse racing


It was feared that Her Majesty would miss the world famous horse race after the days clashed. However, Buckingham Palace confirmed that The Queen would not miss the highlight of her calendar and would travel 285 miles across the Channel to Epsom Downs.
A source from the Palace said to the Express, “the timings that have been worked out have made it possible for The Queen to carry out engagements in Paris in the morning and still make the Derby in the afternoon. It works for everyone.”
In what is speculated to be The Queen’s last major official overseas visit, she arrives in France on 5the June with the Duke of Edinburgh, spending the following day in Normandy, where they will be joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
On 7th June, Her Majesty will travel to Paris for a reception with President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace. Once the reception has finished, it is then when The Queen will travel from Paris to Epsom Downs.
The Queen has a long history with the Derby. She has had 10 runners in The Derby, the first in 1953 and the latest was in 2011 when Carlton House finished 3rd. However, it is the one classic race that she has yet to win. The closest she has been to winning the race was in Her Coronation year, 1953, when Aureole finished second to Pinza.
You can read more about The Queen’s history with horses here.
Photo credit: RichKnowles via photopin cc]]>