The Queen Was Photographed Riding Her Pony on the Grounds of Windsor Castle

• Queen Elizabeth II was photographed riding her pony (opens in new tab) in Windsor's Home Park, on the grounds of Windsor Castle, over the weekend.
• Said pony is a 14-year-old Fell pony named Balmoral Fern, the Independent reports.
• The Queen has reportedly been riding every day while in isolation at Windsor Castle amid the coronavirus pandemic

Devoted readers of my corner of the internet, of which I'm certain there are at least two, all of whom by total coincidence just happen to share my surname and are also my parents, will recall a story I wrote last month about how the Queen is keeping busy while in isolation (opens in new tab) at Windsor Castle. Specifically, she's riding horses every single day, Vanity Fair reported (opens in new tab), as well as dressing up for dinner with her husband and quarantine companion, Prince Philip.

On Sunday evening, the royal family kindly confirmed the accuracy of my reporting by tweeting a series of photos of the Queen on horseback, looking exceedingly formal in a tweed jacket, cream jodhpurs, white gloves, and shiny brown boots to match her pony's brown tack.

Hungry for horse details? (Welcome, my fellow horse girls!) Said pony is named Balmoral Fern, according (opens in new tab) to the Independent, and is a 14-year-old Fell pony. Fern, as the royals call her, is also very shiny and cute!

The royals also tweeted a series of historic photos of the Queen with her beloved horses, writing, "Her Majesty has enjoyed riding since childhood and is closely involved with the welfare of the horses she owns for breeding, riding and racing."

One final note, as a horse girl who's been launched from the back of many a pony and always, absolutely without fail, landed on her head: While I appreciate the patterned headscarf is kind of your signature look, please wear a helmet, Elizabeth!

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here