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It’s a pastime that was extremely close to Prince Philip’s heart and now his granddaughter will be taking up the reins – quite literally.
The Duke of Edinburgh has left his ponies and carriage to Lady Louise Windsor, the 17-year-old daughter of his youngest son, Prince Edward, and Edward’s wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Philip taught the teen and her mother to drive carriages and on the morning of his funeral Louise was seen in Windsor Great Park in her grandfather’s carriage, putting the fell ponies – Notlaw Storm and Balmoral Nevis – through their paces.
During the funeral they pulled the carriage, which carried their late master's driving cap, glove, blanket and plastic tube he kept the ponies' sugar cubes in.
Both animals were bred by the queen with fell ponies, which are native to England, considered endangered.
The duke had been driving and designing carriages since the 1970s and the one at his funeral was his most recent, built to his specifications eight years ago.
He has largely been credited with helping to establish the sport in the UK and he represented his country in three European championships and six world championships in total.
He competed into his 80s and in the following years was often seen riding his dark-green carriage around Windsor and other royal estates.
Sources: dailymail.co.uk, mirror.co.uk
