It annually attracts more than 50,000 visitors and has key sponsors, including Jaguar Land Rover through their Defender brand, Hermes, Rolex, Pol Roger and many more.The brainchild of Geoffrey Cross and Austrian-born horse producer Count Robert Orssich, it was attended by The King (who agreed to become patron the following year) and Queen and their daughters.1951 – First evening performance The first floodlit evening performance takes place during Festival of Britain year 1952 – The King dies King George VI dies in February of this year, and the show runs in July instead of its usual May dates The world’s best riders arrive THE SECOND DECADE – 1953 to ’62 1954 – Services Jumping starts The Queen donates a Challenge Cup for a Services Team Jumping contest – still a popular event.Some of the greatest names in British show jumping compete in the 1970s, including Johnny Kidd, Caroline Bradley, Harvey Smith, Marion Mould, David Broome and more – even the great pony Stroller.The first international driving event runs – the brainchild of the Duke of Edinburgh 1972 – Richly Royal Princess Anne makes a first competitive appearance, coming fourth in the combined training on Purple Star.By 1980, Pony Club mounted games become a regular part of the schedule – and remain so today 1982 – The Duke’s win The Duke of Edinburgh, a regular competitor here, wins the Horse Teams class in the International Driving Grand Prix with HM The Queen’s team of bays, his only triumph in this class, “though I came second five times!” he writes later.1998 and 1999 – New experiments The show moves down Home Park to run adjacent to the river – which proves very scenic but still not safe from the vagaries of May weather.But a country fair arena at the show hosts activities including sheepdogs, falconry, long netting and llama racing 1997 and 2001 – Thwarted plans Weather and disease conspire to disrupt plans as a highly anticipated Pageant of the Horse to celebrate The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s golden wedding anniversary is lost to effects of extremely wet weather on the local clay soil.2011 – The Boss visits American ‘royalty’ attends the show alongside our own, as Bruce Springsteen comes to watch his daughter Jessica jumping under the tutelage of Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut.2012 – 60 years on the throne The world comes to Windsor for another fabulous pageant, this time televised by ITV, including the Canadian Mounties, New South Wales police, and dancers from New Zealand and the Cook Islands.
