Three veteran horses have recently relocated from the Royal Mews — where the Royal Family’s carriages and horses are kept — to live out their retirements at The Horse Trust in Buckinghamshire.
Tyrone, a 19-year-old Windsor Grey who served as a state ceremonial carriage horse for 15 years, retired to the charity earlier this month. He has joined George and Lizzie, two of the black chargers ridden on official occasions by the late Queen and King Charles, who retired at the start of the month.
A spokesperson said: “We are incredibly honoured to welcome Tyrone, George and Lizzie to their forever home.
“Their years of service to the Royal Household and the public are a testament to their strength, spirit and unwavering reliability.
“Their presence here is a reminder of the vital role horses continue to play in national life.”
Windsor Grey — Tyrone
Throughout his distinguished career, Tyrone was present at major royal occasions, including Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee and other significant state ceremonies.
His dependable nature made him a favourite among the Royal Mews team.
He was trusted to carry out some of the most important duties in royal pageantry, including drawing the carriages of the monarch, members of the royal family, and their guests during state visits, Trooping the Colour, State Openings of Parliament, and royal weddings.
Tyrone has been reunited his sister Meg, who retired to the sanctuary in 2023.
Tyrone and Meg worked together regularly as a perfectly matched pair and were known for their calmness, strength, and reliability.
They were often worked as ‘Wheel Horses’, the position closest to the carriage wheels that requires exceptional steadiness and strength, as they take on most of the pulling.
Their father Storm is also at The Horse Trust and now the two Windsor Greys — a line of horses bred by the Palace to pull the ceremonial carriages — can be seen grazing together in the gelding’s group.
Tyrone’s final public duty last month was to carry the King and Queen during the State Visit of President Macron.
Black chargers — Elizabeth & George
Black mare Elizabeth, also known as ER or Lizzie, is a 17-year-old Hanoverian who was gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
The mare retired to The Horse Trust in early August.
She served as a royal charger and with the Metropolitan Police and brought “intelligence, affection, and a touch of mischief” to every role she performed, says The Horse Trust.
Lizzie retired on the same day as 25-year-old Hanoverian x Thoroughbred gelding George, who joined the charity following a 16-year career that placed him at the centre of history.
George served as a ceremonial charger to King Charles III during his time as the Prince of Wales and has been at Trooping the Colour every year since 2009.
He took part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the late Queen’s funeral and the Coronation of King Charles III.
Described by the Royal Mews as “a true gentleman… always reliable and bombproof,” George also helped train young chargers with his calm, steady nature.
He has even been immortalised as a rocking horse.
The Horse Trust
The Horse Trust is the world’s oldest equine charity.
It was established in 1886 by Ann Lindo, who, inspired by her love of Anna Sewell’s novel “Black Beauty”, created a respite home for cab horses in Victorian London.
The charity provides lifetime sanctuary to over 120 retired working and rescue horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, including those from the police, the military, the Royal Mews and Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).
You can keep up to date with and donate towards the retirements of all three horses.
Main image (stock) of two Windsor Greys drawing the carriage of Queen Elizabeth II © Shutterstock
