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Elizabeth II, a queen who loved competition and sports

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As queen, Elizabeth II was brought to rub shoulders throughout her reign with sports grounds. In a kingdom where football is king, the sovereign often attended matches in stadiums, but on a personal level she had above all a passion for horse riding.

During her seventy-year reign, Elizabeth II was one of the most photographed people in the world. On many shots, we can see her attending major sporting events because of her function. As with all English people, football is an institution, but it is above all towards horse riding that his love has been focused throughout his life.

Since the death of Elizabeth II, Thursday, September 8, speculation has been rife. Which club was the queen a supporter of in a country where football is king? Held to absolute neutrality because of her rank, the sovereign has never expressed herself on this subject but, for some, she supported the London team of West Ham. In 2009, tabloid The Mirror revealed that the Queen confided her love for the Hammers when a family member told her he was a Millwall supporter.

For others, Elizabeth II was on the contrary a fan of Arsenal. As So Foot explains, she liked this club because it had been “created by workers from the Royal Arsenal arms factory, the name the club carried until 1891”. In 2006, the monarch was to inaugurate the Emirates, her new stadium. But due to a health problem, she was unable to attend. To make up for it, she invited the whole team to Buckingham Palace a few months later to share tea. They are the only players to have received this honor.

As Head of State, she also experienced great footballing moments in her country. On many occasions, she attended the final of the FA Cup, the FA Cup. But she had her finest moment during the 1966 World Cup. She was the one who presented the trophy to captain Bobby Moore in the legendary Wembley Stadium, after England’s victory at home.

In 2021, she also did not fail to send her encouragement to the national team before their Euro final against Italy. “I want to convey my congratulations, as well as those of my family, to all of you for reaching the final of the European Championship,” she wrote. “I send you my best wishes for (Sunday) in the hope that history will remember not only your success, but also the state of mind, the determination and the pride with which you behaved”. Unfortunately, the Three Lions failed to bring home the trophy, losing to Squadra Azzurra at Wembley. More recently, she congratulated the women’s team, which became European champions last July by beating the Netherlands: “Your success goes far beyond the trophy that you so well deserved. You have all set an example that will inspire girls and women today and for generations to come.”

  • A horse riding enthusiast

Although she showed her fondness for football, the queen was above all an avid equestrian. She received her first pony at the age of 3, a gift from her grandfather George V, and never stopped riding until 2020, at the age of 94. Owner of many horses, she went very frequently to races, notably at Royal Ascot or the Epsom derby. For her contribution to equestrian sport, the Queen even received the most prestigious award from the International Federation, the Lifetime Achievement Award.

She transmitted this love to several members of her family, including her daughter Anne who was European eventing champion in 1971 and European vice-champion in 1975. The latter even participated in the Montreal Olympics in 1976. A fine career which was also followed by her own daughter Zara Phillips, crowned European champion (2005), world champion (2006) and Olympic vice-champion (2012) in eventing.

The future Princess Elizabeth II congratulates the winner of a horse race, June 15, 1934 at the Richmond Royal Horse Show. ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A lack of interest in tennis

Although very popular in the United Kingdom, tennis never really interested Elizabeth II. She only appeared four times at Wimbledon, the biggest tournament in the country: in 1957, 1962 and 1977 before returning in 2010 where she was able to greet the best players of the time.

Queen Elizabeth II greets Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki on June 24, 2010 at Wimbledon.
Queen Elizabeth II greets Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki on June 24, 2010 at Wimbledon. ASSOCIATED PRESS – Oli Scarff
  • The Queen and the Olympics

Elizabeth II is the only head of state to have inaugurated the Olympic Games twice. Sovereign of Canada, she officially launched the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Thirty-six years later, she was also the one who opened those in London. On the occasion of this ceremony, she stunned the whole world by jumping (virtually) in a parachute with the most famous British spy James Bond, played by Daniel Craig. After this jump made by a lining, the queen appeared with a smile at the corner of her lips in the official gallery, visibly delighted with her surprise effect.


  • Closer to athletes

The Queen of England has not failed throughout her reign to reward the most deserving athletes in her country. It has thus ennobled many personalities including Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, tennis player Andy Murray, runner Mo Farah, cyclist Bradley Wiggins, football coach Alex Ferguson, and even football legend Bobby Charlton.

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