Queen Camilla reveals surprising hobby on visit to York races as horse disappoints

Queen Camilla put her Balmoral summer break on hold this week to enjoy the racing action at York, where she spoke about her surprising hobby.

The 78-year-old first travelled to the track on Thursday when she presented jockey Ryan Moore with the trophy for winning the Group One Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks on Minnie Hauk.

Queen Camilla appeared in good spirits as she met Chris Legard, Vice Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Bridget Guerin, the Chairman of the York Race Committee, and William Derby, the racecourse's Chief Executive.

Her Majesty was also introduced to Selina and Harry Silk of Knavesmir Nectar and told them she was a beekeeper, with eight hives.

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Mr Silk, whose bees are based at the racecourse, said: “We talked about the troubles she’d had this year with swarming and wasps. I think everyone’s had the same problems this year.”

The Royal Family's website says The Queen became President of Bees for Development in 2020, a charity that reduces poverty and improves biodiversity in over 50 countries through training beekeepers, as well as protecting habitats for the insects.

King Charles also has the same pastime and at his private residence Highgrove House, the bees produce a 'Royal Garden Honey' that is for sale.

As well as chatting to dignitaries, Queen Camilla watched the three royal runners, but Aeolian and Rainbows Edge failed to figure in the Listed British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes while Purple Rainbow was out of luck in the British EBF Fillies' Handicap.

The big racing fan then returned to the Knavesmire on Saturday, when she was pictured handing four-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy his prize for the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes success of Never So Brave.

Golden Handshake was the last horse to represent the King and Queen at the four-day fixture, a gelding bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

After she greeted trainer William Haggas in the parade ring and spoke to jockey Tom Marquand, Queen Camilla watched the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap from the royal box.

She reacted as the lightly-race thoroughbred ran freely in the middle part of the race and weakened out of contention behind Juddmonte horse Tarriance.

The owners of the winner sponsor the International, the Group One event Queen Camilla unveiled a special plaque for when it was named the World's Best Race of 2024 by the Longines World Racing Awards.