King Charles offered a royal reporter a vital piece of advice—though she admits the mere prospect of his guidance was 'painful'. Beneath his seemingly formal exterior, the monarch possesses a sharp sense of humour, along with a number of passions beyond his official duties.
King Charles's Passion for Horse Riding
One such passion is horse riding. Charles was an enthusiastic amateur jockey in his younger years, competing in six races between 1980 and 1981. This former chapter of his life prompted him to share some pearls of wisdom with The Sunday Times' Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah. Next weekend she is racing at York racecourse to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity of which the King is patron.
She described the training as 'the most challenging, intense experience' of her life, having been preparing at Lambourn, Berkshire—the very place where the King himself trained during his younger years.
The King's Advice
When Charles visited York Hospital to officially open the new Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Cancer Centre, he passed on some royal fitness tips ahead of her big day in the saddle. Some proved more welcome than others.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Roya said: 'When I told the King that many of my early mornings—alarm at 4am, 90-minute drive and riding by 7am—are currently spent training on the Lambourn gallops, his eyes lit up. I remember doing that, long ago. Keep going with the training.'
He then went on to deliver his royal fitness tip. 'You're riding so short [stirrups], it's about the most exhausting thing I've ever done. So what I found, was to really improve your fitness and to get your legs really strong, [for] riding short—the best thing for it is to ride a bicycle without the saddle, no seat. It really works.' Just the thought was painful.'
Roya confessed she hadn't yet tested Charles's suggestion, though she did successfully complete the demanding 'jockey fitness test'.
Upcoming Charity Race
On Saturday (June 13), rather than attending Trooping the Colour, she will be competing over a mile and a furlong alongside 10 fellow amateur jockeys in the Macmillan Ride of their Lives charity race.
In other news, Prince Harry's much-anticipated reunion with his father could potentially happen when he returns to the UK for an Invictus Games event this summer—but only if particular conditions are met.
Royal author Ingrid Seward has told the Mirror the King might still offer an invitation to Harry, Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, aged seven and four, provided Harry is prepared to accept and abide by certain conditions.
She explained: 'The only place that really I think they could meet if the King is to get to know or at least see his grandchildren, is at Balmoral. It's the only time the King has time and the Sussexes could be accommodated there because there's lots of cottages on the Estate.'
