The Queen praised an inner city riding school as "bigger and better" than ever as she visited two of its new horses, including a fell pony that used to ride alongside the late Queen.
On a visit to Ebony Riding Club in Brixton, south London, where she has been President since 2009, Camilla fed polo mints to 17-year-old Taylor, who escorted Queen Elizabeth and her beloved fell pony Emma on daily outings with her head groom Terry Pendry.
Earlier this summer, Taylor, a 17-year-old black mare, moved to Brixton from the Royal Mews along with a former carriage horse called Margate, known affectionately as Maggie.
"Where are my polos?" said a smiling Camilla as she was introduced to both animals, stopping to stroke and pat them and offer them the sweets.
© Getty ImagesMaggie, a Cleveland Bay bred at Hampton Court and raised as a carriage horse, worked at the Royal Mews until after the Coronation.
An injury meant she was no longer well enough to pull carriages, but after a three-year break she has been loaned to the charity, alongside Taylor, and the two are now used to teach local children and young people how to ride and care for horses.
Queen Camilla's visit to Ebony Riding Club
The Queen was shown inside the centre's stables, where bars separating the horses have been partially removed to allow them to socialise more.
The change was made after one horse, Tommy, refused to lie down at night. But the more open environment has significantly improved the animals' wellbeing, resulting in better sleep for them all.
"Tommy is much more relaxed and feels safe," volunteer Sarah Cope told the Queen. Under the Equicentric Futures project, led by the Association of British Riding Schools, the nine resident horses have also been given slow feeder nets of hay to replicate natural foraging, which has the added bonus of making their food last longer overnight.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Queen, who wore a white, animal print dress by Fiona Clare, then met year six pupils from Corpus Christi Primary School in Brixton Hill, who have taken part in the centre's schools' programme, learning to ride, groom and muck out stables.
Headteacher Jean Connery told her: "It's wonderful for the children. They would never have the opportunity to do this and it's so good for their confidence. We are very lucky to have this on our doorstep."
The Queen, who opened the current centre 25 years ago, also met volunteers who have helped to create a new community space under a former railway arch at the centre and are training others to volunteer with the horses and community groups.
"It's such a lovely place, you must all get so much satisfaction," she said. Later, Camilla watched as Adam Bentallah, 12, on Taylor, and Isaiah Clayton, 16, on Maggie, gave a riding demonstration in the arena.
Afterwards, she presented them both with trophies in recognition of their hard work and dedication. Handing one to Isaiah, she called him a "star rider" and told Adam his award was "very well deserved".
© Getty ImagesThere was laughter as dogs nearby began to bark loudly, and she told the schoolboy: "Even the dogs are applauding you."
She said of the club, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, "It gets bigger and better every time. The first time I came here it was literally a field and a couple of stables."
Jason Hawkes, 17, who has been attending the club as a rider and volunteer for eight years, presented the Queen with a bouquet of flowers.
He said afterwards: "What it's done for me has been unbelievable. It's given me freedom and has opened my eyes to the world. There are so many other things you can do. It's good to get away from city life."
The charity's important work
Through access to horses, the charity works to improve the lives of some of the area's most disadvantaged children and young people aged 8 to 18.
Several young riders have gone on to have a career in racing and this year several alumni will join the British Racing School, the National Stud and the National Horseracing College.
Chief Operating Officer Sid Holdsworth described the Queen's visit as "just so unbelievably special."
"She has always been such an incredibly supportive president, beyond what we would ever have hoped or expected, and we've been so lucky to see her so many times this year.
"So for her to make the effort and come to Brixton is just incredible and so exciting. For our young people, it's just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they think it is the coolest thing that we know the Queen."
