ZapGossip

Queen Elizabeth enjoys relaxing horse ride

Queen Elizabeth has taken part in a relaxing horse ride after welcoming the Spanish royals last week.
The 91-year-old monarch was spotted enjoying some down time over the weekend by riding her horse on the grounds of Windsor Castle with her son Prince Edward, 53, and his daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 13.
Queen Elizabeth is no stranger to horse riding, as she first learned to ride one at the age of four after she was gifted with a Shetland pony named Peggy.
In recent years, the Queen has been forced to cut down the amount of time she spends with her beloved horses, but she still makes an effort to tend to her stables and takes a keen interest in the horses and ponies that reside there.
The relaxing ride comes after she was tasked with hosting Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia last week, when they visited London and were welcomed with a moving speech delivered by the Queen in which she called for the two countries to stick together "whatever challenges arise" in the future.
She said: "The relationship between our two nations is dynamic and modern. We are NATO allies, striving together to improve security in Europe and across the globe.
"Our armed forces are currently working side by side in the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, led last year by Spain and now by the United Kingdom.
"We remain deeply committed to the common defence and freedom of our countries.
"There are so many facets to our shared experiences and close connections.
"Indeed, the lives of our peoples themselves are more intertwined than ever before. Thousands of Spanish students are studying at British universities, and Spanish scientists are working with British colleagues to tackle disease.
"We are also significant investors in each other’s economies, with the United Kingdom being the principal European recipient of Spanish overseas investment.
"A relationship like ours, founded on such great strengths and common interests, will ensure that both our nations prosper, now and in the future, whatever challenges arise. With such a remarkable shared history, it is inevitable that there are matters on which we have not always seen eye to eye.
"But the strength of our friendship has bred a resilient spirit of cooperation and goodwill."