Monarch visibly stunned as competitor collides with gatepost during royal event
King Charles was left shocked after witnessing a dramatic moment unfold at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Saturday, when a competitor’s carriage crashed into a six-foot-high gatepost during an intense round of the obstacle course.
The monarch was attending the annual event at Windsor Castle alongside his brother, Prince Edward, Edward’s wife, Duchess Sophie, and Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The high-speed collision happened right before their eyes, causing a visibly startled reaction from both Charles and Edward.
An eyewitness described the scene: “They took it too tight and the back literally clattered into the gatepost. The King pointed to it and Edward put his hand to his face before explaining why it had happened.”
Fortunately, the incident ended without injury. The driver remained unharmed, and all four horses leading the carriage were reported to be safe and able to continue the competition.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show, which dates back to 1943 and was a favorite event of the late Queen Elizabeth II, continues to be a highlight of the royal calendar. Despite the scare, the day’s events proceeded as planned, with the crowd — and the royals — relieved that no harm had come to the participants.
