Letter reveals King’s regret over missing The Everest

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a letter penned by King Charles, where he expresses his regret for missing The Everest race at Royal Randwick.

His Majesty King Charles III has personally written to Racing NSW to express his regret at missing The Everest race meeting at Royal Randwick last Saturday.

The King specifically requested in his letter “to very kindly pass on my warmest congratulations to all the winning connections” on Everest Day.

The letter, written on official Buckingham Palace letterhead and obtained by The Daily Telegraph from royal sources, reveals King Charles and Queen Camilla watched the two feature Randwick Group 1 races, the TAB Everest and King Charles III Stakes, on television as they rested following their long flight from London.

The King arrived in Sydney on Friday evening but decided against attending Royal Randwick the following day.

Joe Pride, the Warwick Farm-based trainer of Ceolwulf which won the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes, received the King’s letter on Tuesday.

Britain's King Charles has written to Racing NSW, expressing his regret. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

“This is a very nice gesture by King Charles to take the time to write the letter and congratulate the connections of those horses that won on Everest Day,’’ Pride said.

“It was already a memorable day for my stable to win the King Charles III Stakes with Ceolwulf and to receive this royal acknowledgment is very special.’’

The King and Queen touched down in Australia last week. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

The King’s letter, written on official Buckingham Palace letterhead and dated 21st October, 2024, was addressed to Dr Saranne Cooke, the chairperson at Racing NSW, and read:

“I just wanted to write and say how pleased I was to see what a tremendous success the racing that took place at Royal Randwick and Caulfield was last Saturday,’’ The King wrote.

“It was very sad that we were unable to attend but, having watched the two main races on the television, I could see that the very best horses were on show, which clearly produced an enormous turn out as well as excellent broad television coverage.

“It was wonderful to see the best Australian sprinters, which we so enjoy seeing when they come over to Royal Ascot, out in force in the innovative TAB Everest.

“And I was delighted to observe that the King Charles III Stakes was so well supported with such a field of top milers.

A record-breaking crowd attended The Everest. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I would be most grateful if you could very kindly pass on my warmest congratulations to all the winning connections on what seemed to be a magnificent day’s racing.’’

The letter was then signed: “Yours most sincerely, Charles R.”

Royal Randwick attracted 49,117 racegoers to Everest Day – the biggest crowd at the famous racetrack this century – and they watched the Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina win The Everest before Pride’s Ceolwulf claimed the King Charles III Stakes.

Bella Nipotina is expected to race on this spring and contest the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 2.

But Pride said Ceolwulf had been sent for a well-deserved spell and then return in autumn to try and complete the “royal double” in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes during The Championships at Royal Randwick next April.