King Charles makes shock move on Queen’s beloved horses

As King Charles looks to refine the monarchy, the new sovereign has made a surprising decision around the Queen’s “passion”.

The Queen was passionate about race horses. Picture: Getty Images

King Charles is poised to sell 12 of the Queen’s favourite racehorses as he begins the “winding down” of racing operations amid a big royal shake-up.

According to a report in The Sun, a third of the top racehorses inherited by King Charles will be sold at England’s famous Newmarket Tattersalls this month, and top of the list is Just Fine – the first horse to win for the new monarch.

King Charles is set to sell some of the Queen’s horses. Picture: Getty Images

Before she died last month, the Queen owned 37 horses, but now a source close to the Royal Sandringham stud in Norfolk claimed there are talks of “winding down” the breeding operations.

“The Royal stud could be a museum in three years. It would be a real shame,” the source reportedly told the Daily Mail.

Love Affairs, the Queen’s horse who won at a race in Chichester only two days before her death, is also up for sale at the auction.

However, the royal source insisted that King Charles still intends to maintain the connection between the horse racing industry and the royal family.

The Queen had a “passion” for horses. Picture: Getty Images

“The desire is to continue with the traditions and connections with Royal Ascot but not on the same scale as Her Majesty because she had a passion,” the source said.

While it is normal to sell several horses as part of running the collection, the Queen would reportedly only sell seven per year.

Currently, King Charles has 60 racehorses and 38 brood mares at Sandringham, with 30 new foals expected next year.

A racing source confirmed Gulf State yards is looking to buy a connection to the Queen through her horses.

King Charles wants to streamline the monarchy and that includes selling off some of the Queen’s horses. Picture: AFP

It is believed King Charles will make a fortune in racing next year after inheriting the massive stable.

Over the past five years, his mother’s horses amassed a whopping $A4 million in earnings and her biggest and best moment in the spotlight came arguably when Estimate won the Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.

Victory then was worth just shy of $A360,000 – but when Pyledriver won the same race this year it was worth $A1.3 million.

No wonder bookies have got some tempting odds about King Charles to land some big prizemoney next year – the monarch is 7-2 to celebrate a winner from the royal box at Royal Ascot in 2023.

The Queen during a ride at Windsor. Picture: Getty Images

This comes after the King announced he is set to axe the role of his late mother’s close and trusted friend amid the big royal racing shake-up.

Racing manager John Warren oversaw the Queen’s racing and horse breeding interests for more than 13 years and is still in charge of horses running in the royal colours.

However, it is speculated he won’t be involved for much longer, according to racing insiders as he is now moving in Bahraini royal circles.

He recently took on a role advising Commissioning’s owner Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa.

The Queen at Ascot with Princess Anne in 2019. Picture: AFP

Mr Warren, one of the most respected figures in the racing world, was with the Queen talking horses just before her death at Balmoral last month.

“We sat there for hours strategising and making plans going forward,” he said.

“I think the nicest thing for me is to know that she was surrounded by her family members.

“She really loved having them right there with her and being able to talk about her horses and her love for her horses right to the very end.”

Originally published as King Charles makes shock move on Queen’s beloved horses