‘King Charles issued me tip to complete challenge – but it sounded very painful’ | Royal | News
King Charles is a keen fan of horse racing (Image: Getty Images)
King Charles gave vital advice to the royal correspondent; but he himself admits that the mere thought of his guidance was “painful.” Beneath his seemingly tough exterior, the monarch has a keen sense of humor as well as a range of passions beyond his official duties.
The most important of these is horse riding. Charles was a keen amateur jockey in his youth and competed in six races between 1980 and 1981.
This colorful chapter of his past led him to share some pearls of wisdom with Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor of The Sunday Times. He will race at York racecourse next weekend to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity of which the King is a patron.
While he was training in Lambourn, Berkshire, where the King honed his skills in his youth, he described the training as the “most challenging, intense experience” of his life.
When Charles visited York Hospital to officially open the new Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Cancer Centre, he took the opportunity to pass on his royal fitness tips ahead of his big day in the saddle. Some were more welcome than others, according to reports Daily Mirror.
King Charles gives royal fitness tip (Image: Jockey Club/PA Wire’s Mike Egerton)
Don’t write Sunday TimesRoya said: “When I told the King that most of the early morning (alarm at 4am, riding for 90 minutes and cycling until 7am) was spent training on the Lambourn gallop, his eyes lit up. I remember doing that a long time ago. Keep training.”
The royal then went on to give her fitness tip: “‘You’re too short [stirrups]This is the most tiring thing I’ve ever done.
“What I found was that it really improves your fitness and really strengthens your legs. [for] short rides – the best thing for this is to ride without a saddle, without a seat. It really works.” Just the thought of it was painful.”
Despite successfully passing the tough ‘jockey suitability test’, Roya admitted that she has yet to put Charles’ advice into practice.
King Charles’ tip sounded ‘very painful’ (Image: Jockey Club/PA Wire’s Mike Egerton)
Instead of taking part in Trooping the Colour on Saturday, June 13, he will race alongside 10 fellow amateur jockeys in the Macmillan Ride of the Lives charity race over one mile and one minute.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s long-awaited reunion with his father may be on the horizon when he heads to England for the Invictus Games event this summer – but only under certain conditions.
Royal writer Ingrid Seward told the Mirror that the King could extend invitations to Harry, Meghan and their children Prince Archie, aged seven and four, and Princess Lilibet, provided Harry is prepared to accept and abide by certain terms.
He said: “Balmoral is the only place where they can meet to meet the King’s grandchildren, or at least to see them.
“It’s the only time the King has time, and it’s the only time the Sussexes can lodge there, for there are many cottages on the Manor.”
