Queen Elizabeth II’s race manager John Warren is honored at the investiture at Windsor Castle
Sports stars and people who helped the late Queen enjoy her passion for horses are among those recognized with royal honors today.
Queen Elizabeth II’s race manager John Warren received the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) from the Princess Royal at a ceremony at Windsor Castle this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Terry Pendry, the groomsman who held the reins of her pony Emma as the funeral procession entered Windsor Castle, was also given credit today.
These are in recognition of their service to the Queen and form part of the Demise honours.
The RVO awards are a gift from the King and are awarded independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.
Queen Elizabeth II’s race manager John Warren received the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) from the Princess Royal at a ceremony at Windsor Castle this afternoon
John has previously said he spent the weekend before the Queen died in Scotland talking about her horses, as they had done so many times before (pictured together in 2021)
John has previously said that he spent the weekend before the Queen died in Scotland talking about her horses, as they had done so many times before.
The Queen was in “huge shape” just days before she died and discussed “her love for her horses to the very end,” according to her trusted blood and race advisor.
“We sat there for hours on weekends strategizing and planning for the future,” he said.
“And I think the best thing for me is knowing that she was surrounded by her relatives.
“She was in such a healthy state of mind and in great shape.
“It’s very important to know that she was absolutely thrilled.”
Mr Warren said the Queen had seen a lot of the King and Queen’s consort, who were also in Scotland, and enjoyed having different groups of family in Balmoral.
“She loved having them with her and being able to talk about her horses and her love for her horses to the end,” he said.
John, who was an advisor to the late Queen for 13 years, beamed today as he shook hands with Princess Anne
The late Queen’s Bloodstock and Racing Advisor was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
‘I left her on Monday afternoon, the Prime Ministers came on Tuesday, she had a winner on Tuesday.
“On Tuesday night she was really on form, elated to have a winner, and she talked about the Prime Ministers going in and out, and I can hardly believe the Queen had passed away in less than 48 hours.”
He said, “As shocking as that was, it’s wonderful to know that she lived a long and full life, and dutiful to the very end.
“Maybe the racing community has contributed to give her some fun along the way.”
John is married to Lady Carolyn Warren, daughter of the Queen’s previous race adviser, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon.
Together they own and operate Highclere Stud near Newbury, Berkshire. Lady Carolyn’s brother is the current Lord Carnarvon, whose childhood home is Highclere Castle, the setting for Downton Abbey.
Mr Warren was an adviser to the late Queen for over 13 years.
He said the monarch had been a regular visitor to his home for 60 years, using it as a base to visit her horses.
John was often seen with the Queen at royal racing events, and the pair enjoyed a close friendship
The Queen was in ‘huge shape’ just days before she died, discussing ‘her love for her horses to the end,’ according to her trusted blood and race adviser (pictured together in 2019)
Meanwhile, the race manager was often seen at public events chatting with the late monarch (pictured, at the 2021 Windsor Horse Show)
He said, “I was just lucky and incredibly fortunate to be a part of being so close to her through our shared fascination.”
Others honored today included Denise Lewis, 50, who won gold in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
She became a dame as President of Commonwealth Games England and for services to sport.
Born in West Bromwich, West Midlands, Mrs. Lewis first rose to prominence with the Birchfield Harriers club.
Her first major international breakthrough came at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, where she took gold.
All-rounder Moeen Ali, 35, who has come out of Test retirement to join the England squad for the first two of the five Ashes Tests against Australia, will become an OBE for services to cricket.
Daniel Dark, managing director of Warner Brothers Studios, Leavesden, is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Bryndon Hughes, the father of Greater Manchester police officer PC Nicola Hughes, who was killed in the line of duty by Dale Cregan, with his MBE or services to people affected by crime (left). Denise Lewis, President of Commonwealth Games England, poses after being a Dame (right)
Mr Ali, who will be accompanied by his wife Firoza, will miss training ahead of the first Test to attend the ceremony.
Mr Ali, who has not played an international test for nearly two years after previously announcing his retirement from red-ball cricket, was called up earlier this month to replace first-choice spinner Jack Leach after being ruled out with a stress fracture to his his back.
Judd Trump, 33, is appointed MBE for services to snooker and charity.
Mr Trump won the world title in 2019, with a stunning 18-9 defeat of John Higgins in the final.
He is an ambassador for Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home, which provides specialist nursing care for terminally ill children in their own homes in the South West of England, and also for Teenage Cancer Trust.
Explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams is awarded a Polar Medal for his expeditions to the North Pole and Antarctica.