Queen's 90th birthday organisers donate £1.2m surplus to charities

Bill Hayton reports: "Some 900 horses and 1,500 humans... cantered through scenes from the Queen's life and times"

A £1.2m surplus from the Queen's 90th birthday celebration in Windsor will be donated to charities, organisers have said.

The money was made through ticket sales for the three-day event at the Queen's residence, which took place in May.

The event saw 900 horses and 1,500 people take part in the celebrations.

The money will be divided among 10 organisations that "reflect the Queen's interests", including equine, Commonwealth and service charities.

'Further surplus expected'

The final evening of the Queen's celebrations in Berkshire, which was televised by ITV and attracted an audience seven million people, featured Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins, the Royal Horse Artillery and women of the Royal Cavalry of Oman.

The Queen is patron to the 10 charities that will benefit and her love of horses is reflected in many of the recipients.

PA

About 1,500 people from across the globe participated in the event, including the Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland

Charities to benefit from surplus:

  • Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)

  • The Queen's Commonwealth Trust

  • The Royal British Legion

  • The Animal Health Trust

  • The British Horse Society

  • World Horse Welfare

  • The Highland Pony Society

  • The Fell Pony Society

  • The Welsh Pony and Cob Society

  • The Cleveland Bay Society

PA

The Queen's love of horses was celebrated throughout her 90th birthday year, including the unveiling of a statue of Her Majesty at Newmarket

Some of the smaller organisations to receive donations include The Fell Pony Society, while larger organisations such as The Queen's Commonwealth Trust are also recipients.

Event committee chairman Sir Mike Rake said: "It is quite incredible that a one-off event should not only give pleasure to millions of people but also raise this significant surplus.

"The Queen's 90th birthday celebration will have long lasting benefit.

"Already the selected charities are telling us what they intend to do with the donation."

He added that he expects a "further surplus" once accounts for the event are finalised.

The Queen spent her actual birthday on 21 April meeting members of the public in Windsor

The Queen's actual birthday - the day she was born - was on 21 April and was celebrated in Windsor with a parade during the day, and the lighting of 900 beacons across the UK in the evening.

Her official birthday, marked by the Trooping the Colour, was on 11 June and the celebrations culminated on 12 June with a 10,000-strong street party on the Royal Mall in London.

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