In 1971, The Duke of Edinburgh was still looking for a sport to replace Polo, which he had retired from in 1970. He had been introduced to the sport of carriage driving when he had been involved in compiling a set of rules for competition carriage driving as President of the International Equestrian Federation.

He decided that it was the perfect sport for someone in middle age, with a competitive drive and a love of horses. He began driving ponies, before progressing to Cleveland Bay horses. By 1973 he felt that he was suitably proficient to take up the sport competitively and he still enters carriage driving competitions today having achieved several wins in regional competitions.

The Duke of Edinburgh has been instrumental in promoting the sport, convincing the Windsor Horse Show and other agricultural shows to organise international driving events and he continues to be involved via the International Equestrian Federation. His Royal Highness also introduced his daughter-in-Law, The Countess of Wessex to carriage driving. She apparently showed a natural aptitude for it, but was unable to continue driving after she became pregnant with Lady Louise.

In his book ‘30 years on and off the box seat’ The Duke of Edinburgh describes the appeal of the sport:

‘I am getting old, my reactions are getting slower, and my memory is unreliable, but I have never lost the sheer pleasure of driving a team through the British countryside. I have been fortunate to have had a longer innings than most, and I have no intention of giving up while I have a team of willing ponies and dedicated staff and while I can still cope with the challenges which carriage driving presents me with.’