Founded at Hampton Court in the sixteenth century, the Royal Stud has been closely linked to the evolution of the throughbred horse.

The Royal Paddocks at Hampton Court are still in use today and, together with the studs at Sandringham and Wolferton in Norfolk and Polhampton in Berkshire, constitute one of the leading establishments in Great Britain.

Horses bred at the Royal Studs over the last 200 years have won virtually every major race in Britain and have exerted an important influence on thoroughbred racing and breeding throughout the world.

The enthusiasm and interest of The Queen for both racing and especially breeding has meant that the Royal Studs have had great success in the last fifty-one years.

Today, The Queen has about twenty-five horses in training each season. The two stallions standing at Sandringham are Royal Applause (co-owned) and Motivator (syndicated), the Derby winner, who appropriately spend their days in luxurious paddocks which have been developed in the old Walled Garden.