Crowds flocked to a Pembrokeshire tourist attraction over the weekend as two visitors with royal connections made a very welcome return home.
Dyfed Shire Horse Farm, in Eglwyswrw, saw two of their prodigies who are now drum horses in the Royal Household Cavalry, came home for some well-earned rest and relaxation, greeted by delighted crowds as well as the farm’s owner.
Willa Rose, now known as major Juno, and Ed, now Major Apollo, grew up on the farm before catching the eye of the Royal household cavalry.
(Image: Dyfed Shire Horse Farm)
Both have followed in the footsteps of Juno’s uncle Celt, Major Mercury who was senior drum horse in the Household Cavalry. Celt left Eglwyswrw in 2008. He died in 2021 and is now buried at the farm where he was born.
Apollo arrived at the farm as a yearling in 2015.
(Image: Western Telegraph)
He left for London in 2019 and has since taken part in the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III as well as Trooping the Colour Parades.
He has made history as the only shire horse to have performed at HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and final Trooping the Colour last June, at her State Funeral in September, at King Charles III’s Coronation in May and now at the first King’s Trooping the Colour since 1951.
(Image: Western Telegraph)
Juno was born on the farm in 2013, a fourth-generation member of the Dyfed bloodline.
She has made history as the first mare ever to carry drums in the Royal Household Cavalry, in a history that goes back to the reign of King Charles II and the restoration of the 1660s.
She has since participated in three consecutive Trooping the Colour Parades leading one as well as taking the head of the regiment’s parade during the state visit of The Emperor and Empress of Japan.
(Image: Western Telegraph)
Juno immortalised in sculpture earlier this year when award-winning sculptor Zoe Carmichael cast her in bronze.
There was delight at the chance to see both horses at their home farm.
Mark Cole, of the Dyfed Shire Horse Farm, said:
“We have had really good crowds and good hwyl, it’s gone really well. It’s great to have them both here, Willa and Ed on the farm where they both grew up and where Willa was born.
(Image: Western Telegraph)
“It’s lovely to have them home, just to see them and lovely for our regulars and visitors to see then here again.
“Ed looks like a rock star and is loving all the attention. We are delighted that the army let them come home to have a little holiday.”
Farm owner Huw Murphy added:
“It’s an honour to have them back for the second successive year especially as on this occasion drum horse Juno has been joined by Apollo.
There was a chance to meet the farm’s other horses.(Image: Western Telegraph)
The farm’s other shires on parade.(Image: Western Telegraph)
Retired Lance Corporal Sherwood of the Royal Horse Guards trades stories with Trooper Scott.(Image: Dyfed Shire Horse Farm)
“Both of them grew up on the farm and learnt their trade here before they went on to do great things.
“I bought Ed (Apollo) at a horse sale in Uttoxeter for £500 ten years ago. Who would have thought at that point that he would become the horse he is today; he is a number one horse.”
“Watch this space,” he added.
Huw added that the farm’s other two horses who have joined the Royal Household Cavalry, Merlin and Jonesy were making good progress and that he was expecting exciting news regarding one of them in the near future.
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