The King was “greatly shocked” by the death of a soldier who fell from his horse during a show.
The soldier was part of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and fell at around 7pm on Friday after exiting the arena at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Despite being given immediate medical treatment, he sustained serious injuries and died at the scene, Thames Valley Police said.
Buckingham Palace said the King would be in touch with the soldier’s family to share his “personal condolences”.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is continuing as planned, with the omission of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery display.
The King was in attendance at the show on Friday, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
King ‘greatly shocked and saddened’
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “While His Majesty and other members of the Royal family were present at the arena at the time the incident took place, they were not made aware of the severity of the situation until later.”
They added: “The King was greatly shocked and saddened to have learned subsequently of the Troop member’s death, and will be in touch with the family to share his personal condolences.
“The thoughts and most heartfelt sympathies of the whole Royal family are with the victim’s loved ones and military colleagues at this time of grief.”
Ch Supt Michael Loebenberg said: “We are appealing for anyone with information or material relating to the sad death of a military rider at Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday to please get in touch.
“Our thoughts are with the soldier’s family and the wider community in the military and at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at this extremely difficult time.
“At this stage, we have not found any suspicious circumstances.
“We are working with the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Accident Investigation Branch and Royal Windsor Horse Show organisers HPower to gather as much information as possible to understand how this happened.”
Show ‘will continue today’
Jo Peck, the event director at HPower, added: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the soldier who sadly died yesterday.
“The Royal Windsor Horse Show will continue today as per the published timetable, with the omission of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery display.”
An Army spokesman said: “It is with deep regret that we announce a member of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery died on Friday May 15, following a tragic incident at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
“The family has been notified, and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
