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The Royal Windsor Horse Show galloped back into town this week.

More than 55,000 spectators are expected to take to the famous showgrounds in Windsor Castle for the five-day competition.

Britain’s leading competitors will be vying to make an impact in front of the home crowds, including the Queen, who is a regular contender having had a number of significant wins over the years.

The Queen's granddaughter, Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Her Majesty's youngest son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, followed in her grandmother's footsteps, taking part in a carriage driving competition this year.

Berks and Bucks group editor Andrew Colley presented winners of the Riding Association for the Disabled fancy dress event with their prizes on Thursday.

New classes this year include Showing classes for Cleveland Bays (in hand and ridden), an RoR Open in Hand Show Series Qualifier, and In Hand classes for Pure Bred Arabs.

New national Show Jumping classes include an Under 25 competition on Sunday. In addition The Pony Club is running its Dressage Championships at the Show and there will an Oxford - Cambridge Varsity match Dressage competition.

One of the country's leading Showing producers Jayne Ross, who is well aware of what it is like to win at the prestigious Show, said: “There is an aura about Windsor from the moment you arrive, and if you’re really lucky and you win, you get a fantastic picture of being presented with the trophy with the backdrop of Windsor Castle.

“There is just nothing quite like it.”

This year also sees the introduction of The Pageant, a 90-minute spectacular staged by a BAFTA award-winning team, to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria.

Spectators will be treated to an outdoor theatre production on May 9, 10 and 11 involving a 600 strong troupe of artists, dancers and participants in addition to over 400 horses and 30 carriages.

There will be readings from Queen Victoria’s diaries and poems from Tennyson laced with equestrian action and music from the period.

Producer, Simon Brooks-Ward said: “When you reflect on the Victorian Era, you realise that there is so much to work with. We have picked some of the best bits to give our audience a real experience of the 19th century and a much loved monarch.”