Since she was a very young child the Queen has been immersed in all things equestrian.
Her passion for horses includes breeding and racing thoroughbreds and she attends the Derby privately each year, but it is the only Classic she has yet to win.
In 2011 her colt Carlton House was the favourite and royals including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry gathered to cheer the horse on.
However the Queen’s hopes were dashed when he came third, beaten by the French-trained Pour Moi.
She last came closest to winning the Derby in her Coronation year in 1953 when Aureole was second.
The last reigning monarch to own a Derby winner was her great-grandfather King Edward VII with Minoru in 1909.
The Queen, who is exceptionally knowledgeable about thoroughbreds and their breeding, will study the form carefully for her date at the Derby.
She may have celebrated her 86th birthday last April, but she still rides herself.
As a child, her first reported lesson took place in the private riding school at Buckingham Palace Mews in January 1930, when she was only three years old.
She was also taken by her parents to the Beckhampton stables on the Wiltshire Downs where horses bred at the royal studs were trained, to the royal stud at Hampton Court, and to see horses in training at Newmarket.
She received the filly Astrakhan as a wedding present from the Aga Khan and in 1949 acquired her own Princess racing colours of scarlet, purple hooped sleeves and black cap, when she and her mother jointly bought the steeplechaser Monaveen.
When she acceded to throne in 1952, she inherited the royal colours – purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap with gold fringe.
In 1954, the Queen’s horses, including Aureole, were so successful that she was the leading winner-owner.
Former jockey Willie Carson will be guest of honour over the two day 2012 Derby Festival at Epsom Downs, Surrey.
In 1977, Silver Jubilee year, Carson, in the Queen’s colours, won the Oaks at Epsom on her filly Dunfermline.
“Winning the Oaks at Epsom for Her Majesty in her Silver Jubilee year was very special,” he said.
“I am honoured to be invited back as the guest of honour at the 2012 Investec Derby, especially for such an important year, celebrating the Diamond Jubilee, which will be a fabulous opening event of weekend celebrations.”
