A REGAL air was brought to the opening day of the 2025 Dublin Horse Show with the appearance of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal. The Princess was walked through the RDS Concert Hall by Louise Parkes and Natasha Serne who were there to guide her through a new exhibition titled ‘The Dublin Horse Show: Championing Irish Equestrianism for Over 150 Years’. The exhibition marks the 150th edition of the Show and will be open until Sunday. Serne, RDS Head of Library and equestrian journalist Parkes curated the exhibition, which brings together original photographs, vintage posters, trophies and rare archival documents.

Next, she walked through the main hall where she met with Geraldine, Grace and Bertram Allen at the Aloga stand before presenting the rosettes in the small hunters class in Ring One. She also met with representatives from Festina Lente, the Bray-based charity offering equine-assisted learning and therapy services, as well as representatives of the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland.

Prior to her arrival at Ballsbridge, Princess Anne visited President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin where he acknowledged her contribution to equestrian sports over the years as well as to related learning and therapy services.

“It was a pleasure to renew my conversations with Her Royal Highness and to recognise the significant contribution which she has made over so many years to the relationship between our two countries,” President Higgins said in a statement.