The Queen and The Prince of Wales visit the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

The Queen and The Prince of Wales visited the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at Hyde Park Barracks in London today.

The Regiment consists of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals; the oldest and most senior regiment in the British Army. 

During the visit, The Queen named the most senior animal in the British Army - a Drum Horse called Perseus who has the rank of Major. Perseus was named after the character from Greek mythology.

The regiment's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Gaselee, asked The Queen to officially name the nine-year-old drum horse Perseus, which carries the drummer in the Household Cavalry Band.

The Queen also met a horse painted with a skeleton which is used to teach Troopers from the Regiment's two squadrons - The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals - about the anatomy of the animals they ride at major state occasions like Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament.

Educational company Horses Inside Out staged the demonstration with anatomist Gillian Higgins from the organisation explaining her work to The Queen.

Meanwhile The Prince of Wales visited The Forge, at the Hyde Park Barracks, where he heard about the Farriers' Apprenticeship Programme from Farrier Major Chris Thomas.

The Prince was then shown the Tack Room, where the Master Saddler, Corporal of Horse Samuel Belasco, outlined the painstaking process of preparing for major events such as Trooping the Colour, State Visits and Royal Weddings.

Inside the Tack Room, two troopers were polishing their boots, helmets and other bits of their ceremonial kit.

In the stables, Her Majesty was also shown Wellesley, The Duke of Cambridge's grey charger which His Royal Highness rides at Trooping the Colour.

Before departing, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness joined The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals for an official photograph.