Royal Windsor Horse Show 2026
Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann in the Rolex Grand Prix. Photo Credit: Louise Anderbjörk
On the 17th of May 2026, I was booked to photograph the final day of Royal Windsor Horse Show, one of the most prestigious equestrian events not only in the UK calendar, but across Europe as a whole. Running from the 14th to the 17th of May, the week-long event had already showcased everything from dressage and showing to driving and international showjumping, bringing together some of the biggest names in the sport.
My day started early, leaving home at 7:30 in the morning to catch the direct train from central London out to Windsor & Eton Riverside. As it was my first time visiting Windsor, it was lovely to watch the beautiful countryside that surrounds London unfold as we came closer to the show grounds.
I arrived around 9:30, giving myself enough time to pick up my accreditation and photographer bib before heading towards the arenas. As I had planned well ahead in case of train delays, I was still a couple of hours early for the showjumping to start, which was my main focus for the day, so I headed over to catch some of the morning driving classes at the international driving arena. I managed to photograph the horses and drivers preparing to head out for the annual carriage drive around the grounds, all dressed in traditional clothing with beautifully presented horses and carriages. As someone from Sweden, this style of driving showcase is something I have rarely experienced at horse shows back home, so it was very special to witness such a uniquely British tradition at Windsor.
By 11am, it was time for the first major showjumping class of the day, which was the five-star international against-the-clock class known as the Manama Rose Show Stakes. I was very excited to see that the start list featured some of the biggest names in world showjumping, including Steve Guerdat and Britain’s own John Whitaker. This also quickly set the tone for the absolute world class lineup to come in the Rolex Grand Prix later that afternoon. From a photographer’s perspective, we were very lucky with the course design for this class. Our designated media area lined up perfectly with the first oxer on course which, in turn, framed beautifully against Windsor Castle in the background to make for some great hero shots that really set the atmosphere of the event. After all 25 combinations had attempted the course, Victor Bettendorf eventually secured victory in a time of 58.46 seconds, closely followed by Great Britain’s Jack Whitaker and Ireland’s Daniel Coyle.
Photo Credit: Louise Anderbjörk
Once the speed class finished, it was time for a quick lunch and a much-needed coffee in the media room. With some time remaining before the afternoon’s main event, I also took the opportunity to explore some of the show stalls and enjoy the grounds properly. By this point, the weather had also completely transformed from the grey skies of the morning into bright sunshine and a clear blue sky.
With around thirty minutes to go before the flagship class of the weekend, the five-star 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix, I headed back into the main arena to secure a good position in the media corner. For classes of this level, where there are usually many photographers competing for space, arriving early is always beneficial. This is especially true in showjumping photography, where positioning is everything. Ideally, you want a spot where you can cover several obstacle lines without needing to move, while also ensuring as many jumps as possible are coming towards you rather than away.
This particular course build presented many challenges in that regard, with several fences jumping away from our angle in the media corner. Fortunately, arriving early meant I managed to secure one of the few positions with a clean view of four different jumps, including one lined up perfectly with Windsor Castle behind it. The class itself was incredibly tense, with very few clear rounds early on, but as the order progressed more riders managed to make it through to the jump-off and in the end, Victor Bettendorf took home his second victory of the day in a fantastic performance on his horse Qwando van de Rispen.
As the Grand Prix came to an end, so did my time at Windsor for this weekend. Though, the day was not over yet, as the evening was blocked off for all the editing. I always begin by selecting highlight shots for social media first, as posting quickly after an event is essential for visibility when tagging riders, teams, and publications. Once that initial rush is done, I can then take more time over the following days to work through the rest of the gallery and put together a final event portfolio I am really happy with.
Photo Credit: Louise Anderbjörk