Oli Bell: racing in safe hands with passionate and knowledgeable Queen Consort

The royal family's close links with British racing would be in "very safe hands" under the new Queen Consort should she take on responsibility for the late Queen's bloodstock, according to Oli Bell.

The broadcaster interviewed Camilla, the Queen Consort, in June 2021 for a feature on Queen Elizabeth II and racing and was struck by her depth of knowledge of the sport. He believes she would be the ideal person to take charge of the royal family's racing interests.

"Going into that [interview] I didn't know the level with which Camilla had a passion for racing, but very quickly I realised that during the conversation, both on and off camera," Bell said. "For all that the landscape will be different moving forward, I think it's in very safe hands.

"I know first hand how much Camilla loves horses and also how much her passion for racing has grown in recent years. There is clearly an indelible link between the royal family and horseracing, and I was relieved to hear her enthusiasm, passion and appetite for it.

"We also spoke about her first ponies when she was a child. This isn't something she's having to do, it's a genuine love of horses and the sport that has existed since she was young – the bug was there."

King Charles and the Queen Consort pictured outside Buckingham PalaceCredit: Yui Mok

The Queen Consort and King Charles have had runners in their own silks in recent years, although Camilla's brown, yellow and red silks were given to the Ebony Horse Club, of which she is president and Bell is a patron, last year. The King has retained his own silks this season.

However, there is an expectation the number of royal horses will be slimmed down, with the Queen having had more runners and winners last year than at any point in her reign.

Bell acknowledged just how crucial the royal connection is to the sport, with the likes of the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, and her own daughter Zara Tindall also having prominent roles within racing. The new Prince and Princess of Wales also attended one day of Royal Ascot this summer.

Bell said: "I think we will continue to see royal runners at Royal Ascot. I'm not sure whether it will be to the same extent – I'd be surprised if it was – but I know it will be to a very large extent and I think that's very important for British racing, because in many ways it's underpinned by that connection."

The Queen waves to the crowd at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bell also spoke of the connection those within racing built with the Queen, whose passion and love for the sport was always evident.

"The size and loss that everyone's feeling, I feel that myself, but I also appreciate what she's done for the sport, and her support and love of racing," he said.

"Her passing will leave a great void in the world, but a huge one in our sport, because it was a genuine love of hers. Willie Carson said it very well, when we were at events like Royal Ascot you could see that she gravitated towards racing people because it was her true passion.

"A lot of people in racing were able to have experiences and interactions that were slightly different to other people on royal visits – there was a genuine connection to us in the sport and Her Majesty."

Bell's most treasured memory on the racecourse was Big Orange's success in the 2017 Gold Cup for his uncle Michael Bell – after which he ran jubilantly on to the track to celebrate, something that was not missed by the Queen, who he later met.

Oli Bell: 'She was all of us in that moment'Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"My memory at Royal Ascot with Big Orange will live with me my whole life," he said. "In the days since her passing I've watched that video so many times because it's such a special and treasured moment.

"When I spoke to her, obviously you're speaking to the Queen and it's a daunting experience, but she put you completely at ease and spoke to you like a fan of the sport – very quickly you were comfortable to go, 'I'm talking to someone who loves the same thing that I love'."

Bell was overwhelmed by the occasion when Big Orange crossed the line at Ascot and compares it to the Queen's delight following Estimate's victory in the 2013 Gold Cup.

"It was a great moment and I lost myself in it, but when Estimate won the Queen lost herself in that moment as well – I don't think the scale of that race was lost on her," he added.

"Estimate was an amazing moment in the sport and in my time working in the sport it is the most iconic image I can think of.

"I find with racing, which is why I love it so much as a sport, that it can take anyone and everyone to a place of genuine elation and in that moment, Her Majesty the Queen was just like all of us would be if our horse was winning at Royal Ascot – she was all of us in that moment."

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