Exclusive: How Queen Elizabeth's Friendship with California Cowboy Monty Roberts Changed Both of Their Lives
Our take
The quiet elegance of Queen Elizabeth II’s life often felt meticulously curated, a tapestry woven with duty, tradition, and a carefully maintained public image. Yet, the recent revelation of her enduring friendship with Monty Roberts, a California-based horse trainer, offers a glimpse into a more personal and perhaps unexpected side of the monarch. As detailed in a recent *Marie Claire* exclusive, the bond between the Queen and Roberts, spanning over three decades, reveals a shared passion for equine understanding that transcended social boundaries. It's fascinating to consider how this connection, built on a mutual love for animals and a nuanced approach to horsemanship, offered the Queen a space for genuine connection outside the pressures of the crown. This resonates with our ongoing exploration of royal style and influence, as seen in articles like Princess Anne Gets a "Round of A-Paws" from Sheep Dogs in a Timeless Paisley and Plaid Outfit, which highlights the enduring connection between the royal family and the natural world, and further underscores the importance of animals in their lives. The story also subtly echoes the complexities of royal relationships, prompting reflection on the human need for connection, even within the most structured of lives – a dynamic we previously explored in Why Queen Elizabeth "Was Furious" With Princess Diana Following One "Private Conversation," According to a Royal Expert.
The significance of this friendship lies not just in its longevity but in the transformative impact it had on the royal stables. Roberts, known for his non-violent, empathetic approach to horse training, revolutionized the way the Queen’s horses were handled, moving away from traditional, often harsher methods. This shift reflects a broader cultural evolution towards a more compassionate understanding of animal welfare, a movement increasingly visible in contemporary society and, notably, highlighted in discussions like those presented in Official Theory Whispers 👁️ on Instagram: "The monstrous ways we treat animals in the name of fashion". The Queen’s willingness to embrace Roberts' techniques, and to publicly acknowledge their effectiveness, speaks to her quiet intelligence and her ability to adapt and learn, even in areas seemingly steeped in tradition. It’s a testament to her enduring curiosity and willingness to challenge established norms, qualities that often went unacknowledged amidst the focus on her regal duties. This subtle rebellion, expressed through a shared passion for horses, offers a refreshingly human perspective on a figure often perceived as distant and untouchable.
Beyond the equestrian realm, the friendship with Roberts suggests a longing for uncomplicated companionship. The anecdotes shared by Roberts' daughter – animal jokes, shared laughter, a comfortable ease – paint a portrait of a woman seeking respite from the weight of her responsibilities. It underscores the universal human need for genuine connection and the power of shared interests to bridge divides. The Queen's ability to find solace and joy in this unlikely friendship demonstrates a remarkable resilience and a quiet strength that often goes unappreciated. This wasn’t a calculated alliance for political gain; it was a genuine bond built on mutual respect and a shared passion, a reminder that even the most powerful individuals crave authentic human connection. The understated nature of this relationship, revealed so late in the Queen's life, is particularly poignant, highlighting the enduring power of quiet moments and unassuming friendships.
Ultimately, the story of Queen Elizabeth and Monty Roberts offers a valuable lesson in embracing unexpected connections and finding joy in shared passions. It serves as a gentle reminder that even those who occupy the highest echelons of society are, at their core, human beings with relatable needs and desires. It prompts us to consider: how often do we overlook the quiet, unassuming relationships that shape our lives, and what insights might we gain by paying closer attention to the subtle connections that nourish our souls? As we continue to examine the nuances of royal life and the evolving landscape of animal welfare, it’s clear that this friendship will be remembered not for its grand pronouncements, but for its quiet grace and the enduring power of a shared love for horses.
Queen Elizabeth’s love of horses was legendary. Whether it was going out for a ride, breeding horses or watching the races, there was nothing that she enjoyed more—and her passion for equestrian pursuits led her to one unlikely friendship.
As a California cowboy, horse trainer Monty Roberts never expected to become friends with the late Queen, but as his daughter Debbie Loucks tells Marie Claire, the two had much more in common than anyone expected.
Roberts died on July 31 after a career that transformed the equestrian industry, and his non-violent horse training methods attracted the interest of Queen Elizabeth, who invited him to Windsor Castle in 1989. Traditionally, horses were broken in and saddled by using force, but Roberts relied on body language and communication instead.
Loucks recalls her father admitting that the “only time” he felt extremely nervous was when he did his first demonstration for Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother. Roberts successfully saddled the horse, and Loucks shares how the Queen Mother had “tears forming in her eyes” when she greeted him.
“The [late] Queen came down right after the Queen Mum and said, ‘You know, that was incredible. Do another, do more,’” Loucks shares. And more is what Roberts did, staying on for a week to train even the largest ceremonial horses without using any force.
The two struck up a friendship that lasted three decades, and Loucks shares that her father was impressed by the depth of Queen Elizabeth’s knowledge of the equestrian world. “I think he was amazed by her horsemanship, amazed at how good she was at several things,” Loucks says. “She could really eyeball a horse, you know, she could really read a horse and she had an eye for confirmation. She had an eye for talent.”
The late Queen would often speak to Roberts on the phone, and he was one of the few people she’d take a call from no matter where she was—even if it was in a government meeting.
It was the late Queen who encouraged Roberts to write his first book, The Man Who Listens to Horses, and she was instrumental in getting his documentary, Shy Boy: The Horse That Came in from the Wild, produced.
“She was like, ‘Videos go away. Books are forever. You have to do a book,’” Loucks recalls. “She walked him into the publishers, said there must be a book. She went to the BBC, said there must be a documentary and that's how Shy Boy came about. You know, she was orchestrating this forward. She believed it.”
Roberts went on to write a number of other books on horsemanship, and his friendship with Queen Elizabeth was chronicled in the documentary The Cowboy and The Queen. In 2011, the late Queen honored Roberts as an honorary Member of the Royal Victorian Order.
Loucks recalls how Queen Elizabeth had a knack for naming not only horses, but all kinds of animals. “He always told little stories about how she named different animals and how they fulfilled that,” Loucks tells Marie Claire. Roberts had many deer living on his property, and he “used to tell deer stories all the time” to Queen Elizabeth, who loved exchanging her own tales with Monty.
After bottle-feeding a baby deer back to health, Roberts asked the late Queen for her advice on a name. “Dad finally went to her and said, ‘I've got to name the little baby deer and it's just so sweet, and here's some photos and you know, what do you think?” Loucks shares. “And she said, ‘Benediction. I’d name him Benediction.’”
When Roberts told Queen Elizabeth it was “a big name for a little deer,” Queen Elizabeth replied, "Well, you know, you Americans, you turn things into gangster names. You can call him Benny if you want to,” Loucks says with a laugh. “But that’s the other thing he loved about her, her sense of humor."
Today, Loucks is carrying on her father's legacy at the Monty Roberts International Learning Center, located at the California Horse Center in the Santa Ynez Valley. As well as offering online and in-person courses, the center "is a grand example of the most progressive thoughts in keeping horses healthy," Loucks says. "I'll use Dad's voice as a megaphone for that," she adds, noting that her late father's non-violent methods will be "the future for horses."
"Dad believes that as strongly as I do," Loucks shares.
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