The Queen, smitten
Virginia’s Smitten Farm played host to Queen Camilla
Nick Hahn
May 17, 2026
What might you do if you are hanging around a horse farm on a slow Monday night of Kentucky Derby week and receive a phone call?
“How would you like to host the Queen?”
If you didn’t recognize the voice on the other side of the call, you might just hang up. Fortunately, Hunter Lee Marek did not.
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“Everything just kind of fell into place,” said Marek, the equine manager of Anne Backer’s Smitten Farm in The Plains, Virginia. “The British Embassy was out to kind of have a little tour of Smitten and loved it. They decided that this is where they wanted to come.”
Marek was under a gag order with security and secrecy ramped up for the visit, especially after the recent threat at the White House Correspondents Association dinner down I-66 in Washington just prior to the royal couple’s arrival to the United States. Any loose discussion of the upcoming appearance might have scrapped the opportunity.
Initial awkwardness of hosting such a regal visit would be expected, but conversation rapidly moved to a subject where the two could speak as equals: horses.
“It was actually a very easy flowing conversation to have,” recall Marek. “You get a little tense talking to someone of that stature, but she loves horses. We love horses, so it was a very easy conversation to have. We talked about our breeding operation. She got to meet some of the mares. She told me a little bit about her breeding operation, which was fun, and then I got to introduce her to one of our retired mares just to kind of show how involved we are with the aftercare and just looking after our horses.”
Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, was on hand.
“HISA was honored to co-host the event and speak with Her Majesty about advancements in equine welfare, aftercare, and our partnerships with the UK horseracing community,” Lazarus said. “The Queen conveyed her love of horses and interest in racing. It was a special day for everyone.”
Marek escorted The Queen through the barn and an entourage where they shared carrots and conversation while discussing how they keep an eye on their mares during foaling season. The Queen uses an app on her phone, while Smitten Farm has a feed to the house so that Anne Backer can regularly watch them.
“Oh, my goodness me. Just look at her,” Queen Camilla can be heard on video about a February foal before she stepped into another stall to look at an April foal, considerate not to make too large an intrusion. “She’s very happy. We’re going to wake her up.”
“I knew she was a horsewoman,” acknowledged Marek. “It was all very natural. She was giving them carrots. She was patting them on the nose. Everybody was just very comfortable, and it was fun.”
Marek witnessed The Queen having a conversation with Anne Backer as the matriarchs talked shop.
“They got a chance to talk for a little bit too,” said Marek. “It was funny. They were talking about the ups and downs of the horse business, and that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies all the time, so they were kind of laughing over that.”
Earlier on the tour, Camilla shared a recent win of one of her own horses in April as Portcullis won a race at Newmarket by 5 1/2 lengths, overcoming a stumbling start with jockey Ryan Moore aboard.
“We had a nice winner the other day,” praised The Queen. “It was totally unexpected.”
The royal couple’s King’s Prize also won is his debut in April.
“They are so lovely,” Queen Camilla was overheard on video while patting Blind Date, a graded stakes winner who retired to broodmare duties at Smitten Farm.
The visit to Smitten Farm might have inadvertently been leaked by the Queen as the highlight of her visit to the United States.
“Well, it’s lovely to come,” said the Queen. “It’s a nice way to finish off the trip, having to do something I enjoy.”
The Queen’s arrival at the farm may have provided the most charming moment of all, when Marek’s young daughter, Violet, presented Her Majesty a basket of flowers.
“She’s kind of oblivious to all of it,” said Marek. “Of course, she’s into princesses and queens and kings. She’s 3 ½ now, so when I told her that she needed to give flowers to the Queen, she was all excited. I don’t think she actually understood the magnitude of it. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The Queen left the farm, smitten.
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