HRH the Princess Royal to visit Burghley Horse Trials on 'Super Sunday'

Her Royal Highness - who won the European Championships at Burghley in 1971 - will present the prizes to the winners of Burghley 2026 after the concluding showjumping phase.

The royal prize-giving will provide a fitting climax to a true “Super Sunday” celebrating world-class sport.

The enthusiastic crowds packed around Burghley’s Main Arena will have an opportunity to salute Britain’s gold medal-winning squad from the recent FEI World Eventing Championships in Aachen, Germany, as the four team members - double Defender Burghley heroine Ros Canter, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Gemma Stevens – and individual rider Caroline Harris parade in Defender vehicles before the CCI5* prizes are awarded.

And there is bound to be plenty of emotion as Burghley pays tribute to one of the greatest event horses of recent times, dual Burghley champion Ballaghmor Class, as he canters round the Main Arena for a final time under Oliver Townend. The brilliant pair not only won Defender Burghley in 2017 and 2023, but also Olympic team gold for Britain in Tokyo five years ago. At the age of 19, the much-loved grey gelding, who is owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, is being officially retired from eventing at Burghley that day.

Burghley’s Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “We are very honoured that HRH The Princess Royal is attending Burghley again this year. As a former winner of Burghley, and a British gold medallist herself, it is highly appropriate that Her Royal Highness will play a role on a day which celebrates so much British equestrian sporting achievement.”

Main Arena attractions on Sunday also include the Defender Shetland Pony Grand National, the British Army Tidworth Band, and a parade of the Fitzwilliam (Milton) hounds.

For the full timetable and to plan your visit to Defender Burghley visit 2026 Timetable