Motorcar racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart is one of the more surprising members of the Queen’s inner circle, yet the two go back several years, and his wife Helen is even godmother to her granddaughter, Zara Phillips. A regular guest at Sandringham, he’s even been known to spend Christmas with the royals, while the Queen made a rare appearance at his private birthday party in 2019. Most recently he was among those who attended Prince Philip’s memorial service at Westminster Abbey.
John Warren
John Warren with the Queen
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It is no secret that one of the Queen’s greatest loves is racing. Having bred horses throughout her life, she’s always maintained a close relationship with her racing advisers, often feeling more at ease around them due to the stables setting. One of her greatest friends was Lord Porchester, or ‘Porchie’ as she called him, who trained her horses for 33 years, but who she had known for even longer. After Porchie’s death in 2001, his son-in-law John Warren took over the role, and similarly became one of Her Majesty’s trusted confidants.
