For Immediate Release
April 04, 2003
Contact: Terry Sebastian (502) 564-2611  

Pattons invite Princess Anne to KY for ‘All The Queen’s Horses’

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Building on the excitement of the opening of  “All The Queen’s Horses” art exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park, Gov. Paul Patton and First Lady Judi Patton will welcome as their guest Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne to the Commonwealth to officially open the exhibit on April 25.  

“This is one of the most ambitious exhibitions ever to come to the United States from the United Kingdom,” Patton said. “And with it, we are very pleased to have Princess Anne who has an enduring passion for horses and equine pursuits.” 

While in the United Kingdom last summer on an economic development tour, the governor and first lady hand delivered an invitation asking HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne to attend the art exhibit during the All The Queen’s Horses Gala Friday, April 25 and to be their guest of honor at a state reception and dinner at the Mansion on Thursday, April 24.    

The “Queen’s Horses” exhibit, which officially opens to the public April 26, features more than 400 priceless works of art and artifacts. The exhibition explores the rich equestrian heritage of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 10,000 BC to the present. Many of the pieces included in this world-exclusive exhibition have never been exhibited in America. (For more information on the exhibit: http://www.imh.org/khp/.) 

As a guest of the Pattons, HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne will visit Keeneland, the Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Center and attend the Rolex Kentucky Three Day event and the Pony Club, while spending time with the Riding for the Handicapped program and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. 

HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne will join state and local tourism and trade representatives for a luncheon at the Radisson in Lexington at noon on Friday, April 25. During this meeting, Lexington will participate in a “Sister Cities” memorandum of intent with the city of Newmarket, England.  

Another aspect of HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne’s trip will involve Kentucky First Lady Judi Patton and a tour of a local Family Care Center. There are 775 centers around the state that the governor and first lady have worked to expand to every county over the last seven years. 

“As First Lady of Kentucky, I thought it was important to share with Princess Anne the high value we place on protecting our children and vulnerable adults and show our successful programs around the state,” Judi Patton said. “I know this appeals to her because she travels the globe extensively in her role as President of Save The Children Fund, a post she has held since 1970.”  

- 30 -  

Note: A detailed press advisory of HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne’s trip will be released to the media. It will give specific times and guidelines for registering and for covering her events. A photo of HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne can be found at http://gov.state.ky.us/pressreleases/2003/HRH_The_Princess_Royal_Princess_Anne.jpg