Queen Camilla's very lucky brooch: Royal wears a special jewel for Cheltenham Festival appearance

Queen Camilla opted for a bright green floral scarf for the outing this afternoon

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Many attending the races at Cheltenham Festival this week may be hoping luck is on their side - but Queen Camilla has a special token to ensure her horses perform to the very best of their ability.

As the royal arrived for the second day of the festival, she was seen wearing a special ruby, diamond and sapphire horseshoe brooch for the occasion. The jewel is a favourite of the Queen’s, who has been seen wearing the pin on a number of special race days in the past, but it also has a number of other, special royal connections.

The letters set within the brooch spell out the name Minoru, which was the name of one of King Edward VII’s most successful Thoroughbred racehorses. The horse had a glittering racing career, which lasted from June 1908 to April 1910. Named after the Japanese word meaning ‘bountiful abundance’, he was bred in Ireland and foaled in 1906. He was then leased by his breader to King Edward VII, who had twice won the Derby whilst Prince of Wales.

Between 1908 and 1910, he ran thirteen times and won seven races, becoming one of the best colts in England in the early part of 1909. His win at Epsom Downs Racecourse made King Edward VII the first reigning British monarch to win a Derby. Celebrations included a vast chorus of the entire Derby Day crowd singing the National Anthem as the King led the horse into the winner’s enclosure.