The Desert Queen and a Princess

The beloved portrait of *Turfa, created by Peter Upton

*Turfa was one of four Arabians chosen by King Ibn Sa'ud to be part of a coronation gift for George VI. The gift was important to King Ibn Sa'ud, as he wanted to show his appreciation to the British people, for the hospitality and kindness extended to his son. It was a crazy time in England, as George's brother, Edward VIII had abdicated the throne in order to marry an American woman, Wallis Simpson and George became the successor to the throne. King George VI had originally intended for the people-friendly and charming *Turfa, to become his daughter's personal riding horse, however, *Turfa, at four years of age, was a young, charismatic mare, responsive to the lightest of aids and maybe, required a rider whose level of expertise in the saddle was more highly developed than that of young princess Elizabeth, who at age 25, upon her father's death, became Queen Elizabeth II. Imagine if *Turfa had remained with the young Princess, instead of her purchase by Brigadier General William H. Anderson?