British charity The Horse Trust has sadly farewelled a former Royal Mews horse named Lancelot, as well as a donkey named Pandora, who, at 55, was the oldest equine living at its sanctuary.
The pair died of natural causes at its Buckinghamshire base in the first week of March.
Thirty-year-old Lancelot, a 16.2-hand black Irish draught gelding, worked at the Royal Mews for six years and before that had a long military career.
During his time at the Royal Mews he carried the Sovereign Standard of the Life Guards on many parades and was the riding horse for the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle.
Lancelot retired to The Horse Trust's sanctuary in 2006, where he became best friends with Just Otto, another Royal Mews horse who he had worked with at Windsor Castle.
"Lance was a real gentleman and was very popular with visitors," said Shirley Abbott, the trust's yard manager.
"He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, in particular by his best pal Otto and his groom Matt Bradley."
Shirley said that Otto was noticeably quieter for a few days after Lancelot passed away. She is looking forward to letting him and the other horses out on to the spring paddocks soon.
"Otto was very quiet for the first few days after Lance passed away. As the weather is finally warming up, we can let the horses out on to the spring paddocks soon, which will cheer Otto up."
The sanctuary is also mourning the loss of Pandora, at 55.
Pandora, a blind 9.2-hand light brown mare, came to the sanctuary in 2005 with her daughter Chloe, after their elderly owner was no longer able to care for them.
"Pandora was absolutely ancient, outliving her daughter Chloe by a number of years," said Shirley. "She was a very quiet old lady, although she used to shout when she could hear anybody about."
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