The Queen feeds Alfie the ‘greedy’ donkey at charity reception

The Queen fed carrots to donkeys and horses as she hosted a reception for a “remarkable” equine welfare charity at Buckingham Palace.

Alfie the donkey and LaLa, a Shetland pony, joined celebrity supporters as the Queen marked the 90th anniversary of Brooke on Thursday.

The Queen has held the role of president of the UK-based international charity, which protects and improves the lives of horses, donkeys and mules, since 2006.

Brooke, founded in 1934 to support abandoned horses from the First World War, has gone on to help 1.4 million working animals directly and now works across three continents and 15 countries.

A trip to a Donkey Care Club during a state visit to Kenya last year allowed the Queen to see the organisation’s work first-hand.

She was first introduced to Alfie and LaLa in the palace’s quadrangle. She snapped a carrot in two before asking: “Are you greedy, Alfie?” as she fed the animal

The Queen then patted LaLa on the nose and back as she offered more of the carrot, and noted how both animals were “about my size”.

She then headed into a reception in the Bow Room, where she met guests including the broadcaster Alastair Stewart, the former newsreader Angela Rippon, charity staff and Ann Searight, the granddaughter of Brooke’s founder.

After she was shown a short video, the Queen cut a Brooke anniversary cake and received a framed gift.

In a brief speech, she said: “Can I thank you all for your support – it is the most remarkable charity.”

Chris Wainwright, the Brooke chief executive, said: “We are so lucky to have her support. It means everything to our staff, the communities that we work in, our partners, and just having the support of someone as high profile as Her Majesty gives us the opportunity to engage with a whole different and wider audience.

“It shows that, actually, our cause is important, and that’s the main thing for us. It’s a huge milestone for us, but to be recognised by Her Majesty and for her to host a reception for us, is fantastic for the people that make Brooke happen.”

The reception comes after the Queen also hosted the first garden party of the year with the King and other Royal family members at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.