CARTIER QUEEN’S CUP: THE QUEEN AND THE CARTIER
The Cartier Queen’s Cup is a perennial staple on London’s summer calendar — an opportunity for the crème de la crème of London society and the sporting world to connect and come together in Windsor’s great park.
15 June 2017
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The Cartier Queen’s Cup is a perennial staple on London’s summer calendar — an opportunity for the crème de la crème of London society and the sporting world to connect and come together in Windsor’s great park.
It is a day for horses, champagne, hats, heels and bonhomie, and one of the few occasions that attracts both the royal family and Hollywood’s elite; both a family day and an extravagant party, depending on which side of the polo playing field you park your picnic.
The Queen is also on hand to award the winning polo team with the prestigious Cup. Cartier first sponsored the International Day in 1984 and, since then, it has become the largest and most prestigious spectator event in the world, attracting over 25,000 people. Cartier has transformed the polo match into an all-day and night opulent affair, rich with nostalgia and steeped in history. Through the Queen’s Cup we remember Richard Gere and a young Cindy Crawford stepping out as husband and wife in 1993; a rosy-faced Prince Harry playing for England, or Angelina Jolie as a guest in the Cartier marquee in 2000, the same year that she won an Oscar for her performance in Girl Interrupted.
Played annually for the last thirty three years during the months of May and June at Smith’s Lawn and surrounding private grounds, The Queen’s Cup (which is sponsored by Cartier) is renowned across the polo world. Rich in history, many different players and teams have battled it out, to reach the Quarters, then Semis and ultimately the Finals held on the Queen’s Ground each year in the middle of June on Sunday, watched by Her Majesty the Queen herself from the Royal Box, who also each year presents the winner with her cup.
But what is it that makes this particular cup so special in the history of English polo? Made of solid silver, the Cartier Queen’s Cup is hallmarked, and it is these small, seemingly insignificant markings near the top lip of the cup which hold the key to its creation. First in the line of four tiny symbols are the capitalised letters HEB, on top, the three further letters are FEB which are inside a shield. This is the ‘maker’s mark’ – depicting the initials of the Barker Brothers – Herbert Edward Barker and Frank Ernest Barker – who were Silversmiths in England between 1908 – 1926. Next is the ‘standard mark’ – a lion facing left, looking over its shoulder – indicating the material from which the item is crafted – ‘solid sterling silver.’ The most curious of the marks is one that initially appears to symbolise three mushrooms on a triangle. This ‘assay mark’ (given by the Guild of Silversmiths who were appointed to survey the silver standard) is three wheat sheaves separated by a sword – the symbol which represents Chester. Lastly within a small square is a curly capital ‘U’ – the date mark representing Chester in 1920.
Significantly, Chester (which had been producing plate since the 15th century) ceased silver trading in 1961, so it is likely that the Cartier Queen’s Cup, which was first presented at Smith’s Lawn and engraved with the winners’ names in June 1960, was amongst the last items to be sold or gifted before the doors of one of England’s oldest guilds of Silversmith’s closed forever. Cartier Queen’s Cup is one of the top five polo tournaments in the world and is historically attended by HM The Queen, who first presented this coveted trophy to Guards Polo Club in 1960, 2017 Cartier Queen’s Cup finals is something that you cannot afford to miss.
Wednesday, 14th June – Cartier Queen’s Cup Semi-Finals.
Sunday, 18th June – Cartier Queen’s Cup Finals.
The Queen’s Cup is getting to its final stage La Indiana, 2016 runners up, and RH, Adolfo Cambiaso new team, had qualified for the semifinals on 5th June, 2017. El Remanso took over on King Power, 2015 Queen’s Cup winners, who reached the stage after losing to Murus Sanctus. The winner faced RH at 3pm on ground two at Guards, Talandracas, who won their last two matches, took over Murus Sanctus, who managed a great win against King Power in their last match. It was a good chance to follow two 10-goalers who were taking their first steps in their respective teams this year (Pelon Stirling in Talandracas and Hilario Ulloa for Murus Sanctus).
As the cup proceeded Murus Sanctus won the quarter finals against the Talandracas Polo team by 10-7 . The semi finals of this prestigious Cup took place on 14th June at 1200 hours where team La Indiana and Murus Sanctus contested against each other to make a step ahead towards the Queen’s Cup. La Indiana made greater efforts and had a better gameplay which helped them defeat Murus Sanctus by 14-11.
The next semi-finals were between the RH Polo team and the El Remanso at 1600 hours. RH polo won the match by 14-12. Adolfo Cambiaso was declared as the most valuable player as he scored 12 goals for his team while best pony award went to Rosita, it is owned by Ollie Cudmore. The audience and the world of Polo is looking forward to the finals of this grand championship and everyone is expecting a great show.
The Queen is also on hand to award the winning polo team with the prestigious Cup. Cartier first sponsored the International Day in 1984 and, since then, it has become the largest and most prestigious spectator event in the world, attracting over 25,000 people. Cartier has transformed the polo match into an all-day and night opulent affair, rich with nostalgia and steeped in history. Through the Queen’s Cup we remember Richard Gere and a young Cindy Crawford stepping out as husband and wife in 1993; a rosy-faced Prince Harry playing for England, or Angelina Jolie as a guest in the Cartier marquee in 2000, the same year that she won an Oscar for her performance in Girl Interrupted.
Played annually for the last thirty three years during the months of May and June at Smith’s Lawn and surrounding private grounds, The Queen’s Cup (which is sponsored by Cartier) is renowned across the polo world. Rich in history, many different players and teams have battled it out, to reach the Quarters, then Semis and ultimately the Finals held on the Queen’s Ground each year in the middle of June on Sunday, watched by Her Majesty the Queen herself from the Royal Box, who also each year presents the winner with her cup.
But what is it that makes this particular cup so special in the history of English polo? Made of solid silver, the Cartier Queen’s Cup is hallmarked, and it is these small, seemingly insignificant markings near the top lip of the cup which hold the key to its creation. First in the line of four tiny symbols are the capitalised letters HEB, on top, the three further letters are FEB which are inside a shield. This is the ‘maker’s mark’ – depicting the initials of the Barker Brothers – Herbert Edward Barker and Frank Ernest Barker – who were Silversmiths in England between 1908 – 1926. Next is the ‘standard mark’ – a lion facing left, looking over its shoulder – indicating the material from which the item is crafted – ‘solid sterling silver.’ The most curious of the marks is one that initially appears to symbolise three mushrooms on a triangle. This ‘assay mark’ (given by the Guild of Silversmiths who were appointed to survey the silver standard) is three wheat sheaves separated by a sword – the symbol which represents Chester. Lastly within a small square is a curly capital ‘U’ – the date mark representing Chester in 1920.
Significantly, Chester (which had been producing plate since the 15th century) ceased silver trading in 1961, so it is likely that the Cartier Queen’s Cup, which was first presented at Smith’s Lawn and engraved with the winners’ names in June 1960, was amongst the last items to be sold or gifted before the doors of one of England’s oldest guilds of Silversmith’s closed forever. Cartier Queen’s Cup is one of the top five polo tournaments in the world and is historically attended by HM The Queen, who first presented this coveted trophy to Guards Polo Club in 1960, 2017 Cartier Queen’s Cup finals is something that you cannot afford to miss.
This 22-goal tournament runs for three weeks with this years key matches on:
Saturday, 10th and Sunday, 11th June – Cartier Queen’s Cup Quarter-Finals.Wednesday, 14th June – Cartier Queen’s Cup Semi-Finals.
Sunday, 18th June – Cartier Queen’s Cup Finals.
The Queen’s Cup is getting to its final stage La Indiana, 2016 runners up, and RH, Adolfo Cambiaso new team, had qualified for the semifinals on 5th June, 2017. El Remanso took over on King Power, 2015 Queen’s Cup winners, who reached the stage after losing to Murus Sanctus. The winner faced RH at 3pm on ground two at Guards, Talandracas, who won their last two matches, took over Murus Sanctus, who managed a great win against King Power in their last match. It was a good chance to follow two 10-goalers who were taking their first steps in their respective teams this year (Pelon Stirling in Talandracas and Hilario Ulloa for Murus Sanctus).
As the cup proceeded Murus Sanctus won the quarter finals against the Talandracas Polo team by 10-7 . The semi finals of this prestigious Cup took place on 14th June at 1200 hours where team La Indiana and Murus Sanctus contested against each other to make a step ahead towards the Queen’s Cup. La Indiana made greater efforts and had a better gameplay which helped them defeat Murus Sanctus by 14-11.
The next semi-finals were between the RH Polo team and the El Remanso at 1600 hours. RH polo won the match by 14-12. Adolfo Cambiaso was declared as the most valuable player as he scored 12 goals for his team while best pony award went to Rosita, it is owned by Ollie Cudmore. The audience and the world of Polo is looking forward to the finals of this grand championship and everyone is expecting a great show.
