The Festival of British Eventing, a prominent equestrian event founded in 1983 by Princess Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips, is set to close permanently. Peter Phillips, their son and the event director, has initiated the dissolution of the company that organizes the Festival, following its cancellation last year. The event, traditionally held at Gatcombe Park, Princess Anne’s estate, has been a key fixture for British equestrian elites, including Zara Tindall.

The decision to end the Festival comes after increasing operational challenges, notably the rising costs of hosting the event on a green field site. In 2023, the Festival’s final day was cut short due to bad weather, and by early 2024, Mark and Peter Phillips publicly stated that continuing the event was no longer feasible, signaling the end of this royal-associated equestrian tradition.