The history of The Cartier Queen’s Cup – Part one
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
There are many cups and trophies in the Guards Polo Club collection, each with their own eclectic history made richer by time and the odd ‘historic dent’ – whose tale you will discover if you talk with certain long standing members of the Club who can still distinctly remember ‘that year’ when post-match excitement at a certain presentation caused a lid to topple, or a cup to be spilled.
During my five seasons as Assistant Polo Manager at the Club I always considered myself so privileged to managing the trophy inventory (of over ninety cups and trophies) which over the years have been displayed on many different winners’ mantelpieces. It always seemed like each had a story steeped in history to tell, and despite their many polishes (largely by the late Cyril Roberts, who worked at the Club for almost forty years, as both Chief Steward and Royal Box Steward and who the Roberts Cup is now named after) each time I carried one of the collection to the Royal Box, or presentation table, I always felt they still seemed to retain the invisible fingerprints of each and every winning team.
On a weekly basis during the season every one of the trophies and cups takes their turn on the Club’s presentation table while their destiny is played out on the field. One of the most coveted of all these trophies has to be The Queen’s Cup – now sponsored by Cartier. Standing at 12.5cm tall and 16cm in diameter on an ebonised five-tiered, silver-banded base, The Cartier Queen’s Cup is neither the largest, nor most decorative of the trophies, however its understated elegance and a simplicity draws the eye to the crested cup and the tiers and titles on which is it sits.
Encircling the base of the cup, like the hands which hold it aloft each June, are six leaves pointing upwards. Whilst engraved on one side is ‘Her Majesty The Queen’s Cup’, on the reverse is the Royal Coat of Arms, beneath which is inscribed the Monarch’s motto ‘Dieu et Mon Droit’ (God and my right). Decorating the top of the handles are some Acanthus leaves – a symbol of the Greco-Roman culture. Indeed, some Mediterranean countries still believe that Acanthus leaves represent enduring life and immortality.
Many of the winners’ names engraved on the base of the cup have become permanently intertwined with the tournament’s history. Indeed, perhaps unsurprisingly one name that stands out amongst the lower levels of bases and silver bands is ‘Adolfo Cambiaso’ who has featured in many different winning team line-ups, although in more recent years his wins have all been with Ali Albwardy’s Dubai Polo Team. In the last two seasons it has been Lyndon Lea’s Zacara team headed up by Facundo Pieres who have seen their names etched into the silver band.
Perhaps not so well known however, are its origins, which, with the help of Guards Polo Club’s Honorary Archivist Graham Dennis, I was able to piece together – uncovering the background to a cup which has become highly prizes amongst professionals and patrons alike the world over.
Click here for part two