King Charles was presented with two Lipizzaner horses by Hungarian officials in 2023 to commemorate his coronation. The gift, intended to symbolize warm relations between Hungary and the United Kingdom, soon led to an unexpected diplomatic situation.
Palace officials reportedly received a strongly worded message from Hungary's agriculture ministry last month requesting the return of the two horses, Neopolitano XXVII-44 (stable name Nelson) and Incitato XVIII-3 (stable name Iveco), to Hungary's state stud farm. The exact reasons for the recall were not immediately clear, but the situation caused diplomatic embarrassment and bewilderment among courtiers.
Some sources in Budapest suggested the recall was a political move by Hungary's newly elected government following a general election earlier this year. Hungary experienced a "regime change" in April when Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza party secured a landslide victory, ending Viktor Orban's 16-year rule. A Hungarian source indicated that the new administration was actively seeking to undermine political opponents, describing the situation as the worst since the communist era.
A spokesperson for the Hungarian embassy in London acknowledged the issue concerning the horses but stated that it has since been resolved. "It is our understanding that the issue concerning the two horses has since been resolved," the spokesperson said. "The horses will, of course, remain in the United Kingdom as originally intended."
Royal sources have confirmed that there is no ongoing dispute and that the horses will remain at the Royal Mews in Windsor as initially planned.