How are our Royalty Selected?

We partner with Poulner Junior School & Ringwood Junior School where our Carnival team runs a competition to select a Princes & Princess from each school.  Pupils are asked to complete a questionnaire including why they would like to represent their school and Ringwood Carnival. Our judging panel then select who they feel are most appropriate, have answered the questions clearly and would be a good ambassador for Carnival.  

For 60 years the Sampson Percheron horses have been undertaking the most important duty at Ringwood Carnival in leading the horse drawn carriage with the Carnival Royalty.

The Sampson family kindly started the tradition of pulling the Queen’s carriage in 1954 with their wonderful percheron horses.  Ringwood Carnival Committee are very grateful to the Sampson family and their kind generosity year after year!

Also forming part of the Carnival Court are the Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor and respective partners. The dignitary will head the procession and will always be hosted in a feature car, which differs each year and will always a surprise on the big day.  Ringwood Carnival feel it is important our Town Council is represented and lead out the town’s Carnival.   

Ever wondered about Carnival Royalty and how the Queen’s dias gets prepared?

A dedicated team of the Carnival team prepare and decorate the Queen’s dias ready for the Carnival Royalty on Carnival day. It is not a case of ‘bunging some plants’ on it; the year’s theme is carefully chosen and planned well in advance. From there, the sourcing and preparatory work kicks in – gathering plants, shrubs, flowers, foliage and all things nature in accordance with the years theme. For two days prior to Carnival, the dais is carefully prepared and dressed in readiness for the royalty on their big day. The result is one truly magnificent start to our parades!

On the morning of Carnival; the Royalty are treated to a full day of duty.  The day starts with a full make-over, then change into their chosen attire followed by a lunch at Lovitaly with the Town’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Once finished, a surprise car picks up the Carnival Court and delivers the team at the procession assembly point to view all the wonderful floats before boarding the dias, ready to lead the way!