The 71-year-old was meeting horses at the Club Ecustre De La Habana Flora y Fauna having left the Prince of Wales for the solo visit during their visit to Havana. Following a tour of the stables and a meet-and-greet with the farriers, she was told the horses were fed carrots as rewards while the stallions were fed eggs and honey as a special treat. She said: “Eggs and honey! I’ve never heard of anything like that before.

“You learn something new every day.”

The Duchess is a keen rider and hunts regularly in the UK.

But she had an awkward encounter when she came face to face with “Shy Di”, a horse called Dynamite.

She fed the horse sugar after hearing how the mare’s calm temperament had resulted in her name being changed to the more feminine name of Diane.

The royal watched a dressage and show jumping display to violin music during the visit.

She appeared delighted and clapped when one of the horses took a bow with one front leg bent.

When she was told a few horses had been imported from England for breeding, she told the vice president of business development Loreta Garcia Sardina and the director of the equestrian centre Noel Ceballo Suarez: “Let me know if I can help in any way.”

After asking lots of questions she was then introduced to Diane and told how equine therapy had helped children with autism, MS sufferers and even recovering drug addicts.

She said: “Autistic children and horses seem to work very well together.

“Horses aren’t aggressive animals.”

The Duchess was shocked to find out the eight-year-old girl riding Diane had not been able to walk before she underwent equine therapy at the centre.

She said: “Look at her now and all the progress she has made.

“I’m tempted to have a ride on her myself but I don’t think I’m dressed for the occasion.”

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