From left, MHES Princess Charlatan Sandford, Princesses for a Day Abbigail Gingras and Amelia de Guia and MHES Queen Charlie Christie pose for a portrait inside the director's lounge. News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
In longstanding rodeo royalty tradition, two lucky girls spent the day Saturday with the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s Queen and Princess as the 2025 Princesses for the Day.
Eight-year-old Abbigail Gingras and nine-year-old Amelia de Guia were this year’s winners of the draw, and enjoyed a day alongside Queen Charlie Christie and Princess Charlatan Sandford during the Broncs and Honky Tonks Spring Indoor Rodeo.
“We got to visit the horses, and we had lunch, and it’s been a lot of fun,” said Gingras. She expressed surprise at finding out she had been drawn as one of the princesses for this year, as she had believed the day had already passed, matching similar shock and delight from her new friend.
The quartet of royals spent the day riding horses, as well as at Dunmore Dugout, which Christie said really helped to bring out her inner kid.
“Laser tag was really fun, and the girls really showed us up in rock climbing,” said Sandford. “We made it to the top. That’s all that matters.”
For Gingras, this was her first time ever riding a horse, something she called the highlight of the day, where de Guia was proud to announce she was more experienced, and particularly enjoyed rock climbing alongside their royal role models.
For Christie and Sandford, they commented that seeing the girls make fast friends reminded them of the two of them in the early days of the reign as they formed the lasting friendship they will enjoy as Queen and Princess and beyond.
While both are too young to consider trying their hand at succeeding Christie and Sandford as MHES Queen and Princess just yet, there is still time for eligible 18 to 24-year-old women, as applications close at 5 p.m. on April 30.
Further information on requirements and how to apply to be part of the 2025 Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Queen competition can be found at mhstampede.com/rodeo-royalty.
