The International Olympic Committee (IOC) member was presented with the honour, which has been given annually since 1995 to people who have offered outstanding services to the CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival, by the German town's Mayor Marcel Philipp at a special ceremony.

"This award means a great deal to me both personally and in my role as FEI President," Princess Haya, who is also a Sydney 2000 Olympian and Honorary Board member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), said.

"In receiving it I must emphasise that I have achieved nothing alone.

"Every step forward in equestrian sport made since I became President is the result of teamwork.

"And the team is very big: it is not only the staff at FEI headquarters, it is also the FEI Bureau, the discipline committees, the National Federations, the sponsors and event organisers.

"If our sport is continuing to grow in popularity it is because our top athletes are playing a huge role by inspiring young people to become involved in it.

"But this could not happen without events such as Aachen."

The first winner of the Prize of the City of Aachen was Helmut Werner, the then chairman of Daimler-Benz AG, who was presented with the award in 1995.

Aachen will host next August's FEI European Championships in dressage, jumping, vaulting, driving and reining, marking the first time five European tournaments have taken place at the same venue.

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