The home rider, at 20, the youngest among the star-studded field, scored 36.8 penalties on board Westphalian Brookleigh on the second day of dressage to move to within 2.4 of Jung, the double London 2012 gold medallist riding La Biosthetique Sam FBW.

The German was not in action having completed his dressage section of the event, part of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Classics series, yesterday and was able to keep hold of top spot on 34.4 penalties.

Jung came into the latest event on Classics calendar having triumphed at the third leg in Kentucky on Sunday (May 1) and remains the one to beat going into tomorrow’s cross-country discipline.

King’s display somewhat eased the pain of the absence of two of Britain’s leading names, William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell, and gave her an encouraging start to her first-ever appearance at the historic competition at Badminton Park.

King is the daughter of Mary King, a three-time Olympic medallist and double world champion. 

Mary King had been part of the British squad beaten by Jung's Germany to the Olympic gold medal in the team event at London 2012. 

“Brookleigh can do a good test, but he also has a tendency to get behind the leg or be lively, and it was great that this time he was exactly as good in the arena as he had been in the warm-up,” Emily King said.

 “I’m excited rather than nervous – at the moment!

“This will be his longest course but the good ground should suit him.

“I’ve been coming to Badminton every year since I was born, and this has always been the most important event to me.”

King's performance on day two of dressage saw Germany’s Andreas Ostholt, riding So Is Et, and her team-mate Francis Whittington, on board Hasty Imp, move down to third and fourth place respectively after they both competed yesterday.

Ostholt claimed a total of 38.2 penalties, 1.8 in front of the British rider.

Christopher Burton of Australia and horse Nobilis 18 were able to join the leading back as he recorded 40.3 penalties, which was enough for him to move into fifth place.

Laura Collett, another home rider, had looked as though she could challenge the likes of Jung before mistakes crept in to her routine on board Grand Manoeuvre.

Her compatriot Zara Tindall, the Queen's granddaughter, managed 48.0 penalties on High Kingdom, which is returning to competition after missing the majority of last season following a freak stable accident just before dressage at the Rolex Kentucky event in America.