The Royal Family, renowned for their fondness for animals, have had a variety of pets over the years – including some that may surprise many.
The late Queen Elizabeth was famously devoted to her collection of corgis, horses, and ponies. Some of these beloved pets even featured in the final stages of her funeral procession in Windsor.
Her passion for animals is a trait that has been passed down through generations of the monarchy. Queen Camilla, who owns two Jack Russell terriers, has also worked tirelessly as patron of Battersea Dog’s Home, championing the cause.
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Prince Michael of Kent presides over the charity, which has had royal connections since 1885 when Queen Victoria became patron.
The House of Windsor cherishes their furry companions. While their assortment of family dogs is well-known, their relationships with some lesser-known pets are seriously sweet, reports the Mirror.
The family has had some truly unique and unusual pets over the years, beginning with one of the late Queen Elizabeth’s childhood pets – a chameleon. She shared this pet with her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
The Royal siblings were very hands-on owners, with a Royal author revealing in Hello Magazine that the sisters would gather dead flies for their cherished pet to eat – a testament to the early onset of the late Queen’s love for all creatures.
Among the royals’ unusual family pets is a tortoise owned by Prince Edward, King Charles’s younger brother. The tortoise, surprisingly named Marmite, was revealed during a video call with the Orpheus Centre – one of Edward’s patronages.
When asked about his pets, Edward said, ” We do! We have two dogs and we’ve also got a tortoise who basically runs the house! “.
Prince William’s recent family dogs are well-known, but he also had a lesser-known childhood pet: a lop-eared bunny rabbit. This pampered pet lived in its own hutch at Highgrove, Charles’s Gloucestershire estate, and was shared between William and his younger brother, Prince Harry.
William and Harry weren’t the only Royal siblings to share a smaller pet. Prince George and Princess Charlotte once shared a hamster named Marvin.
Kate revealed during an engagement that Charlotte absolutely loved the tiny creature because “the whiskers always tickle her face.”
Another recent addition to the Royal pets came when Meghan and Harry, now residing in California, decided to keep chickens and even adopted a hen from their famous friend, Ellen Degeneres.
The Duke and Duchess’s pet hens were first introduced during their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. Their TV presenter friend shared on Instagram: “Sinkie’s leg is fixed but our chickens were still picking on her so she had to be re-homed. Luckily our friends Harry and Meghan’s coop had room for one more. Not sure yet what her royal title will be.”