Here's a story that will make you smile and maybe even scratch your head a little. Prince Charles, known for his deep commitment to environmental preservation, has taken his love for nature to a whole new level. In a recent revelation, his eldest son, Prince William, shared an amusing quirk about his dad: Charles names the red squirrels that live near his Scottish estate and lets them freely roam inside his home. Yes, you read that right!
Prince William, now 36, opened up about his father’s unique hobby in an interview with Country Life, a UK magazine that Charles guest-edited to celebrate his 70th birthday. It turns out this isn't just a casual interest. Charles, a proud grandfather of three (and soon to be four), has been actively working to protect these rare squirrels. Their population in the UK has drastically dropped from 3.5 million to just 250,000 during his lifetime. The prince's dedication to conservation shows just how much he cares about preserving the natural world for future generations.
Charles’ Deep Connection with Nature
Prince William revealed just how much his father adores these red squirrels. “He’s completely smitten with the red squirrels that live around the Birkhall estate in Scotland,” William said. “To the point where he’s not only naming them but also inviting them into the house!”
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Charles’ Personal Touch with the Squirrels
Prince Charles didn’t stop at naming them. According to the magazine, he takes it a step further by feeding these charming creatures. "They come into the house at Birkhall, and we often see them chasing each other around inside," Charles explained. "When I sit quietly, they will circle around me. Sometimes, if I leave my jackets on a chair with nuts in the pockets, I find them with their tails sticking out as they hunt for the nuts — they truly are remarkable creatures."
A Lifelong Dedication to the Environment
Prince Charles has been a staunch advocate for environmental conservation for as long as anyone can remember. His son, Prince Harry, acknowledged this commitment during a speech at the Australian Geographic Society Awards in Sydney on October 26. Harry praised his father for consistently raising awareness on critical environmental issues. The Duke’s words mirrored past speeches by Charles that remain relevant decades later.
Harry, now 34, said, “My father and others have been speaking about the environment for decades — not basing it on fallacy or new-age hypothesis, but rooted in science and facts, with a sobering awareness of our environmental vulnerability.” He added, “And while those speeches would sometimes fall on deaf ears, he and others were relentless in their commitment to preserving the most valuable resource we have — our planet.”
