King Charles Faces Another Challenge at Gloucestershire Home as Panther-Like Beast Stalks the Area
King Charles cannot seem to catch a break from the myriad of challenges emerging at his beloved royal estates. From wasp infestations to unexpected weather threats and now a panther scare, his staff are always on their toes with preventative measures to curtail such ordeals. On 18 August, reports surfaced of a black panther prowling the perimeters of Charles’s Gloucestershire home, Highgrove House. The resurfacing of such a scary animal is bad news for the monarch, as the beast could scare guests or ruin their flawless gardens.
An eyewitness claimed to have spotted the panther-like beast in Tetbury, where Highgrove House is located. According to a report by Gloucestershire Live, a dog walker with three dogs was startled when the feline attempted to kill a fox. The walker’s dogs managed to chase the panther away, forcing it to abandon its prey. Since the Victorian era, exotic big cats have been imported to the UK for private collections, and many theorize that the creatures now roaming the countryside are descendants of those that escaped captivity. The latest sighting is no good news for Charles, who is preparing to host US President Donald Trump in September. Meanwhile, the gardens at Highgrove remain open to the public until October.
Highgrove welcomes around 30,000 visitors each year, so the presence of a prowling panther poses the risk of frightening guests and damaging the estate’s immaculate gardens. The King is already grappling with a fresh wave of controversy related to Highgrove, after a Sunday Times report in July revealed that 11 of the estate’s 12 full-time gardeners had resigned amid claims of a toxic workplace. According to the report, staff complained of poor conditions, including pay close to minimum wage, and said Charles's alleged micromanaging often led to reported rounds of feedback on horticulture and planting, leaving them overwhelmed.
On the same day the alleged panther sighting at Highgrove surfaced, another of Charles’s private estates, Sandringham in Norfolk, experienced an unexpected surge in wasp activity, prompting the King to issue a safety warning for guests. As reported by The Sun, a notice outside the estate cautioned, "Please be aware that wasp activity is currently high in this area." To reduce the risk from the insects, rubbish bins and dumpsters have been sealed or draped with cloth to deter swarms, while plastic wasp traps have been installed to capture the insects before relocating them elsewhere. Last month, the estate reportedly called in pest control to remove three wasp nests discovered at the Royal Stud.
Charles has also previously urged visitors to stay safe after unexpected challenges have affected his beloved private residences. As per PEOPLE, on August 4, Balmoral Castle shared a message on the monarch’s behalf via Instagram, which read, "Balmoral will be closed to the public today, Monday 4 August, due to Storm Floris. Please do not travel to the Estate. We will be issuing refunds for tickets to visit today. Stay safe, everyone." The King is currently enjoying his annual summer holiday in Balmoral with his family.