King Charles Has an Unexpected Bumper Sticker on His Car — and It Says Everything About Him
A former royal butler has revealed the unexpected bumper sticker on King Charles' Jaguar and the special meaning behind it.
King Charles has spent decades championing environmental causes, but few royal fans know that his passion for wildlife extends all the way to his personal car. Through various activities, he has always shown his support and has even actively been a part of conservation projects. However, the King took a step further by putting an unexpected bumper sticker on this car, proving his undying love for nature.
While Charles is often seen arriving at royal engagements in an official chauffeur-driven vehicle, he also enjoys getting behind the wheel himself from time to time. And according to former royal butler Grant Harrold, one of his personal cars carries a rather fitting bumper sticker that reflects the cause he stood on for years. Harrold was with the King from 2004 to 2011 at Highgrove House.
Harrold told Select Car Leasing (via Marie Claire) that Charles' love for wildlife even makes its way onto his cars. Recalling the King's vehicle collection, he revealed that one of his Jaguars has a large "Save the Red Squirrel" sticker displayed on the back. It is hardly surprising that Charles would choose that particular message. He has been supporting efforts to protect red squirrels for years and has been associated with the Red Squirrel Survival Trust since 2009.
The King previously revealed that red squirrels are welcome visitors around his Scottish home. In a letter he wrote to the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, “As you will all know so well, these charming and intelligent creatures never fail to delight. I take enormous pleasure in having them around – and in! – the house when I am at home in Scotland.” He added that “they have even been known to hunt down a few of their favourite nuts left out in an unguarded jacket pocket!”
The bumper sticker is not just a random choice, either. Earlier this year, conservationists warned that red squirrel populations in England are still struggling, with shrinking habitats and competition from gray squirrels remaining major concerns. One of the biggest problems for red squirrels is that gray squirrels carry a virus that does not affect them but can be deadly for their red counterparts. Because of this, red squirrel numbers have fallen dramatically over the years, with estimates putting the population at around 140,000 compared to more than 3 million gray squirrels.
The situation has become such a concern that Charles has reportedly backed efforts to reduce gray squirrel numbers. There has been some good news in Scotland, where numbers have grown in recent years, but wildlife experts say ongoing conservation work is still essential if the native species is to thrive in the long run.
