King Charles Welcomed at Balmoral by the Same Mischievous Pony Who Once Mortified Queen Elizabeth
King Charles began his Balmoral summer with a familiar face as a notorious pony brought back memories of Queen Elizabeth’s funny encounters.
King Charles’s summer escape to Balmoral Castle has begun, and the monarch was officially welcomed at his Scottish residence on August 18. The Royal Regiment of Scotland’s Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, welcomed the King along with the locals. However, there was a particularly charming greeter waiting for him as well: a Shetland pony named Corporal Cruachan IV.
As part of his annual Balmoral arrival, Charles followed tradition by carrying out a formal inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, and the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment’s pipe band also joined the ceremony, and the pony was at its best behavior during the meeting.
However, things didn't always go smoothly when Cruachan came face-to-face with members of the Royal Family. The mischievous pony is notorious for his past encounters with the late Queen Elizabeth, a well-known lover of horses, and had a habit of getting into trouble whenever he crossed paths with the late monarch.
Cruachan had already given Queen Elizabeth a few unforgettable moments. During a 2017 visit to Stirling Castle, he tried to nibble the flowers she was carrying. The pony was even more memorable the next year at Balmoral, when he relieved himself during the official welcome, leaving the Queen covering her nose with her hand. His antics had clearly become familiar to her by then; when she crossed paths with the mascot again, she jokingly remarked (via PEOPLE), "Here we are again."
It is well-known that Balmoral held a special place in the late Queen’s heart. The Aberdeenshire estate sits along the River Dee and was where she would typically spend much of her summer. She would head to Scotland in late July and stay through October, with various members of the Royal Family visiting her during that time. It was also where she spent her final days before passing away at the estate on September 8, 2022.
Balmoral’s tradition as a royal summer retreat has continued with the next generation as well. Charles and Camilla now make the trip in late summer, while Prince William and Kate Middleton usually visit with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, alongside other members of the Royal Family.
