Prince Charles (File photo)
London:
Prince Charles had a close encounter with an eagle when the bird, a military mascot, nearly clipped the royal heir with its massive wings.
Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, were guests of honour at the Sandringham Flower Show in Norfolk when the flap occurred. Four-year-old Zephyr is the mascot of Army Air Corps.
As Charles and Camilla met with the bald eagle, the giant bird appeared to try to get away.
Charles quickly leaned his upper body back and away from the eagle's wings. In the past the 66-year-old prince was forced to dodge its wings as he handled the bird.
Zephyr chose to display the same behaviour this year. The prince said: "That's why I'm not holding her. I've learnt from experience."
He added: "I'm keeping well back." When asked whether he would care to give Zephyr a stroke, Charles chuckled cagily and remarked: "You must be joking. "She would probably take off with me!," he added.
Charles is the patron of the Sandringham Flower Show, held at the Queen's Norfolk Estate.
The show is one of the most prestigious horticultural events in the East of England, attracting thousands of entrants and visitors and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.
Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, were guests of honour at the Sandringham Flower Show in Norfolk when the flap occurred. Four-year-old Zephyr is the mascot of Army Air Corps.
As Charles and Camilla met with the bald eagle, the giant bird appeared to try to get away.
Charles quickly leaned his upper body back and away from the eagle's wings. In the past the 66-year-old prince was forced to dodge its wings as he handled the bird.
Zephyr chose to display the same behaviour this year. The prince said: "That's why I'm not holding her. I've learnt from experience."
He added: "I'm keeping well back." When asked whether he would care to give Zephyr a stroke, Charles chuckled cagily and remarked: "You must be joking. "She would probably take off with me!," he added.
Charles is the patron of the Sandringham Flower Show, held at the Queen's Norfolk Estate.
The show is one of the most prestigious horticultural events in the East of England, attracting thousands of entrants and visitors and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.
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