Unusual Pets

The Royal Family have often been given unusual animals as presents, especially in previous generations.

So if you are considering gifts for the family that have everything remember this. The Duke of Edinburgh has already been given two hippopotami (by President Tubman of Liberia in 1961). Princess Anne received a brown Syrian bear called Nikki by the Soviet leaders Bulganin and Khruschev in 1956. And a baby crocodile called Mansa was given to Prince Andrew following the Queen's State Visit to The Gambia in 1961.

Do you get the feeling there's a reason people buy the Royals rather agressive, dangerous animals instead of a nice fluffy kittens?

More recently the Queen was presented with an elephant called Jumbo by the President of Cameroon, as well as an array of other animals including tortoises, beavers, oncas and sloths. They were given to mark her Silver Wedding Anniversary.

All these exotic animals have found homes in various zoos and animal parks and the Queen now rarely chooses to accept animals as gifts.