The Royal Family is well-known for their love of animals. But the royal’s interest in pigeons and racing? Yes, there is royal love for all creatures great and small, and the sport of pigeon racing is part of it.
King George VI and family with Mr J Walter Jones at the Royal Lofts in 1937.
The Queen is now investing in a new pigeon loft on her Sandringham estate. The rotting pigeon loft is in need of a replacement as it’s decaying beams, and inadequate flooring cannot be refurbished.
The new structure will measure 75ft by 12ft and is approved by West Norfolk Council.
“The new loft will provide the estate with a modern, well-ventilated, easy-to-clean and spacious environment for both the loft manager and pigeons,” reports a planning officer.
Today Her Majesty is Patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association and continues her interest in the birds with stops at the Royal Loft at Sandringham. Winning every single major UK race, Her Majesty is one of the most successful owners and breeders of racing pigeons in the United Kingdom.
In 1886, King Leopold II of Belgium bestowed a gift of racing pigeons to the Royal Family, a proper racing loft was then built on the Sandringham Estate. The Royal Lofts as they would be known would house pigeons that won a good number of prestigious races for both King Edward VII and King George V.
During the World War, I and World War II, pigeons from the Royal Loft acted as carrier pigeons to assist in the war effort. In 1940, one of the pigeons ‘Royal Blue’ won the Dickin Medal for Gallantry for its part in relaying information about a lost aircraft.
During World War II and subsequently after, The Dickin Medal was conferred on any animal exhibiting outstanding bravery and loyalty to duty. There were 53 Dickin Medals awarded with 32 of the awards given to pigeons. Mrs Maria Dickin, the founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, began the awarded known as the ‘Animal Victoria Cross’ or ‘Animal VC.’
After World War II, the pigeons went back to racing, continuing their winning records in both national and international events.
Her Majesty owns around 200 of the birds. Some are for breeding purposes but most for racing.
The Queen with former Royal Lofts Manager, Carlo Napolitano.
In recent years, Her Majesty donated a baby pigeon from the Royal Lofts to raise funds for the Animals in War Memorial Fund. The funds goal is to build a monument honouring animals that lost their lives in First and Second World War. The monument will feature a soldier along a dog and horse releasing a pigeon. All three animals played a substantial role in both wars.
Pigeon racing season begins in April running until September. Royal birds enter weekly club races as well as the notable national races. The Queen’s pigeons sport a unique leg ring with Her Majesty’s cipher and royal crests embellished on their travelling boxes.
Photo Credit: Special Thanks to The Royal Pigeon Racing Association @official_rpra
