King Charles Bestows Royal Title On A Goat: Royal Golden Guernsey Goat

King Charles III has given a royal title to an unexpected recipient: the Golden Guernsey goat.

The British monarch bestowed the special title of Royal Golden Guernsey Goat on the rare breed of dairy goat during his and Queen Camilla's visit to the island of Guernsey in the English Channel Tuesday, the Mirror U.K. reported.

According to Daily Mail royal reporter Rebecca English, this was "the first time in recent history that the protected title has been granted to a livestock."

The title applies to the golden goat breed -- whose features include golden skin and brown hair -- anywhere in the world.

During their tour of Les Cotils, King Charles, who is patron of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, met and petted Summerville Tamsin, the 8-year-old Golden Guernsey goat chosen to represent the breed.

A 9-year-old local named Joe Martin, whose family owns the animal affectionately called "Tam Tam," helped the King place an engraved brass bell around the goat's neck during the ceremony.

Rebecca Martin, the boy's mother, said she was "thrilled" that the rare goat breed got the royal title.

"It will give a much higher recognition of the breed and will hopefully safeguard their future," she was quoted as saying by the Mirror.

Considered at risk on the Rare Breeds Watchlist, the Golden Guernsey has been known on the island for around 200 years.

They were thought to have gone extinct at one point until they were rediscovered by a local woman named Miriam Milbourne 100 years ago.

Milbourne ensured their survival by hiding the goats during the Nazi occupation of the island and launching a feeding program.

King Charles gave some words of encouragement to families like the Martins who are keeping and taking care of Golden Guernseys.

"You've got to keep it all going. I hear there is interest on the mainland too which is wonderful," the monarch said following Tuesday's ceremony.

The visit to Guernsey was part of King Charles and Queen Camilla's two-day trip to the Channel Islands.

In addition to seeing rare Golden Guernsey Goats, the royals went on a tour of local culture and heritage at Crown Pier, where the King sampled a beer.

King Charles also received a kiss on the cheek from a 91-year-old well-wisher as he and Queen Camilla greeted locals on Guernsey.

In a clip posted by the BBC on X, formerly Twitter, the elderly woman, Kathleen Moriarty, revealed that King Charles gave her his cheek when she asked to give him a kiss.

"I just did it! I didn't plan it, and I enjoyed it. He's lovely. It was very nice. I am pleased," she said. "I thought if all these young dolly birds can do it, this old lady can!"

Tags

King Charles, King Charles III, Queen Camilla