Prince Charles Has First Visit To Circus

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28479, 8 January 1958, Page 9

Prince Charles Has First Visit To Circus

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. The elephants proved favourites for Prince Charles when he made his first visit to a circus yesterday with his parents and Princess Anne.

A giraffe took a liking to the Queen and licked her, while the Duke of Edinburgh offered the animal his wife’s handbag as a snack, reported the “Daily Mail” diarist.

Officials were too slow to stop Prince Charles from dodging behind a barrier and boldly strolling up to stroke the trunk of a twoton Indian elephant. “Wonderful.” whispered the young Prince as he stroked the massive trunk, and the Queen tyoked on apprehensively.

Others recoiled when the elephant trumpeted its thanks for sugar lumps, but Prince Charles stood firm and unflinching, said the diarist. He gave the elephant a hefty, affectionate pat between the eyes and repeated, “just wonderful.” Princess Anne was tickling a giraffe’s nose with a piece of straw. The Queen and Prince Philip went over to join her. The two-year-old giraffe licked the Queen’s outstretched hand. She withdrew it promptly. “He wants something to eat.” said Prince Philip, offering the giraffe the Queen’s handbag. After the show, which was at Olympia, the Royal Family through the vast fun fair which accompanied the circus.