Prince William Claims Dad is Obsessed with Squirrels and Lets Them Roam the House

King Charles may live like royalty, but behind the doors of his Scottish residence, some rather unusual guests have been given the freedom to come and go as they please.

And according to his eldest son, Prince William, the king’s affection for these unexpected visitors has reached the point where he has even started giving them names.

As Charles prepares to celebrate his 78th birthday on November 14, a charming revelation about his private life is drawing renewed attention, offering a glimpse of a surprisingly eccentric side of the British monarch.

The visitors in question? Red squirrels.

William revealed his father’s unusual fascination in a 2018 interview with Country Life magazine, explaining that Charles had developed a special attachment to the endangered animals living around his Birkhall residence on Scotland’s Balmoral estate.

“He is completely infatuated by the red squirrels,” William said, revealing that his father had named the animals and welcomed them into his home.

And Charles himself has admitted that the little creatures have practically made themselves at home.

In the same magazine, the then-Prince of Wales described watching squirrels race through the rooms of Birkhall, sometimes chasing one another while he sat quietly nearby.

But perhaps the most amusing detail involved the king’s clothing.

Charles revealed that squirrels occasionally rummaged through jackets he had left on chairs, searching for nuts tucked inside the pockets. He recalled spotting their bushy tails sticking out as they hunted for treats.

Rather than being bothered by the furry intruders, Charles appeared delighted by their antics, describing them as “incredibly special creatures.”

Although the arrangement might seem strange for a king, his affection for red squirrels is part of a lifelong commitment to protecting wildlife.

The animals were once widespread throughout Britain, but their numbers have fallen dramatically. According to the UK Squirrel Accord, the country’s red squirrel population has declined from approximately 3.5 million to an estimated 287,000.

The introduction of North American gray squirrels contributed to that decline, with the larger animals competing for food and habitat while also spreading a disease that can be deadly to their red counterparts.

Charles has long supported efforts to protect the species, including serving as patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust.

For William, however, his father’s fascination with wildlife is about more than a few squirrels running through the house.

The Prince of Wales has credited Charles with teaching him to appreciate nature from an early age, particularly during family visits to Balmoral, where they explored Scotland’s rivers, trees and hills.

William has also said he hopes to pass that same appreciation for the natural world to his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

That interest has shaped William’s own conservation efforts, including his involvement with United for Wildlife, an initiative launched in 2013 to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

Still, it is the image of Britain’s monarch quietly sitting in his Scottish home while squirrels chase each other around the furniture that offers one of the more unexpected glimpses into royal life.

And judging by Charles’ own account, the animals have enjoyed a level of freedom that few visitors to a royal residence could ever expect.