Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had the brightest Tuesday, by visiting Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to open their new care centre for elephants.
The royal couple were there to meet the facility’s nine Asian elephants, including their newest member, young Elizabeth, who was born just one day before the Queen’s 90th birthday and named after her.
Just like us, the royal was going bananas over the incredibly cute 10-month-old.
David Field the zoological director at the Zoological Society of London revealed, “She was absolutely delighted and went ‘Oh really?’ when we told her the elephant calf was named after her.”
Reigning feed time!
Elizabeth meet Elizabeth.
Her Majesty is a patron of the zoo and happily chatted to the team of vets who tend to the animals.
The 90-year-old and her husband helped out with their daily tasks including feeding the majestic creatures bananas.
The royal couple fed seven-year-old Donna, who very boldly stole a piece of fruit straight from Queen Elizabeth’s hand.
Meanwhile, Philip, 95, showcased his trademark humour.
Laughing at the sight of assistant curator of elephants Lee Sambrook donning shorts, he joked, “You must think you’re in Africa!”
Phil seems to be enjoying his time with Donna.
“The elephants look very happy in there,” the Queen observed.
“It’s a rather nice change for them, I suppose,” adding they reminded her of bringing up her own horses.
One of the zookeepers joked that the elephants make quite a mess, and without missing a beat she quipped, “Yes, they do don’t they? They are quite destructive.”
Proving that they’re hardest working royals, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth then stopped by an independent living scheme for older residents, Priory View located in Dunstable.
The couple met with residents, who happily showed them around the accommodation.
Her Majesty was gifted a beautiful posy of flowers from four-year-old schoolboy Arthur.
