King Charles and Queen Camilla perform health check on penguin during special visit to London Zoo

From Gb News

King Charles and Queen Camilla visited London Zoo on Thursday to mark the bicentenary of the Zoological Society of London, braving sweltering conditions as they toured the Regent's Park attraction. The royal couple arrived at the Camden site under blazing sunshine, with the Queen shielding herself beneath a cream parasol whilst wearing a white Fiona Clare dress featuring wildlife motifs including elephants and deer. The King opted for a blue suit paired with an animal-themed tie and sunglasses for the occasion. This marked Charles's first official tour of the zoo since becoming patron of the ZSL, though his connection to the institution stretches back decades. He first visited as a one-year-old to see Brumas, a newborn polar bear cub. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The highlight of the visit came when the royal pair assisted zoo veterinarian Stefan Saverimuttu in examining a Humboldt penguin called Lannister. As dozens of the two-foot-tall birds gathered near their enclosure to greet the visitors, Charles crouched down with a red stethoscope to listen to Lannister's heartbeat while the penguin sat calmly on a rock. Camilla joined in using a blue stethoscope. "Lannister sounded perfect and Lannister was very well behaved for the King and the Queen," Mr Saverimuttu said. The vet praised both royals for their enthusiasm, noting that despite penguins having "a bit of a beak on them," neither Charles nor Camilla appeared intimidated. "They're very endearing," the King remarked about the birds. The royal couple also spent time with Polly, a 31-year-old Galápagos tortoise who was presented with a watermelon adorned with the number 200 and flowers to mark the anniversary celebration. Camilla used metal tongs to offer greenery to the giant reptile, while Charles attempted to hand-feed her some leaves directly. However, Polly showed little interest in the King's offering, prompting him to quip to her keeper about whether the tortoise might be on a "diet." The laser pointers used during the penguin exercise work by mimicking the glittering appearance of fish scales, which naturally attracts the birds and encourages them to swim and dive, allowing veterinary staff to observe their movements for any signs of concern. In the zoo's Tiny Giants area, Charles learned about ZSL's efforts to save Partula tree snails from extinction following their decimation by an invasive carnivorous snail species. When offered the chance to paint tracking marks on the endangered creatures, the King responded with amusement. "I've painted a few things in my time but never a snail," he laughed. Using a small brush, Charles applied purple paint dots to two snail shells, which will enable researchers to monitor them after their release into the wild in French Polynesia. "So this is special snail varnish is it?" he joked. The royals also heard about a new wildlife centre being established to mark the bicentenary, which will research animal diseases, train veterinarians, and support global conservation efforts. Every monarch since 1828 has served as ZSL patron. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter