The Royal Family and Lake Monsters

 

Royal Cryptozoologists.

 

As most people will know we have ben mourning the death of  Queen Elizabeth in the UK. It came to my mind about some articles I read over the years about the royal family and cryptozoology so I went in search of the same.

 

Queen Elizabeth was interested in Nessie as letters from the 1960s revealed.She  encouraged an investigation by Sir Peter Scott into the Loch  which is about 70 miles from the royal Scottish Balmoral estate.

Sir Peter, the son of Antarctic explorer Captain Scott, wrote to the Queen's assistant private secretary Martin Charteris revealing his proposals to track down Nessie in May 1960. 

According to the Independent, Mr Charteris replied to say the Queen was 'very interested'.

He wrote: 'Her Majesty has seen your letter and was very interested in its contents, and I hope that you will keep us in touch with the progress of your investigation.'

Sir Peter,a co-founder of the Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau also wanted to name Nessie after Elizabeth.  Martin Charteris, replied  that there would have to be “absolutely irrefutable evidence” that the Loch Ness Monster was real before it could be renamed after the then queen. In the letter, he wrote: “It would be most regrettable to connect Her Majesty in any way with something which ultimately turned out to be a hoax.“Even if the animal does prove to exist I am not at all sure that it will be generally very appropriate to name it after Her Majesty since it has for so many years been known as 'The Monster'."The private secretary also wrote  that it would be a “great day in the zoological world if it can be proved that a hitherto unknown animal exists.”

Sadly it was not discovered before the queen died aged 96 years old.

 

In the 1980’s ,the then Prince Charles ,now King Charles ,also showed an interest in Lake creatures.

The Daily Star newspaper reported: "Prince Charles has joined the great Scottish monster hunt. He has asked to see a film made last year that is said to 'prove conclusively' that there are monsters in some Scottish lochs. “

The film was  shot by monster-hunter Sidney Wignall who said : 'By the time he's finished watching it, the Prince will no longer be in any doubt that these creatures are real and not just a figment of people's imagination.”  The footage was not taken at Loch Ness, but at Loch Morar . It was claimed that Sidney, 59, shot the seven-minute cine film from a hang glider at Loch Morar in the Western Highlands. He claims it shows Morag, a relative of the Loch Ness Monster. 'Part of the film shows two creatures leaving wakes behind them in the otherwise still water.' he said. ‘Another part shows a 1,000 yard wake similar to a torpedo’s. But the most frightening bit shows a creature - or something - lying perfectly still at the side of the loch. Whenever I get to that bit, my hair stands on end - and I’m sure it will do the same to the Prince.'

Whether the then Prince saw the film was not reported. The film appears to have been lost and could not be found today. Even the royal family wants to believe!