A close encounter with a bee has startled the royal duo during the southern leg of their New Zealand tour.
Whilst holding a tuatara at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin, Charles had a bee fly into his double-breasted jacket. In front of a dozen journalists, the prince yelped in fright and attempted to dislodge the buzzy intruder, all the while keeping the tuatara safe in his hands. Beside him, Camilla did her best to keep the bee out of her bonnet, ready to leap out of the way if it made a beeline for her.
After a few nail-biting seconds, the bumble bee flew away to cheers and laughter from onlookers. The royals looked clearly relieved to miss out on a painful stinging, laughing off the encounter in good spirits.
Elton Smith, the sanctuary’s conservation manager, joked about the fright of the bumble bee, saying: “That’s a good sign of a healthy eco-system.”
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