The Balmoral estate’s ranger service is spending “too much time” dealing with a growing litter problem.
King Charles has declared war against litter louts on his Scottish estate (Image: Getty)
King Charles’s private Scottish estate has declared war against litter louts.
Balmoral, where the Royal Family are currently enjoying their summer break, has been continually plagued by litter louts over the years.
Now in a post by the estate’s ranger service it complains that “too much time” is spent dealing with the problem. As the number of visitors to the area has grown, additional staff have been employed to deal with the problem.
“A large proportion of the Rangers’ time is spent on routine maintenance such as maintaining footpaths, fences and bridges and unfortunately too much time is spent picking up litter,” it says on the estate’s website.
In 2021, the rangers also took to social media, to post a picture of a suitcase of empty beer cans left on Balmoral
LOST PROPERTY! If anyone has lost a suitcase full of empty beer cans near Loch Muick please can you get in touch with the #BalmoralRangerService to reclaim your luggage. Thank you.” they wrote.
Loch Muick is a favourite walk for the Royals. The late Queen even named one of her dogs after it and the family hold a picnic on the banks of the river each year.
In June, 2021, rangers on the estate also made an impassioned plea asking people not to become litter louts. They say they spend “several days” each week picking up the garbage.
And, a few months earlier the estate blasted those littering Balmoral with bags of dog poo. The estate posted a picture of some of the waste and simply wrote:”Why do people do this?”
It added: “This was all cleared away this morning plus another 20+ bags as well.”
Princes William and Harry have also recounted how their father used to make them pick up litter with “spikes” while holidaying on the estate.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are currently residing in a cottage on the Balmoral estate known as Tam-Na-Ghar, which was gifted to William by his late great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are staying in their private cottage, Birkhall, while other members of the Royal Family have joined them on the estate.