Home

King Charles awards royal title to Guernsey goat Tam Tam in honour of the rare breed being saved from nazis

Daily Mail
CommentsComments
King Charles and Queen Camilla meet with goat Somerville Tamsin, affectionately known as Tam Tam.
Camera IconKing Charles and Queen Camilla meet with goat Somerville Tamsin, affectionately known as Tam Tam. Credit: Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images

He has handed out honours to many from all walks of life.

And yesterday the King granted a special title to yet another — a rare breed of goat.

His Majesty conferred the honour to Summerville Tamsin, an eight-year-old golden Guernsey goat known as Tam Tam.

From now on, her breed will have royal status.

It is the first time in recent history that the protected title has been granted to a livestock breed.

The goats were nearly made extinct in World War II when the nazi occupiers of the island hunted down most of them.

King Charles and Queen Camilla with Tam Tam and Rebecca Martin and her son Joe.
Camera IconKing Charles and Queen Camilla with Tam Tam and Rebecca Martin and her son Joe. Credit: Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images

A local woman, Miriam Milbourn, hid a small herd indoors for years to protect them.

She then began a breeding program in the 1950s.

There are believed to be only 1350 royal golden Guernsey goats left in the world.

Yesterday Charles, 75, put a bell around Tam Tam’s neck with the help of nine-year-old schoolboy Joe Martin, whose mother Rebecca owns the animal.

The boy said that he washed the goat’s hair using Head and Shoulders conditioner.

During the visit to Guernsey, Camilla — who was seen wearing a blue silk crepe dress by Fiona Clare — sported a bandage on her right ankle.

Aides said that she had suffered a “slight ankle sprain” while on neighbouring Jersey.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails