King Charles ‘livid' as Sandringham is running out of pheasants to shoot and faces calling off annual Boxing Day shoot
THE King has come out all guns blazing — because his royal estate is running out of pheasants to shoot.
Charles, 76, was said to be livid over a series of blunders that left the game bird numbers dwindling at Sandringham.
5
King Charles is said to be livid over a series of blunders at the Sandringham estate
Credit: Getty
5
The estate is running out of pheasants and the annual Boxing Day shoot may have to be cancelled
Credit: Alamy
He even faces calling off his annual
Boxing
Day shoot — and a long-serving gamekeeper at the Norfolk estate has been given the boot.
A source said: 'It was a total cock-up. No
birds
, no bang, just red faces.
"The King wasn't having it.'
READ MORE ON KING CHARLES
The King, who backs traditional countryside practices, has been reluctant to release birds from breeders to get numbers up.
But maintaining a more eco-friendly wild shoot has proved challenging, leaving pheasant numbers in decline.
There are now fears royals will be left twiddling their trigger fingers on Boxing Day as the annual shoot — a firm family favourite — is in doubt.
The occasion is seen as a rare chance for family bonding, despite protests from animal rights campaigners who particularly dislike children taking part.
Most read in Royals
The ousted keeper, who ran the estate's game for years, has been shown the door.
Our source said: 'Let's just say he's well and truly plucked off.'
King Charles lands in Canada for landmark state visit
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
5
A long-serving gamekeeper at the Norfolk estate has been given the boot
Credit: Alamy
5
The annual Boxing Day shoot is a favourite with the Royals and a chance for family bonding
Credit: Alban Donohoe Picture Service
5
The King has been reluctant to release birds from breeders to get numbers up
Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
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