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Queen Camilla reveals 'terrible' ongoing battle at her private home with King Charles


Queen Camilla interrupted her summer break to attend the Ebor Festival in York on Wednesday, where she revealed a ‘terrible’ ongoing battle with wasps at Sandringham.


Britain's Queen Camilla tours the rooms during a visit to the cottage in Thornton where the Bronte children were born during a visit to Bradford to celebrate the city's year as UK City of Culture on May 15, 2025 in Bradford, England.© Getty Images
August 22, 2025
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The Queen has spoken of a battle being waged against uninvited summer guests at Sandringham - swarms of wasps. 

Camilla said the infestation at King Charles’s Norfolk estate had become a “terrible” nuisance, with pest control experts called in and signs warning tourists of high wasp activity in the area. 

Queen Camilla is presented with a jar of honey by Harry and Seline Silk from Knavesmire Nectar© Getty Images
Queen Camilla is presented with a jar of honey by Harry and Seline Silk from Knavesmire Nectar

She mentioned the problem during a visit to the second day of the Ebor Festival of horse-racing in York. 

Camilla met Harry and Seline Silk, of Knavesmire Nectar, revealing that her own bees at her private home in Wiltshire have been giving her trouble because of the way they are swarming. 

WATCH: King Charles and Queen Camilla greet crowd at Sandringham Flower Show

At York racecourse, she was greeted by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Chris Legard; the chairman of York Race Committee, Mrs Bridget Guerin, and the Chief Executive of York Racecourse, Mr William Derby, along with other dignitaries. 

Camilla, who has been enjoying the peace and quiet of Bamoral during the Royal Family’s traditional summer break there, opted for a pale blue belted coat, a white patterned dress, beige heels and a fitting Fedora-style hat for the occasion. 

Sandringham's wasp infestation

On 18 August, the King issued a warning to visitors of Sandringham, his royal residence in Norfolk, due to an ongoing wasp infestation on the grounds. "Please be aware that wasp activity is currently high in this area. Thank you," a notice attached to a set of bins on the site read. 

A beekeeper, who presumably will manage Sandringham's wasp population, was also photographed on the land in a full sting-proof suit. 

Sandringham House© Getty
Sandringham is currently plagued with a wasp infestation

Camilla's love of beekeeping

Camilla is a keen apiarist, with Her Majesty producing her very own honey at her Wiltshire home, Ray Mill House, which is then sold at Fortnum & Mason to raise money for charity. 

woman shaking hands with someone dressed in bee costume© Getty Images
Camilla is also a keen apiarist

The King also has a love for beekeeping. Charles's private residence, Highgrove House, is home to a wildflower meadow teeming with 120 different plant species and 30 beehives. 

His bees produce a 'Royal Garden Honey' that can be purchased from the Highgrove Gardens website. The monarch also has treasured beehives at Clarence House and Buckingham Palace. According to The Independent, each hive contains an estimated 20,000 bees.

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