King Charles Reunites With the Royal Family’s Famously Cheeky Shetland Pony at Balmoral

King Charles has officially begun his annual summer break in the Scottish Highlands, but his arrival at Balmoral Castle came with a familiar and slightly mischievous welcome.

After a busy month of engagements across Scotland, the King arrived at the royal residence on Tuesday. Before making his way through the gates, however, he encountered Corporal Cruachan IV, the 17-year-old Shetland pony who serves as mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland — and has developed a reputation for testing royal reflexes.

During Charles’s inspection of the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, the pair came face-to-face again, a year after their previous meeting at Balmoral.

Cruachan tries his luck with King Charles

Wearing a traditional kilt, Charles was photographed gently stroking Cruachan’s nose as the pony initially appeared to be on his best behaviour.

Video footage captured a slightly different moment.

In a clip shared by the BBC, Cruachan briefly broke his composure and appeared to try to bite the King’s hand. Charles reacted quickly, pulling his hand away before the pony could nip him.

The encounter added another chapter to Cruachan’s long history of memorable meetings with members of the Royal Family.

And Charles is far from the first royal to discover the mascot’s mischievous side.

Queen Elizabeth once told the pony to “go away”

The late Queen Elizabeth II encountered Cruachan on numerous occasions, including one particularly memorable meeting at Stirling Castle on July 5, 2017.

During the visit, Cruachan became interested in the bouquet the Queen was carrying and attempted to nibble the flowers.

Elizabeth immediately moved the bouquet behind her back and told the pony to “go away.”

“He always eats the flowers,” she was heard remarking in footage later shared by the Royal Family.

Cruachan’s own X account subsequently offered a playful interpretation of the encounter, saying he simply loved that the Queen “always brings me a treat.”

The Queen met the mascot again the following year when arriving at Balmoral for her summer break. Cruachan would go on to welcome her to the Scottish residence on several occasions, including another reunion at Balmoral in 2021.

Prince Harry also had a close encounter

Cruachan’s habit of attempting to nibble members of the Royal Family has extended to the younger generation as well.

In February 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan visited Edinburgh Castle, where they met Cruachan and Pony Major Mark Wilkinson during a walkabout on the esplanade.

As Harry held his hand close to the pony’s head, Cruachan attempted to nibble his fingers.

“Hey!” Harry exclaimed as he quickly reacted to the mascot’s unexpected move.

Years later, it was Charles who found himself having a similar experience.

Charles begins his Balmoral summer break

The encounter came as the King arrived at Balmoral following a series of engagements in Scotland.

The Highland residence has long served as the Royal Family’s summer retreat and is a place Charles has described as “uniquely special.”

His arrival marks the beginning of his annual period away from the regular royal schedule, continuing a longstanding family tradition closely associated with Balmoral.

Before the King could settle into his summer break, however, Corporal Cruachan IV ensured his welcome included one of the playful encounters for which the Shetland pony has become known.

This time, Charles managed to move his hand away before Cruachan could add another successful royal nibble to his record.