King Charles’s home hit by rat infestation days before enormous event | Royal | News

The vast 20,000-acre Norfolk estate, where the monarch traditionally spends Christmas, is home to around 500 residents living in around 300 rental properties. According to reports, many of these houses have been affected by the growing vermin problem.

The issue was reportedly discussed at a recent district council meeting after a local tenant raised concerns about the number of rats on the property. Property manager Rob Timmins, who attended the meeting, is said to have told residents it was their responsibility to deal with pests on their property, not the homeowner.

The reported infestation has raised concerns beyond the homes on the property; Complaints focused on the effects of rats on surrounding farmland and local food sources. The abundance of crops in nearby fields is believed to have attracted both rats and mice to the area.

Despite concerns raised during the meeting, the estate reportedly maintained that no formal complaints had been made.

The timing of the reports is particularly odd as Sandringham prepares to welcome thousands of visitors for the annual Sandringham Flower Show, one of Norfolk’s biggest horticultural events. The popular summer show attracts attendees, gardeners and members of the public to the royal mansion every year.

A potential solution is reportedly off the table. The late Queen Elizabeth II Cats are not allowed to live on the property, a rule introduced by Elizabeth.

The monarch is believed to have banned cats from Sandringham to protect local wildlife, particularly game birds, and it has also been reported that he is allergic to them.

The latest pest problem is not the first to affect the royal property this year. In early 2026, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s home at Marsh Farm near Sandringham was reportedly infested with moles, leaving the grounds covered in molehills.

A specialist pest control company was later seen visiting the property after digging up the grass and underground root systems damaged by the animals.

As the Sandringham Flower Show approaches, attention will now turn to whether the reported mouse problem can be brought under control before crowds descend on the King’s Norfolk estate.