Hungry Rat Terrifies the Queen in Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace and the forecourt is seen in central London. Photo: Reuters
Buckingham Palace and the forecourt is seen in central London. Photo: Reuters
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Hungry Rat Terrifies the Queen in Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace and the forecourt is seen in central London. Photo: Reuters
Buckingham Palace and the forecourt is seen in central London. Photo: Reuters

A hungry rat spotted in one of Buckingham Palace's kitchens in London left the Queen Elizabeth II horrified.

The palace's staff has called in a pest control squad that shortly arrived to address the situation.

The British Pest Control Association admitted that the country witnesses an invasion or a new species of rodents with immunity against poison, which raised anger among Britons.

The proliferation of rats and mice has become a major problem hitting the ancient buildings of Britain such as the royal palace that dates back to 1703, the parliament, and other governmental edifices.

It is reported that officials have given staff, in particular kitchen workers, basic training such as shutting cupboard doors and sweeping away bits of food in order to stop the problem spreading.

The tiny animals developed a genetic mutation known as LG20, which renders many toxins useless.

A spokesperson for the British Pest Control Association admitted that the long-tailed rodents had grown increasingly immune to the poison.



The Himalayas Getting Harder to See Due to Severe Pollution

A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
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The Himalayas Getting Harder to See Due to Severe Pollution

A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

Navin Singh Khadka grew up in Nepal's capital watching the Himalayas. Ever since he left, he has missed sweeping, panoramic views of some of the highest mountain peaks on Earth.

“Each time I visit Kathmandu, I hope to catch a glimpse of the dramatic mountain range. But these days, there's usually no luck,” he told BBC, adding that the main culprit is severe air pollution that hangs as haze above the region.

“And it's happening even during the spring and autumn months, which once offered clear skies,” Singh Khadka said.

Just last April, the international flight he was in had to circle in the sky nearly 20 times before landing in Kathmandu, because of the hazy weather impacting visibility at the airport.

“The hotel I checked in at was at a reasonable height from which mountains are visible on a clear day – but there was no such day during my two-week stay,” he said.

Even from the major vantage point of Nagarkot, just outside Kathmandu, all that could be seen was haze, as if the mountains did not exist, he added.

Yogendra Shakya, who has been operating a hotel at Nagarkot since 1996, said, “I no longer brand the place for views of 'sunrise, sunset and Himalayas' as I did in the past.”

“Since you can't have those things mostly now because of the haze, I have rebranded it with history and culture as there are those tourism products as well here,” Shakya added.

During an earlier trip a year ago, Singh Khadka was hopeful he would be able to see the mighty Himalayan peaks on a trek in the mesmerizing Annapurna region – but had hardly any luck there either.

Scientists say hazy conditions in the region are becoming increasingly intense and lasting longer, reducing visibility significantly.

Haze is formed by a combination of pollutants like dust and smoke particles from fires, reducing visibility to less than 5,000 m. It remains stagnant in the sky during the dry season - which now lasts longer due to climate change.