Queen Elizabeth shock: Balmoral staff forced to confront unwanted guests 'can't get rid!'

Royal commentator Adam Helliker told The Sun that servants are struggling to deal with a colony of pipistrelle bats that nest in the rafters. The Queen points them out to staff in the Aberdeenshire Castle so they can catch them with nets. Mr Heliker said: “When I checked last summer there were bats still there.

The bats are believed to have been in Balmoral for three decades.

The royal expert explained: “She used to do the net wielding but she doesn’t do it now.

“Now I’m told the Queen shouts encouragement but observes the proceedings.

“It’s more of a show put on for her by staff.

“That’s just one of the things they do at Balmoral to stop them getting bored stiff.”

He evens claimed that after horses and corgis, bats were the third favourite animal of the monarch.

The Queen travels to Balmoral every July and remains on the estate until around October.

Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert purchased the estate and original castle in 1852.

The 50,000-acre site is the private property of the royal family and is not part of the Crown Estate.

In 1887, the castle saw the brith of Victoria’s granddaughter Victoria Eugenie to Princess Beatrice, and Victoria Eugenie would go onto become Queen of Spain.

Victoria also hosted a visit from Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra on the estate.

Royal visits were temporarily ceased during the Second World War.