Buddy the Bald Eagle Meets King Charles III

King Charles speaks to Wildlife Center staff and meets Buddy the Bald Eagle

April 30 was an exciting day for the Wildlife Center team, as we had the honor of being part of a special moment. The King and Queen of the United Kingdom recently made a state visit to the United States in late April, with stops at several locations along the East Coast. The final stop of the visit took place at Shenandoah National Park, where a group of invited guests—including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service—gathered to commemorate the 1916 signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty between the United States and Canada, originally signed by King George V, the great-grandfather of King Charles. The event also recognized the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.

The Wildlife Center—most notably, Buddy the Bald Eagle—was invited to participate in this historic event as a special guest of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

His Majesty had the opportunity to see Shenandoah National Park, learn about the region’s Appalachian culture, and meet members of the Monacan Indian Nation. During the visit, he was also introduced to Buddy, a Bald Eagle—part of the species that serves as the national bird of the United States.

Wildlife Center President Dr. Meg Gammage-Tucker briefly shared Buddy’s story and spoke about the work of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, including our ongoing efforts to care for Bald Eagles.

Ambassador Program Manager Haley handled Buddy during the event and said, “After working so hard with Buddy for the past year, it was a true honor to share his story and the work of the Wildlife Center with His Majesty, a true conservationist.”

Meg added, “Buddy was truly the star attraction, offering a powerful reminder of why he serves as such an effective ambassador for every aspect of our mission.”

We were deeply honored to be part of this special event, which was covered by a number of news outlets: 

The Royal Family Channel: