Royal feathers in a fluster as queen's pigeon flies off

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2005

LONDON (AFP) — A racing pigeon belonging to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has gone missing ahead of a big race, a spokesman said.

Pigeon-fanciers feared the young bird may be flocking about with common pigeons or worse, have been eaten by a sparrowhawk.

The bird was bred at Sandringham, the queen's private estate in eastern England, where the British royal family traditionally spends Christmas.

Peter Bryant, general manager of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, said the bird had ruffled feathers by disappearing for more than a month.

"It might have got disorientated -- pigeon racing is all about the ability to home and that's down to breeding. It might have got distracted and be in someone else's loft," he said.

"They can have accidents...