Report from Chris Smith
Cat Beast Purr-suess Princess
From the News of the World, September 8 th, 1996
A shocked cousin of the Queen has come face-to-face with the Beast of Balmoral, a huge, wild cat terrorising sheep on the royal estate. Princess Olga Romanoff, great niece of murdered Russian Tsar Nicholas II, said: "I was amazed. I am convinced there is a panther on the loose."
The Princess says the cat was pacing about near her home at Banchory, 25 miles from Balmoral. She said: "it was sleek, black and had pointed ears. I read in the News of the World about the beast. I've no doubt I saw the one that has been prowling Balmoral Estate. I know these animals can travel great distances in a day."
The beast was first seen two years ago after Prince Charlie's pet jack russell Pooh vanished on a walk. Teams of gamekeepers have been making late night patrols in a bid to snare the beast after a rash of sightings around the 55,000 acre spread
One eye witness spotted the animal yards from the Queen Mum's Birkhall retreat next door to Balmoral. He said: "I dont like the idea of the young Royal's playing in the woods with this thing on the loose."
© News of the World, September 8 th, 1996
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