Amusing reason 'irritated' Queen Elizabeth II once 'refused to open airport terminal'
"I don't think I will now"
Queen Elizabeth II reportedly refused to open a terminal at Bristol Airport after a relative was prevented from bringing his shotguns on a plane.
According to The Telegraph, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, the late queen’s third cousin once removed, was on his way to the Scottish Highlands for a shooting weekend with her, but he was told at the airport that he wouldn’t be able to bring his shotguns with him for security reasons.
He told Queen Elizabeth II that he had to leave his guns behind when he got to Balmoral. She asked her equerry to ensure the guns would be brought up in time for the next day’s shoot. However, she was reportedly left frustrated with the airport’s rules.
Queen Elizabeth II ‘refused’ to open airport terminal for amusing reason
She is said to have told Lord Ivar: “They want me to open their new terminal. I don’t think I will now.”
He claimed that the terminal was opened by Princess Anne in 2015 instead. He told the Rosebud podcast (via GB News): “We got on the flight and we turn up at Balmoral, ushered into the drawing room and immediately go in to tea.
“I’m sitting on the right-hand side of the queen and I’m kind of irritated by this story. So I repeat it to Her Majesty. And I could see that she was getting rather irritated as well. So she turns to her equerry. I think it was Simon [Brailsford] at the time.
“She said, ‘Simon, I would like Lord Ivar’s guns to be up here tomorrow morning. Please see to it.'”
When asked if the queen did ever open the terminal, he replied: “No. And so every time I go back to Bristol Airport now, it was opened by the Princess Royal and I have a quiet laugh to myself.”
As well as being Elizabeth’s third cousin once removed, Queen Victoria was his great-great-great-grandmother. He’s also a second cousin of King Charles through his father and Prince Philip being related.
He is a godparent of Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and in recent years has ventured into reality TV. In 2025, he became one of the winners of season three of the American version of The Traitors.
Prince George could ‘take part in hunting tradition’
The royal family has become known for their passion for shooting and hunting. The annual Boxing Day pheasant shoot is particularly treasured.
And, last month, it was revealed that Prince George could be introduced to the royal tradition known as ‘blooding’ this summer.
Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe suggested that, during the family’s trip to Balmoral Castle – where King Charles is currently – the young royal may take part in the practice where the blood of an animal is smeared on the face of a hunter after their first kill.
In his book, Prince Harry: The Inside Story, he wrote: “The palace has refused to comment on claims that Prince George will be initiated into one of the slightly more gruesome royal traditions this summer.
“Traditionally, the blood of a hunter’s first kill is spread on their face. It’s a ritual that goes back centuries.”
However, his mother, Princess Kate, is said to be vehemently opposed to the tradition. Tom Quinn wrote in Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants: “Catherine, Princess of Wales, has put her foot down and insisted there will be no blooding for her children.”
Read more: Queen Elizabeth II ‘broke royal tradition’ after being served chocolate dessert while overseas
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