The Royal Red Deer



The Royal Red Deer



Many people think the stuffed deer head in the bar is a fake or a Tooheys promotion. No, he was real.

Arthur Richardson, a long departed publican struck an acquaintance with Prince Phillip when both men were young just after the war. Arthur was travelling in Scotland and visiting a friend who worked at Balmoral castle. To make a long story short, Arthur met Phillip and a mutual love of hunting found them out on the moors one evening.

Phillips usual batman was ill so Arthur was filling in re-loading the Princes rifles as they hunted. As the sun sank low Phillip spotted a magnificent stag in a clearing just ahead, the men crept up until a clear shot could be taken. As everyone knows a Red Deer in hard antler is a very dangerous animal and will defend its territory to the death if necessary. When the stag got wind of the hunters it charged the Prince who discharged a shot but failed to bring the animal down. Arthur prevented a Royal goreing by firing off a deadly accurate round that felled the beast only feet from the Prince thus saving his life and bagging a 14 pointer into the bargain.

The stags head was stuffed and presented to Arthur for services rendered and has remained on the wall at the Royal ever since. It was said that while the Stag watches over the Bar of the Royal Hotel all will be well with Queen and Empire.