Prince Charles was thanked for banning foie gras from his royal menus during his visit to the White House on Thursday (19.03.15).
Prince Charles at the White House
The 66-year-old British royal and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, went to the famous American building to meet with President Barack Obama and outside the residence animal rights activists assembled to let Charles know they appreciate his views on animal welfare and the environment.
One placard, held by a PETA supporter dressed in a giant goose suit, read: "Charlie is my darling for banning foie gras from royal menus."
PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - has long called for the ban of sales of foie gras, a delicacy made from force-feeding geese and ducks to fatten up their livers. The process causes much distress to the animals and effectively gives them diseased organs.
In 2008, the heir-to-the-throne ordered his personal chefs to stop buying foie gras and stop serving it to guests at his residences.
Charles was inspired to take the dish off his menus after receiving a letter from an animal rights activist from Bristol, South West England.
At the time, the letter writer received the following response from Charles' Deputy Master of the Household: "The Prince of Wales has asked me to write and thank you for your letter about animal welfare issues surrounding the production of foie gras and your experience. I just wanted to reassure you that The Prince of Wales has a policy that his chefs should not buy foie gras."
While at the White House Charles and Camilla enjoyed an informal talk with the president, during which Obama claimed the American public liked the British royal family "much better" than their own elected politicians.
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