Only waterbeds will do for the cows who make Queen’s milk

THE Queen’s cows sleep on waterbeds to improve milk production, a special episode of the television show Countryfile will reveal.

The BBC One programme will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Coronation and 30 years since the first episode of the series was broadcast with a number of specials called Queen And Country.

The presenters have been granted permission by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to explore the grounds surrounding the royal estates of Windsor, Balmoral and Sandringham.

In the first episode, viewers will be given a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the work that goes into maintaining the estate that surrounds Windsor Castle, the backdrop to the wedding last weekend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Adam Henson, one of the presenters, is to take a look at the modern practices overseen by the Queen on Windsor’s dairy farm, where cows sleep on waterbeds to improve milk production and robots clean the slurry.

Matt Baker, meanwhile, will meet the Queen’s favourite riding pony, Emma, and will also examine efforts to make Windsor Castle run exclusively on renewable energy.

Anita Rani will travel to the North East to find out more about the Queen’s preferred breed of working horse, while John Craven will be joined by the Windsor Estate’s parkland manager to examine the Duke of Edinburgh’s involvement in the conservation of its woodland landscape.

The final episode is based around Sandringham, where the Royal family spend Christmas each year.

The first episode of Queen and Country will air on BBC One on Sunday, May 27, at 6.30pm.