The Lord Lieutenant has said she is “absolutely delighted” to have welcomed a new Suffolk Punch foal, the Dazzling King Charles. 

Lady Clare, Countess of Euston, shared the news that her mare, Sioux, had given birth to a colt in the early hours of Thursday last week. 

The Suffolk Punches have long been heralded as icons of the county. Sometimes known as Suffolk Horses or Suffolk Sorrels, they were bred for agricultural work, and spent their days ploughing fields. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Dazzling King Charles was born just before 3am on Thursday, May 4. Image: Sam MaloyDazzling King Charles was born just before 3am on Thursday, May 4. Image: Sam Maloy (Image: Sam Maloy)

East Anglian Daily Times: The iconic Suffolk Punch horses were originally bred for agricultural work. Image: Sam MaloyThe iconic Suffolk Punch horses were originally bred for agricultural work. Image: Sam Maloy (Image: Sam Maloy)

Suffolk Punches are known for their distinctive shape and colouring, which can only be chesnut (spelled in the traditional Suffolk way, with no ‘T’). 

Last year, they were voted as icons of the county in a poll run to celebrate Suffolk Day, beating the likes of Ed Sheeran and Adnams beer. 

However, the breed has become critically endangered, and is now rarer than the giant panda. 

Lady Euston said that she had been breeding Suffolk Punches for the past 30 years. 

“I’ve always loved them,” she explained. “I first met them when I was three years old, staying with my grandparents in Bungay. I couldn’t believe there were such enormous horses in the world.” 

She said that Suffolk Punches are also a favourite of the new King, who always kept them at his Highgrove estate. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Lady Euston said that she was absolutely delighted at the birth of the Dazzling King Charles. Image: Sam MaloyLady Euston said that she was absolutely delighted at the birth of the Dazzling King Charles. Image: Sam Maloy (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

East Anglian Daily Times: The colt has been named after the new King Charles III, who was crowned just two days after its birth. Image: Victoria Jones/PA WireThe colt has been named after the new King Charles III, who was crowned just two days after its birth. Image: Victoria Jones/PA Wire (Image: Victoria Jones/PA Wire)

East Anglian Daily Times: Dazzling King Charles pictured with his mother, Sioux. Image: Sam MaloyDazzling King Charles pictured with his mother, Sioux. Image: Sam Maloy (Image: Sam Maloy)

Since the new foal was born just two days before the coronation, Lady Euston had decided to name the foal Dazzling King Charles. He will go by the stable name of Charlie.

“I am absolutely delighted,” said Lady Euston. “They are wonderful, kind, careful horses. They are a real treasure 

“It’s quite extraordinary to think about a county like Suffolk, and to remember that every single acre was once ploughed by these horses. The landscape we love owes so much to everything they did in the past.” 

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