Queen horrified as Buckingham Palace is overrun by rats

Rats and mice aren't exactly uncommon in old English buildings, but Buckingham Palace is still the last place you'd expect to uncover a rodent infestation.

Yet that's exactly what has happened, with reports claiming the hairy little creatures have been spotted scurrying through the kitchens of the palace.

"Rats have been spotted around the outside of the kitchen areas which clearly isn't ideal," a source told The Sun, in what might be the understatement of the year.

Rats in the royal residence is the exact opposite of ideal, especially when the source added "there isn't a huge amount that can be done.”

The Queen is suitably horrified by the infestation and pest control have been called in to address it, but when you're living in a massive and ancient palace, rats seem to come with the territory.

LISTEN: Tune in to 9Honey's royal podcast, The Windsors, to learn more about Britain's longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

They can be found in a lot of old English buildings and are usually very unwelcome guests, as rats can carry all sorts of illnesses and diseases that can be transmitted through their droppings, urine and bites.

Rodents in areas where food is prepared can be especially dangerous, as they can easily contaminate food and utensils that can then carry diseases to humans.

They can also cause damage to the building itself, chewing through electrical wires and damaging walls – things you really don't want in a royal palace.

Buckingham Palace dates back to 1703 and is full of cracks and crevices for mice to hide in, with few ways for exterminators to, well, exterminate them.

Staff in the royal household have been trained in how to minimise the issue by closing cupboards and clearing away food scraps and crumbs.

Pest control have also set out poison to try to kill off the rodents, but their methods may not be as effective as they once were.

Last year it was discovered some rats had developed a genetic mutation that rendered them immune to many of the toxins typically used to kill them, creating a new generation of 'super-rats.'

There's no word yet on whether Buckingham Palace has been infiltrated by these mutant rats or the regular kind, but either way we doubt Her Majesty is impressed.