Eager elephant snatches banana from the Queen

A hungry elephant has been filmed plucking a banana from the hands of the Queen during a visit to inspect a new elephant enclosure in the UK.

Queen Elizabeth II was visiting the Whipsnade Zoo in Bedforshire, with seven-year-old elephant “Donna” captured whipping the banana into its mouth using its trunk, before reaching for more.

An emptyhanded Queen can then be seen pointing the elephant in the direction of Prince Phillip, who is holding the remaining banana, with onlookers laughing.

The new £2 (A$3.33) million the Centre for Elephant Care – which comprises eight hectares of land and a barn – provides home to nine Asian endangered elephants, including 10-month-old “Elizabeth” – named in honour of the Queen.

The Queen is a patron of the Zoological Society of London, which runs the zoo.