On a tender note, the Duke and Duchess of York were presented with a cuddly toy Reggie that they gave to their daughter, Elizabeth, following a visit to King's as part of its centenary celebrations in 1929. By all accounts the future Elizabeth II and the miniature lion became inseparable. World War Two, when King's was relocated to Bristol and separated from Reggie, spawned two smaller cubs, twins named Reggie Minor. In 1940 King's College Engineer, David Leete, foiled a kidnap attempt on the mascot, launched by Bristol University students. A special medal was struck to commemorate the event, a photograph of which is shown here.

Reggie even underwent a marriage ceremony in the early 1980s although his bride fled the altar. Old Reggie disappeared for a while during the early 1990s, and a substantial replacement was cast to replace his svelte parent. Miraculously, however, he was rediscovered in the King's underground shooting range. Following restoration, he now sits proudly guarding the Students' Union and is shortly to celebrate his 80th birthday.