Ravens have been a mainstay in the Tower of London, England’s most famous execution site for centuries.
Built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s as a castle and fortress, it later became a place for royalty to store weapons and jewelry. To this day, the crown jewels are kept on site, protected by a garrison of soldiers.
Merlina, a 14-year-old raven at the Tower of London, is feared dead.
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But it also has a dark and bloody past as it was a prison for many hundreds of people, including Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn and Guy Fawkes, and the execution site of Henry VI.
In the 17th century, Charles II decreed that six of the birds must live near the tower at all times or else the kingdom and tower would fall. The tower will now be left with seven of the intelligent birds – Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy and George – while keeping a reserve for safekeeping.
The spokeswoman told CNN that Merlina was a “unique” bird who had a “close relationship” with Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife – whose job it is to care for the birds.
Merlina and the Ravenmaster are said to have a ‘close bond’ – making it unusual for her not to return.
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The raven played tricks with him, the spokeswoman said, and always returned to her nest near the tower at night after walking around freely.
The spokeswoman said they thought she was most likely dead because it was not her character that she hadn’t returned.
Merlina was also a decidedly independent bird, having only mated with a male last year, the spokeswoman added.
“Since joining us in 2007, Merlina has been our undisputed ruler of sleep, Queen of the Tower Ravens.
“She will be hugely missed by her fellow Ravens, the Ravenmaster and all of us in the Tower community,” the spokeswoman added in a statement.