Gorilla's cheeky welcome for Prince Philip

He normally expects a degree of deference from those he encounters.

But when Prince Philip was introduced to Bobby the gorilla, it soon emerged that the ape had not been fully briefed on the finer points of etiquette.

Rather than bowing to His Royal Highness, Bobby eyed him somewhat disdainfully, shuffled around ... then pointed his bottom in his direction.

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By the look on the royal visitor's face, he was none too impressed by the gesture. He had been introduced to Bobby on the occasion of the opening of a new £5.3million gorilla enclosure at London Zoo.

Called Gorilla Kingdom, it is an attempt to recreate a mini African rainforest. The 6,500sq ft habitat, which the apes will share with monkeys and lizards, has caves and heated rocks.

Bobby has been joined there by

Effie, a 15-year-old female Western Lowland gorilla brought to Britain from a German zoo. Officials hope they will mate.

But after yesterday's encounter with royalty, Bobby was not in the mood for love. Instead, he retired to a corner and covered his head with a towel.