The following is a compilation of brief facts about the history of pet parrots in Europe.

            In medieval Europe most of the wealthy, including kings, queens and clergy, kept parrots. One source stated that a Cardinal in Venice purchased, for 100 pieces of gold, a parrot that could recite the Lord’s Prayer. Pope Martin V (1417-1431) is said to have appointed a Keeper of Parrots at the Vatican. A room at the Vatican called “Camera di Papagallo,” that is, “The Parrots Room,” reportedly exists at the Vatican to house parrots kept by the popes.
Portugese sailors brought canaries to Europe, making birdkeeping more available to the general population. During the nineteenth century the canary and the parrot gradually became more widely available to all classes of the population. Skilled German aviculturists bred them in captivity for the first time. It is believed that the German Prince Consort influenced the notable increase in keeping birds as pets at this time.
Evidence that a governor of an African colony presented an African Grey parrot to Queen Marie Antoinette exists.
King Henry VIII (1509-1547) kept an African Grey parrot at Hampton Court. It is said that this Tudor parrot found it amusing to call to the boatman across the water to come to the palace.
The Duchess of Richmond and Lennox (La Belle Stuart, 1647-1702) and the favorite mistress of King Charles II, included in her Will of 1702, a request to have her African Grey preserved in wax upon its demise. Subsequently it was stuffed and can still be viewed at the Norman Undercroft Museum at Westminster Abbey.
King George V (1865-1936), a lover of  birds, had a tame Roseate Cockatoo with him when he dressed for dinner. He placed it on a towel rail where it enjoyed chewing the royal towels—to the annoyance of Queen Mary.
The English version of Vincent Bourne’s (1695-1747) Latin parrot poem, William Cowper’s (1731-1800) The Parrot is memorable. Below are two amusing stanzas. Note that Cowper’s use of “prate” states clearly that the parrot and his mistress engage in idle chatter, as birds and women generally do.

At first he aims at what he hears;
And, listening close with both his ears,
Just catches at the sound;
But soon articulates aloud,
Much to the amusement of the crowd,
And stuns the neighbours round.
………………
When children first begin to spell,
And stammer out a syllable,
We think them tedious creatures;
But difficulties soon abate,
When birds are taught to prate,
And women are the teachers.

 Copyright©2009 Rosemarie Riechel