The Queen and her beloved corgis, like Paddington and his marmalade sandwiches, have maintained a special bond throughout her 70-year reign. Her Majesty has kept around 30 corgis during her reign, housing them in a special room at Buckingham Palace and feeding them luxurious doggie meals prepared by a chef. It’s only natural that the pampered pups play an important role on Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral day.
The Queen’s coffin was carried 23 miles from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle for the committal service at St. George’s Chapel. Her Majesty’s two remaining corgis, Muick and Sandy, waited patiently outside for the hearse to come. The dogs were seen with their eyes fixed on the road as their former owner and two footmen made their way to her final resting place.
The late Queen began her love affair with corgis when she was seven years old; the royal first dog was officially named Rozavel Golden Eagle (yep, really). When breeders found out he was going to live with the Queen’s father, the Duke of York, who would later become King George VI, they dubbed him Dookie, and the name stuck. According to the BBC, “Dookie was poorly behaved, biting courtiers and visitors with recklessness.” However, a newspaper photo of Elizabeth and the tiny tyrant captivating the world and elevating the Pembroke corgi’s profile did not cease.
Many other beloved corgis followed, including Susan, who was given to the Queen for her seventeenth birthday, and Lady Jane, Disco, and Martin, who later joined the gang. Her Majesty reportedly stopped breeding corgis entirely in 2015 because she did not want to leave any dogs when she died.
After Prince Philip died, Prince Andrew gave Muick and Sandy to the Queen. Angela Kelly, the Queen’s adviser, said the two dogs were a “continuous joy” for the Queen throughout lockdown. “I was afraid they’d step on the Queen’s toes, but they’ve proven to be a lifesaver,” Kelly wrote in HELLO! “They’re lovely and a lot of fun, and the Queen enjoys lengthy walks with them in Home Park.” Following Her Majesty’s death, Prince Andrew will now be in charge of the pooches.
