Experts of the British Royal Family Discuss Queen's Unexpected Change of Hands for Her Corgis Subtitle How It All Began
When did the love story between Queen Elizabeth II and her dogs actually start? The answer is: long before she was crowned Queen of England. It was 1933, and Elizabeth was a seven-year-old princess enjoying her luxurious childhood. One day, the future sovereign made a surprising request to her parents.
After noticing that family friends had a corgi, Elizabeth wanted one too. To not disappoint their young daughter, the Duke of York began his search for the perfect dog breeder. His search led him to Surrey, England, where he met a woman named Thelma Gray, who had an impeccable reputation in the breeding community.
Royal Selection
Once the Duke shared his daughter's wish, Thelma selected three Pembroke corgis from her kennel. She brought them to the Duke's family home so they could choose which one to adopt. In the end, the Royals chose a little puppy named Rozavel Golden Eagle. And their decision wasn't solely based on its adorable appearance, or was it?
Yes, Thelma's kennel employees had nicknamed Rozavel Golden Eagle "Dookie" once they found out the Duke was going to adopt him. After that, the name stuck. And let's be honest, it rolls off the tongue much better. However, while Princess Elizabeth and her family managed to control Dookie, others saw a rather unpleasant side of the corgi.
Tragic Loss
According to the BBC website, Dookie was a real menace behind closed doors, snapping at guests and royal aides. Saying he had attitude problems is an understatement. However, Elizabeth was absolutely smitten with her corgi. And later, her family adopted another one, again from Thelma. They found a beautiful puppy named Lady Jane.
Unfortunately, at the beginning of World War II, Dookie passed away. By that time, the family also had one of Jane's puppies, a little one called Crackers. But they soon experienced another emotional shock. In 1944, Jane was accidentally run over, a trauma that deeply affected Elizabeth. However, she forgave the driver and accepted that it wasn't their fault.
Say Hello to Susan
One could argue that Elizabeth's absolute love for this breed truly solidified when she turned 18 in 1944. Why? Because at the time, her father gifted her another corgi, and its name was Susan. The duo became inseparable from the start, sticking with each other as much as possible. And that's not an exaggeration. Time passed, and Elizabeth decided to expand Susan's family lineage.
Once again, Thelma was contacted, and she searched her kennel for the perfect partner. Eventually, the breeder selected a corgi named Rozavel Lucky Strike. After that, the couple gave birth to two puppies in 1949: Honey and Sugar. But the breeding didn't stop there.
Losing Susan
The new Windsor Pembroke corgi lineage spanned across 14 generations, with each litter joining Elizabeth at different stages of her life. And Susan was always there for that, especially during her owner's coronation. Unfortunately, Susan passed away in 1959, breaking the sovereign's heart. The dog was laid to rest at the Sandringham Pet Cemetery.
Susan's growing family lineage must have provided comfort to Elizabeth during these difficult times. At least a piece of Susan remained with her. And the Royals became quite comfortable with these furry companions. You see, the Queen didn't sell any of her puppies. She either kept them for herself or gave them to family, close friends, and other breeders.
An Opportunity for Bonding?
In the 1970s, Queen Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret, had a dachshund named Pipkin, who developed a close bond with one of the corgis. Very close indeed. The result was a new dog breed: the dorgi. The Queen couldn't get enough of these puppies. Later on, Margaret and Elizabeth paired Pipkin with a corgi again to establish a lineage of royal dogs.
Returning to the Queen's connection with her dogs, a royal author raised an interesting point. Penny Junor suggested that the Queen's love for dogs also gave her a chance to bond with people she wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to meet. The author elaborates more on this in her book, "All The Queen's Corgis." Quite a compelling title!
"Strong and Real Friendships"
Penny writes, "Dogs and horses are Elizabeth's passion, and it is with them, along with the people who share this passion, that she can truly relax. Horses may be reserved for the wealthy, but not dogs. They transcend social status and attract people from all walks of life. Over the years, the Queen has formed strong and real friendships with many other dog lovers."
Elizabeth has been very vocal about her support for animal charities. As examples, she has been a patron of The British Horse Society and Dogs Trust. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the Queen has also supported the RSPCA, following in the footsteps of her great-great-grandmother Victoria.
"Beware of the Dog"
However, while the Queen was building a reputation as an advocate for animal rights, not everyone in the royal sphere was a fan of corgis. On more than one occasion, the dogs have attacked royal employees. In 1954, the Queen Mother's corgis sank their canines into a police officer. A postman was also bitten in 1968, prompting Peter Doig of the British Labour Party to ask the staff at Balmoral Castle to install a "Beware of the Dog" sign.
As if that wasn't enough, Elizabeth herself was attacked by her own dogs. This reportedly happened in the 90s, when she tried to break up a fight between at least ten dogs, including two of her own. According to the Toledo Blade, she "was bitten on her left hand during the fight at Windsor Castle" and required three stitches.
They Are Famous!
But with such spirited nature comes fame. After all, who can resist a pack of adorable royal corgis? Their most famous appearance was during the James Bond sketch for the 2012 Summer Olympics, alongside Daniel Craig and the Queen at Buckingham Palace. For this occasion, Willow, Monty, and Holly were by Her Majesty's side, keeping an eye on Mr. Bond.
Here's a relevant question: Did the Queen take care of her dogs herself? Well, obviously not. At the time, it was gamekeeper George Hallett who looked after the corgis. But when he retired, Bill Fenwick and his wife took over. They were the most well-known individuals involved in this corgi story.
Breaking Protocol
It was Nancy in particular who became known as "The Queen's Corgi Keeper." Alongside Bill, she took great care of the pups, even meticulously preparing rabbit meals for the spoiled furballs every day. On top of that, Nancy was available at any time of day or night for the corgis. It goes without saying that she and the Queen grew close. And when Nancy and Bill passed away, Elizabeth adopted the couple's dogs.
Being a monarch in England comes with incredibly strict rules. But for Nancy's funeral in 2015, Elizabeth did not send a representative, as protocol dictates for non-royals. Instead, she attended the funeral in person, alongside her son Prince Andrew, Duke of York. This demonstrates how important her dogs and everything related to them were to her.
The New Masters of Sandy and Muick
But what happened to the surviving corgis in the days and weeks following the Queen's passing? She had two named Sally and Muick. However, neither of them were part of the Susan lineage. The last descendant of that group passed away in 2018, as the Queen had decided to stop breeding.
Instead, Sandy and Muick were gifted to Elizabeth in 2021 by her granddaughters and their father, Prince Andrew. So, where are they now? It didn't take long for it to be revealed that the duo would return to Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. They still live together in Windsor. This news must have surely been a surprise to some.
Previous Frustrations
As outlined by Penny, Andrew struggled with the dogs and their significant influence on the Queen's life. It took him three weeks to muster the courage to broach the subject of his troubled marriage with Sarah Ferguson due to the strong bond between his mother and the corgis.
Join us as we uncover the complex dynamics within the royal family and the profound effect the Queen's beloved corgis had on those closest to her."
"The Queen's Walking Companion"
It turns out that a source told CNN that in addition to the complicated history between the corgis and Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson was one of the Queen's regular walking companions. Sarah maintained a close relationship with her mother-in-law after the divorce and was witness to how much the Queen adored her precious corgis. Undoubtedly, the Queen trusted Sarah to make decisions and take care of the dogs in her absence.
Then, Sarah Ferguson informed corgi fans about their status after the Queen's passing when she posted their photo on her Instagram. It was the first time the famous dogs were seen after the monarch's death, and it reassured fans that they knew family members who already knew them were taking good care of the pups.
Continuing the Tradition
By taking on this responsibility, Andrew and Sarah are continuing another royal canine tradition started by Elizabeth. Yes, when family or close friends passed away, the English monarch sometimes welcomed their dogs into her private circle at home. One of the most well-known examples occurred in 2002 after the Queen Mother's death.
At the time of her passing, she had a trio of corgis. And they remained at Clarence House afterward, until Elizabeth came to see them. According to Vanity Fair, the sovereign retrieved the three dogs and brought them back to the palace. It seems she had no intention of abandoning them.
The Queen's Cocker Spaniel
Elizabeth had a similar reaction after losing Bill Fenwick, who was the "chief gamekeeper" for the Windsors. He and his wife, Nancy, had a corgi named Whisper while they were alive, which the Queen later adopted. Knowing the Queen's love for this breed, it's good to know that Muick and Sally remain in the family. But what about the Queen's non-corgi dog? That's right.
Queen Elizabeth had another beloved dog, a female cocker spaniel named Lissy, who was largely forgotten in conversations about the future of the corgis. But that doesn't mean Lissy was any less impressive. She was a champion in her own right, bringing home the title of winner at the 91st Kennel Club Cocker Spaniel Championship. But besides her recent achievements, would Lissy also end up with Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson?
Candy the Dorgi: The Queen's Beloved Companion
The heartbreaking loss of Candy, Queen Elizabeth's beloved Dorgi, has left a void in the heart of the monarch. At 18 years old, Candy was the longest-living dog the Queen had ever owned. Her passing, just months before the Queen's own demise, deeply affected Her Majesty.
A Lasting Grief
Sources from the Palace revealed that the news of Candy's death hit the Queen hard and left her devastated. Beyond being a cherished companion, Candy's passing was a significant loss for the Queen, who had loved over 30 corgis throughout her reign. The Queen's affection for these royal canines catapulted the popularity of the breed, leading to a surge in demand for Pembroke Corgis in England.
The Influence of Queen Elizabeth
The Kennel Club's statistics tell an interesting tale. The demand for Pembroke Corgis spiked in 1936, with an even higher peak in 1944 when Susan, the Queen's first corgi, was gifted to her. The breed saw its greatest surge in the 1960s, thanks to the iconic photos of the new monarch posing alongside her beloved pooches. During that time, nearly 9,000 puppies were registered.
However, the breed faced a substantial decline in interest in the late '90s, culminating in a dreadful year in 2014, with only 274 puppies registered. Fortunately, a resurgence occurred in 2017, one year after the successful launch of the TV series "The Crown," which showcased the Queen's corgis and brought them back into the spotlight. Puppy registrations increased by 16% that year and nearly 50% the following year, breathing new life into the tradition.
Will the Tradition Continue?
While King Charles III may not share his late mother's love for corgis, there is hope that the breed will endure due to its association with Queen Elizabeth. The life she lived has become a part of their heritage. Interestingly, in 2023, one of the Queen's relatives made an intriguing statement about the dogs.
According to Sarah Ferguson, the corgis' good behavior can be attributed to their excellent training and the many treats she distributes. However, Sarah jokingly suggested that if they ever misbehave, it may be due to a supernatural force. She even hinted that the corgis might be reacting to the ghost of Queen Elizabeth herself. While this notion seems far-fetched, unless the dogs learn to talk and share their thoughts, we may never know for sure.