Introduction
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has had a lifelong love of dogs, but there is one breed in particular that has held a special place in her heart – the Welsh Corgi. As the longest-reigning British monarch in history, the Queen has owned over 30 corgis during her 70+ years on the throne. Her Majesty’s fondness for this short-legged herding breed dates back to her childhood, and corgis have been faithful companions to the royal family for generations. The Queen’s preferred dog breed reveals her tastes as both a monarch and an animal lover.
History of the Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an ancient breed that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It’s believed that the breed dates back as far as the 10th century, when they were used as herding dogs by Welsh farmers to herd cattle and sheep.
The Welsh used the short-legged corgis to nip at the heels of cattle and sheep to keep the animals moving. Their closeness to the ground allowed them to avoid being kicked while still being agile enough to maneuver around the larger livestock’s legs (1). The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is one of two known corgi breeds, along with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
References:
(1) https://www.welshcorgileague.org/breed-history/
The Queen’s First Corgi
The Queen’s love for corgis began in 1944 when she received a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Susan as a gift for her 18th birthday. Susan came from a local breeder, Thelma Gray ([1]). This gift kicked off the Queen’s lifelong affection for the corgi breed.
Susan became the founder of the royal corgi line. The Queen loved Susan so much that she even took the dog on her honeymoon in 1947 when she married Prince Philip ([2]). This demonstrated how inseparable the two were. Susan lived a long life, passing away in 1959 at the age of 15.
The Corgis at Buckingham Palace
Over her 70 year reign, dozens of Pembroke Welsh Corgis resided at Buckingham Palace as the Queen’s beloved pets. She was seldom seen without a corgi or two by her side, and they had free reign to wander the palace halls.
The Queen made sure her corgis were well cared for, with specially made diets and daily walks around the palace grounds. She even had a special area designated for them called the Corgi Room, equipped with elevated wicker baskets for them to nap and tiny gourmet doggie meals brought in daily.
The royal corgis were known to have a feisty streak, nipping at staff and guests’ ankles occasionally. But the Queen adored her pets, and made sure her corgis lived a life of luxury befitting their status as royal pups. They enjoyed regular grooming, specialized veterinary care, personalized accessories like raincoats, and Christmas stockings filled with treats.
“The Queen’s love for her corgis never faltered. Her Majesty owned more than 30 corgis during her lifetime. Her close bond with her canine companions was enduring,” said a palace spokesperson (source).
Corgi Breed Traits
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are an intelligent and active breed with strong herding instincts. Their short stature of 10-12 inches in height makes them an ideal size for indoor life in royal residences like Buckingham Palace. According to the American Kennel Club, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are eager to learn and respond well to training. They retain their herding desire to “heel” and often try to herd people and other pets. Their small size enabled them to duck under the kick of large livestock.
This compact breed can maneuver through tight spaces and judging by the Corgi’s popularity with Queen Elizabeth II, they are perfectly petite for palaces. The American Kennel Club states that Pembroke Welsh Corgis are an “easy keeper” weighing 25-30 pounds and standing 10-12 inches tall from ground to shoulder. Their active nature allows them to make the most of small spaces. Overall the Corgi’s combination of intelligence, herding instinct, and short stature has made them a favorite small breed companion of British royalty for over seven decades.
The Queen’s Care for Her Corgis
Despite her busy schedule and royal duties, Queen Elizabeth was personally involved in the daily care and feeding of her beloved corgis [1]. She fed them herself and took them for walks around the grounds of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle whenever her schedule allowed. The Queen was also known to enjoy petting and playing with her dogs.
According to royal insiders, Queen Elizabeth knew each of her corgis by name and had special relationships with them. She kept up with their birthdays and made available the services of her footman to care for them [2]. Even as she aged, the Queen continued her hands-on care for her pets, whom palace staff noted were like her children.
The lifelong bonds the Queen formed with her corgis demonstrated her deep affection for the breed. Though she owned over 30 corgis in her lifetime, she mourned each one upon its passing. Her personal care for her dogs exemplified her love for her furry companions.
Corgis in the Royal Family
Corgis have been fixtures in the British Royal Family for nearly 100 years, starting with King George VI who brought the first Pembroke Welsh Corgi, named Dookie, into the royal household in 1933. Since then, Queen Elizabeth II has carried on the family tradition and owned over 30 Corgis during her reign, making the breed synonymous with the monarchy.
Multiple generations of the Royal Family have loved and cared for Corgis. Queen Elizabeth II was gifted her first Corgi, Susan, on her 18th birthday in 1944. The Queen in turn gifted Corgis to her children, with Princess Anne also becoming an avid Corgi owner.[1] Perhaps the most recent Royal Corgi was given to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, for her first birthday in 2016.[2] The young Princess was delighted with her new puppy and Corgis continue being a beloved pet for the royal children.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has undeniably become the official breed of the British monarchy thanks to decades of being owned and cherished by Queen Elizabeth II and her family. Their short legs, big ears, and playful personalities have won over multiple generations of royals.
[1] https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/the-queens-royal-corgis/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_corgis
The Queen’s Last Remaining Corgi
In April 2021, Elizabeth II’s final corgi, Muick, passed away at Windsor Castle at the age of five. Muick, along with another pup named Candy, had been presented to the Queen in 2021 by Prince Andrew to cheer her up while her husband, Prince Philip, was hospitalized. Muick’s death marked the end of the royal corgi lineage that had been part of the Queen’s life for over seven decades.
Muick and Candy were Queen Elizabeth’s first new corgis since Whisper, her last surviving corgi, passed away in 2018. With Muick’s passing in 2021, the Queen no longer had any full-bred corgis left. This signified the end of an era, as Elizabeth had owned corgis since she was first given one named Dookie in 1933 when she was just 7 years old. For decades, the corgi was synonymous with the British monarch.
The Queen was reportedly “devastated” by Muick’s death, as she had become very fond of the pup in the few months she had owned him. She continued to care for elderly Candy, who was the only dog left at her side in her final year of life (source).
The Corgi’s Royal Legacy
The Queen’s corgis have become an integral part of her public image and persona over the decades. Her love for the breed is known around the world and the royal corgis featured prominently in media coverage of the Queen throughout her reign. Images of the Queen walking her corgis or surrounded by a pack of the dogs at her residences became iconic. The royal corgis captured the public’s imagination and became synonymous with the Queen herself.
The popularity of the Queen’s corgis led to the breed being featured on souvenirs and memorabilia. Corgi toys, ornaments, homewares, and trinkets became best-sellers, especially during Jubilee years. Social media brought the royal corgis to new audiences, with photo collages and videos of the dogs going viral online. Fan pages dedicated to the pets boosted their celebrity status. Over time, the royal corgis became celebrities in their own right, recognized internationally as symbols of the British monarchy and the Queen’s personal tastes.
The Queen was said to be amused by the public fascination with her beloved dogs. She recognized the important role the corgis played in boosting public interest in the monarchy and representing her unique interests and personality. As one of the most photographed and talked about dog breeds thanks to their royal connections, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi will forever be associated with Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen’s Lifelong Love
Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II has had a special bond with corgis. As the research has shown, she acquired her first corgi in 1933 and has owned over 30 of these energetic yet loyal dogs during her life. The Queen was often photographed with a corgi by her side and they became a symbol of the royal family. Though advancing age has meant the Queen has stopped breeding corgis in recent years, they hold a treasured place in her heart. The corgi’s happy and cheerful nature no doubt provided companionship and comfort during both joyful and difficult times over the decades. The Queen’s corgis will forever be associated with her historic reign and capture a unique relationship between monarch and beloved pet.
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