The Queen's love affair with corgis is well-documented, and it's no surprise that these adorable dogs have been a staple at Buckingham Palace for decades.
The Queen's first corgi, Susan, was a gift from her father, King George VI, in 1944. She was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the start of a long line of royal corgis.
The Queen's fondness for corgis has led to a unique tradition at the Palace, where corgis are treated like royalty themselves. They have their own special food, toys, and even a dedicated corgi butler.
The Queen's corgis have been a source of comfort and companionship throughout her reign, with many serving as loyal friends and confidants.
Take a look at this: Where Did the Queen's Corgis Go
History of Corgis at Buckingham Palace
The Queen's love affair with corgis began when she was a small child, having fallen in love with the corgis owned by the children of the Marquess of Bath. This early affection would blossom into a lifelong passion for the breed.
King George VI brought home Dookie in 1933, a corgi that would become a favorite of the young Princess Elizabeth. A photograph from George VI's photo album shows a ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth with Dookie at Balmoral.
The Queen Mother introduced a disciplined regimen for the dogs, ensuring each corgi had its own wicker basket and meals served in its own dish. Meals consisted of proprietary meat dog biscuits in the morning and dog meal with gravy in the late afternoon.
Crackers, one of the Queen Mother's corgis, was nearly a constant companion and retired with her to the Castle of Mey in Scotland.
A different take: How Many Corgis Does Queen Elizabeth Have
Corgis in Royal Life
The Queen's corgis lived a life of luxury at Buckingham Palace, with a dedicated corgi room featuring raised wicker baskets lined with cushions to keep them cozy.
They slept in these baskets every night, and were looked after by two footmen known as Doggie 1 and Doggie 2. These dedicated staff members took great care of the royal pups, and even cooked for them every day.
The Queen's fondness for corgis began as a child, when she fell in love with the breed after playing with a corgi at the Marquess of Bath's estate in 1933. She received her first corgi, Dookie, as a gift from her father, and the rest, as they say, is history.
For her 18th birthday, the Queen received another corgi, Susan, which sparked her breeding program. She even snuck Susan onto her honeymoon in 1947, much to her husband's dismay.
The Queen's corgis were quite the spoiled pooches, with their own menu and even their own Christmas stockings at Sandringham. Each dog had its own stocking, personally filled by the Queen.
As the corgis grew older, they continued to live a life of luxury, with their own bedroom and even their own royal beds. They were well taken care of by the Queen and her staff, and were clearly beloved members of the royal family.
Intriguing read: The Royal Corgis
Corgis and the Royal Family
The Queen's love for corgis was a lifelong affair that began when she was just a child. She fell in love with the breed after playing with the Marquess of Bath's corgi in 1933.
The Queen's first corgi, Dookie, was a bit of a handful, often biting courtiers and visitors. He was nicknamed "Dookie" because of a mistake by the kennel staff.
For her 18th birthday, Elizabeth received her very own corgi, Susan, which sparked her breeding program. Her bond with Susan was so strong she even snuck her onto her honeymoon in 1947.
The Queen's corgis had quite the refined palate, with their own menu, according to chef Darren McGrady, who worked at the palace for 15 years.
A unique perspective: Queen Elizabeth's Corgis Names
Corgi Care and Living Arrangements
The Queen's corgis were known to be quite the spoiled pooches, with their own menu and special care.
They had a dedicated corgi room at Buckingham Palace, complete with raised wicker baskets lined with cushions to keep draughts away.
Sarah Ferguson, the Queen's ex-husband's ex-wife, looked after the corgis during her time with the royal family, making sure they were protected and comfortable.
The corgis were looked after by two footmen, known as Doggie 1 and Doggie 2, who made sure they had everything they needed.
Each dog had their own Christmas stocking at Sandringham, which the Queen personally filled.
The Queen's corgis were treated like part of the royal family, with their own beds and bedroom at Buckingham Palace.
Explore further: The Queen's Corgis Movie
The Queen's Family and Succession
The Queen has four children with her husband Prince Philip: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
The Queen's eldest son Charles is next in line to the throne, followed by his sons Prince William and Prince George.
The Queen's family has been a big part of the history of corgis at Buckingham Palace, with many of the Queen's children and grandchildren owning corgis over the years.
How Many Children Did the Queen Have?
The Queen's family is a fascinating topic, and one of the most interesting questions is how many children she had. The answer is four children.
She had two sons, Charles and Andrew, and two daughters, Anne and Margaret.
Who Will Succeed the Queen?
Prince Andrew's family dynamics are quite interesting, especially when it comes to his role in the Queen's life. He gifted his mother two corgis, Muick and Sandy, to lift her spirits during a difficult time.
The corgis have found a new home with Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who have taken on the responsibility of caring for these beloved pets. They even have their own dog family, which includes five Norfolk terriers.
Ferguson has spoken out about the honor of caring for the Queen's dogs, calling them "national treasures."
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Queen Elizabeth's 2 corgis?
After Queen Elizabeth's passing, her two corgis were cared for by Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
Who inherited the Queen's corgis?
The Queen's corgis were inherited by Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson, who lives with Prince Andrew at Windsor Castle.
Sources
- "The Queen makes the Corgi popular" (nla.gov.au)
- "Counselling the Queen's naughty Corgis" (google.com)
- "Postman Bitten by Queen's Dog" (google.com)
- "1954:Queen's Corgis Attack : IN OUR PAGES:100, 75 AND 50 YEARS AGO (Published 2004)" (nytimes.com)
- "Queen's Dog Spots Man, Zip – Teeth in Pants" (google.com)
- "The Queen has a 'corgi graveyard' at her royal Sandringham Estate, where royal pets have been buried since 1887" (insider.com)
- "Another of the Queen's corgis, Swift, has died" (telegraph.co.uk)
- "Queen 'given corgi puppy' by Andrew on Philip's 100th birthday" (metro.co.uk)
- "Queen left 'devastated' by death of Dorgi puppy, Fergus, given to her by Prince Andrew" (nzherald.co.nz)
- "Queen left 'devastated' after death of new dorgi puppy Fergus, say reports" (sky.com)
- "Queen stops breeding corgis as 'she doesn't want to leave any behind'" (telegraph.co.uk)
- "'The Queen's corgis are part of her family – Monty's death is a great loss'" (telegraph.co.uk)
- "Our cover" (nla.gov.au)
- "The Queen's corgis are dead: long live the 'dorgis'" (theguardian.com)
- "Hug for Queen Elizabeth's first corgi" (telegraph.co.uk)
- "Meet the Real Stars of Queen Elizabeth II's Vanity Fair Cover — Her Four Corgis" (time.com)
- "Queen left with just one dog as her beloved dorgi Vulcan dies 'of old age'" (mirror.co.uk)
- All of Queen Elizabeth's corgis through the years (telegraph.co.uk)
- Corgis: How the Queen fell in love and started a phenomenon (bbc.com)
- Town & Country (townandcountrymag.com)
- reportedly (graziadaily.co.uk)
- described (metro.co.uk)
- Associated Press (usatoday.com)
- Pets by Royal Appointment, (hellomagazine.com)
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