Queen Elizabeth's love for corgis is well-known, and it's no surprise that she's had many furry friends over the years.
The Queen's first corgi, Susan, was a gift from her father, King George VI, in 1944.
Her favorite breed, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, has been a staple in the royal family for decades.
The Queen's love for corgis is so strong that she's had more than 30 of them during her reign.
Intriguing read: What Happens to the Queen's Corgis
Queen Elizabeth's Corgis
Queen Elizabeth's Corgis were her beloved companions, and she had a few furry friends roaming around the palace grounds in her final years.
The last surviving member of the royal corgi family, Willow, died of cancer in April 2018.
After the last two of Queen Elizabeth's corgis, Holly and Willow, were born, the queen stopped breeding them because she didn’t want to leave any of them behind when she died.
Queen Elizabeth owned two other corgis, Muick (pronounced Mick) and Sandy.
Sandy was a gift for her 95th birthday from Andrew, Eugenie and Beatrice.
What’s a dorgi? It’s a dachshund and corgi mix that Queen Elizabeth II herself is often credited with creating a few decades ago.
Explore further: Royal Corgis
The Queen's Corgis
The Queen's Corgis were a beloved part of her life, and it all started with Susan, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi who was given to Princess Elizabeth as an 18th birthday gift in 1944.
Susan was a constant companion to Elizabeth for many years and even accompanied her on her honeymoon. She became a mother too, giving birth to Sugar and Honey, who were the pets of Prince Charles and Princess Anne, respectively.
The Queen personally oversaw a program of Pembroke Welsh Corgi breeding at Windsor Castle, where puppies were bred with the affix "Windsor" in their names. Susan is the common ancestor of all Queen Elizabeth's Pembrokes, an incredible genetic legacy that spans 14 generations.
Bill and Nancy Fenwick cared for the Queen's Pembrokes, with Nancy training the dogs to go up the stairs and feeding and looking after them.
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The Queen's Program
The Queen's Program was a remarkable endeavor that spanned decades.
The Queen personally oversaw a program of Pembroke Welsh Corgi breeding at Windsor Castle. This involved incorporating the affix, or kennel name, of Windsor into the monikers of purebred puppies bred by Her Majesty.
Bill and Nancy Fenwick played a crucial role in caring for the Queen's dogs. Bill became Windsor's head gamekeeper, and Nancy trained the dogs to go up the stairs, fed and looked after them, and assisted with finding matches to mate with Queen Elizabeth's canines.
The Queen called on prominent breeders, such as Thelma Gray and Maureen Johnston, to help her continue her lines. These breeders worked closely with the Queen to ensure the success of her breeding program.
Susan, the Queen's beloved corgi, was the foundation of the royal breeding program. She was a common ancestor of all Queen Elizabeth's Pembrokes, an incredible genetic legacy that continued for generations.
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At Time of Death
The Queen still had corgis roaming around the palace grounds in her final years.
She owned two other corgis, Muick and Sandy, as well as a cocker spaniel named Lissy and a dorgi named Candy.
The last surviving member of the royal corgi family, Willow, died of cancer in April 2018.
Whisper, a corgi the queen inherited from a former staff member, passed away in October of the same year.
Muick was a gift from Prince Andrew to keep the Queen company during the pandemic.
Sandy was a gift for her 95th birthday from Andrew, Eugenie, and Beatrice.
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Queen Elizabeth II's Corgis
Queen Elizabeth II's love for corgis was well-known, and she had a few furry friends roaming around the palace grounds in her final years. She owned two other corgis, Muick and Sandy.
Muick was a gift from Prince Andrew during the pandemic to keep the Queen company. Sandy was a gift for her 95th birthday from Andrew, Eugenie, and Beatrice.
A dorgi named Candy was also part of the Queen's family, a mix of a dachshund and corgi. What's a dorgi? It's a dachshund and corgi mix that Queen Elizabeth II herself is often credited with creating a few decades ago.
The Queen had stopped breeding corgis after Holly and Willow were born, as she didn't want to leave any of them behind when she passed away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Queen have a favorite corgi?
The Queen had a favorite corgi, Heather, who was born in 1962 and gave birth to several notable corgis. Heather's descendants, including Foxy and Brush, were part of the Queen's beloved corgi family at Buckingham Palace.
What did the queen call her first corgi?
The Queen's first corgi was named Susan.
How many corgis does Queen Elizabeth still have?
Queen Elizabeth had two corgis at the time of her death, and one of them moved to Prince Andrew's home in Windsor.
What is the most famous corgi?
While there isn't a single "most famous" corgi, the Queen's beloved pets Holly and Willow are notable examples of her affection for the breed.
Are any of the Queen's corgis still alive?
No, the Queen's corgis are no longer alive, but she still has two dorgis, Vulcan and Candy, who are the offspring of her corgis and dachshunds.
Sources
- Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Pembroke Welsh Corgis (akc.org)
- Royal Collection Trust (rct.uk)
- Pembroke Corgi (wikipedia.org)
- Vanity Fair (vanityfair.com)
- stopped breeding corgis (telegraph.co.uk)
- passed away (theguardian.com)
- Vanity Fair (vanityfair.com)
- The Queen Died But What Happens To Her Corgis? (buzzfeednews.com)
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