What Happened to Queen Elizabeth's Famous Corgis

Queen Elizabeth's famous corgis have been a beloved fixture in the British royal family for decades. They're a key part of the royal family's history and charm.

The queen's love affair with corgis began in 1933 when she was just 18 years old and received her first corgi, Rufus, as a gift.

A fresh viewpoint: Queen's Corgis Family Tree

The Royal Family's Love Affair with Pembroke Welsh Corgis began long before Queen Elizabeth II's reign. In 1933, breeder Thelma Gray brought a litter of puppies to show the then-Duke of York, the future George VI, and his family.

Thelma Gray gave the royal family another Pembroke Welsh Corgi called Jane, just a few years after Dookie, the first royal Pembroke, was welcomed into the family.

Dookie passed away at the start of World War II, but Jane gave birth to a puppy called Crackers, and the royal family's love for the breed continued.

You might like: Cardigan Welsh Corgi Pictures

Princess Elizabeth was heartbroken when Jane was accidentally run over and killed in 1944, but she wrote a kind letter to the driver, telling him it wasn't his fault.

Susan then became the first Pembroke Welsh Corgi to belong solely to Elizabeth and also became the foundation of a royal breeding program.

A different take: The Royal Corgis

The Queen's love for corgis began at a young age, as she fell in love with the breed after playing with the Marquess of Bath's corgi in 1933.

Her father, King George VI, brought home the family's first corgi, a puppy named Dookie, the same year. The Queen and Princess Margaret chose Dookie for his small stump of a tail, which reportedly "helped them see whether he was pleased or not."

Dookie was "horribly behaved", often biting courtiers and visitors, but the press were charmed by a young Elizabeth sweetly taking care of the miniature dog. The Queen's bond with Dookie was so strong that she even snuck him onto her honeymoon in 1947.

For her 18th birthday, Elizabeth received her very own corgi, Susan, which sparked her breeding program. Susan became a constant companion for Elizabeth for many years and even accompanied her and Philip on their honeymoon.

The Queen was known to walk her dogs twice a day, with the first walk taking place after lunch and the second around the grounds of Buckingham Palace. During her last year of life, she gave up walking her dogs for a week due to her health.

The Queen's passion for corgis was inherited from her father, and she was instantly besotted by the young pup, Dookie, in 1933. She selected Dookie over two others for his longer tail, which showed "whether he is pleased or not."

The Queen's love for corgis was so strong that she had a special menu for them, as revealed by Darren McGrady, a chef who worked at the palace for 15 years.

Additional reading: Queen Elizabeth Corgis Photos

The Royal Family's love affair with corgis began before Queen Elizabeth II's time. In 1933, breeder Thelma Gray brought a litter of puppies to show the then-Duke of York, the future George VI, and his family.

Dookie, the first corgi to join the royal family, was chosen by the Queen Mother because of his slightly longer tail. She wanted to be able to see if he was pleased or not.

Dookie was officially named Rozavel Golden Eagle, but the staff at the royal household started calling him Dookie when he was sent away to be trained. The nickname stuck, and he only responded to it.

The royal family soon welcomed another corgi, Jane, to their household. In 1937, a reporter noted that the King and Queen and their children were all extremely fond of dogs, and much of the Princesses' leisure was taken up with their pets.

Dookie and Jane were the favorites among the royal dogs, which also included golden labradors, a Tibetan Mastiff, a golden retriever, and a cocker spaniel. The children took it upon themselves to brush and exercise their beloved corgis.

Tragedy struck in 1944 when Jane was accidentally run over by a car. Princess Elizabeth was heartbroken, but she wrote to the driver to tell him that she was sure it wasn't his fault.

The royal family continued to breed corgis, with Susan becoming the first Pembroke Welsh Corgi to belong solely to Elizabeth and the foundation of a royal breeding program.

The Queen's corgis lived a life of luxury at Buckingham Palace, with a dedicated corgi room where they slept in little wicker baskets lined with cushions.

They were looked after by two footmen called Doggie 1 and Doggie 2, who refreshed the sheets in the wicker baskets daily, a tradition started by the Queen Mother.

The corgis even had their own menu, with meals consisting of rabbit, chicken, liver, beef, cabbage, and rice, cooked fresh every day by staff in the Buckingham Palace kitchen.

The Queen herself would often feed the dogs, mixing their feed with a fork and spoon, and bringing it to them on a tray by a footman.

As royal dogs, the corgis didn't live in an outdoor kennel, but rather a special corgi room at Buckingham Palace, where they were treated like part of the royal family.

They even had their own Christmas stocking at Sandringham, which the Queen personally filled.

The Queen's corgis were so well-cared for that they had their own pecking order, with the Queen feeding them one by one in order of seniority, as observed by animal psychologist Dr Roger Mugford.

The Queen's Corgi Program was a remarkable endeavor that spanned generations. Susan, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, was the foundation of this program and the common ancestor of all Queen Elizabeth's Pembrokes.

The Queen personally oversaw the breeding program at Windsor Castle, incorporating the affix "Windsor" into the monikers of purebred puppies. This program was a closely guarded secret, with breeders who participated never discussing their experience in public.

The Queen's corgis were pampered pooches, with their own menu and special care. They slept in little wicker baskets in the corgi room at Buckingham Palace, where sheets were refreshed daily, and they were served fresh food for dinner, prepared by staff in the palace kitchen.

Broaden your view: Corgis at Buckingham Palace

The Queen's personal touch was evident in her breeding program, which she oversaw at Windsor Castle. She personally chose the names for the puppies, incorporating the affix "Windsor" into their monikers.

The Queen relied on prominent breeders to help her continue her lines, including Thelma Gray, Maureen Johnston, Ally Boughton, and others. These breeders worked behind the scenes, never discussing their involvement in public.

Susan, the foundation of the royal breeding program, was a beloved member of the royal family. The Queen's personal connection to Susan is a testament to the special bond she shared with her Corgis.

The Queen's breeding program was a labor of love, with the help of Bill and Nancy Fenwick. Bill became the head gamekeeper at Windsor, and Nancy trained the Corgis to go up the stairs, fed and cared for them, and assisted with finding matches for the Queen's canines.

The Queen's dedication to her Corgis was evident in the attention to detail she brought to their care. She even attended the memorial service for Nancy Fenwick, a rare exception to the rule that the monarch does not attend staff funerals.

The Queen's Corgi Program had a pretty impressive history, with at least 30 corgis throughout her 70-year reign.

She had many descendants from one corgi named Susan, and even created a new breed by mating corgis with dachshunds.

One of these accidental cross-breeds was called a dorgi, and the Queen was so fond of them that she continued to mate the two breeds.

The Queen's love for corgis was so well-known that a royal photographer once asked her how mating worked between the two breeds, given their height difference.

The Queen's response was simple and humorous, "It's very simple. We have a little brick."

Recommended read: Corgis Mixed with Other Breeds