Queen Camilla expressed her delight and a touch of regret during a visit to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where she officially opened a new dog-friendly garden. The monarch was visibly charmed by a tiny Jack Russell cross puppy, and upon learning the once-homeless dog had already found a new owner, she playfully declared, "I’d have taken him," eliciting laughter from those present.
The garden, co-designed for dogs by TV gardener and author Monty Don, was first unveiled at the Chelsea Flower Show before being relocated to its new site at the south London sanctuary. Addressing guests, including celebrity supporters Amanda Holden, Sue Perkins, David Gandy, and Dame Jacqueline Wilson, the Queen spoke of her long-standing interest in the project. "I feel like I’ve watched it grow up," she remarked. "I saw it at the planning stage, I saw it at Chelsea, and I’ve seen it here, where it’s going to be so wonderful for all the dogs to roam around." Camilla, who has adopted three rescue dogs from Battersea over the years, including her latest pet Moley, noted that her own canine companion had been left at home due to the warm weather.
