Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II was a huge animal lover and owned countless dogs, including more than 30 of her favourite breed, the beloved Welsh corgi. The royal corgis are well-known all across the world for being closely associated with the Queen, and have had numerous statues and works of art dedicated to them.
It is believed the Queen owned a few beloved pet dogs before she passed away - two corgis, named Muick and Sandy who became official residents of Buckingham Palace in 2021, and were presents from her son Prince Andrew. Muick, named after a beauty spot near Balmoral Castle, was a gift in February, and her latest corgi, believed to be named Sandy, was a birthday present in June.
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Future of royal dogs
Royal commentator, Howard Hodgson, suggested the corgis will be 'ousted' by Jack Russells as the royal dog following her passing, as Prince Charles and Camilla have Jack Russells.
In an interview with the Express, he said: "I think if and when anything happens to the Queen we can safely assume the corgis will not be treated badly or got rid of."
He continued: "I don't think the corgis will be put down or neglected, because they're all animal lovers in the Royal Family."
Though Hodgson believes corgis will be 'ousted' by Jack Russells as the royal dog following her passing, as King Charles and Queen Camilla have Jack Russells.
Hodgson said he doesn't believe "we'll see Charles as a king with corgis" as he'd already have adopted them by now.
But they will not be as prevalent in daily royal life and "there won't be a sort of entourage of Jack Russells like there has been with the Queen."
It has since been confirmed that Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah the Duchess of York will take in the Queen's corgis and look after them now she is gone.
Royal sacrifice
Seven years ago, the Queen made a touching sacrifice to her beloved pets when she expressed her decision to no longer breed corgis - so she wouldn't "leave any young dog behind".
Royal aide Monty Roberts, who advises the Queen on her horses, told Vanity Fair magazine in 2015: "She didn't want to have any more young dogs. She didn't want to leave any young dog behind. She wanted to put an end to it."
He added: "I have no right to try to force her into continuing to bring on puppies if she doesn't want to."
History of corgis
The Queen first grew fond of corgis since she was a small child, and bred more than 30 from her first corgi named Susan, who was a gift for her 18th birthday.
Her Majesty owned at least one corgi at any given time between the years 1933 and 2018, when the last surviving member of the royal corgi family, Willow, died.
The beloved pooch was put to sleep at Windsor Castle in April 2018 after falling ill of a 'cancer-related illness'.
The Queen was heartbroken over Willow's death but did not want her canine companion, who was almost 15, to suffer.
Willow, who famously starred in the James Bond sketch during the London Olympics opening ceremony in 2012, was believed to be the 14th generation descended from Susan.
"[The Queen] has mourned every one of her corgis over the years, but she has been more upset about Willow's death than any of them," a Buckingham Palace source told the Daily Mail.
"It is probably because Willow was the last link to her parents and a pastime that goes back to her own childhood."
Willow is thought to be buried in the castle grounds, along with all of the Queen's pets in a secluded area of the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate.
The royal pet cemetery was started by Queen Victoria for her collie Noble, who died in 1887, and was revived in 1959 when Elizabeth II wanted a gravestone for Susan.
Since then, the tradition has been going strong.
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