A look back at Queen Elizabeth II's long history with her beloved corgis
Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis might be the greatest love story of our time
Queen Elizabeth II And Her Corgis: A Love Story
Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis: A love story
On April 21, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 91st birthday, and people all over the world will pay their respects to the longest-reigning British monarch in history. But in addition to her longevity, the Queen will also be celebrating another great legacy: being the most famous, and perhaps greatest, corgi lover to ever live. Indeed, Queen Elizabeth's name is synonymous with the Pembroke Welsh breed. The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis throughout her life, and has reportedly had as many as 13 in her care at one time. The corgis have done more than offer loyalty and friendship; they have made her more relatable to her subjects, showing that behind the regal facade there is a maternal, affectionate woman who just wants to cuddle with a cute puppy at the end of a long day.
Dookie
Dookie
In 1933, King George VI a corgi named Dookie for his daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, after they both fell in love with the ones owned by the children of the Marquess of Bath. Dookie from three dogs that were brought to the family's London residence, and picked by the Queen Mother because his long tail made it easier to "see whether he is pleased or not." , Thelma Gray, who boarded the dog for a bit after he was chosen; she and her staff called him "The Duke" because they joked that he had started to act very snooty after becoming royal dog. "The Duke" turned into "Dookie," which stuck once he took up permanent residence with the Royal Family. This photo of a young Princess Elizabeth hugging Dookie was taken at Balmoral, the Royal family's Scottish home, in 1936.
Jane
Jane
Another corgi, Jane, soon followed, also from Thelma Gray. Here, Dookie and Jane are seen playing with Elizabeth (or Lillibet as she was affectionately called among family members) and Margaret at Royal Welsh House around 1936.
A Strict Schedule
A Strict Schedule
Early on, the Queen Mother implemented a stern regimen for taking care of the dogs. They were to sleep in individual wicker baskets that were elevated above the ground, to avoid drafts, and it was the girls' responsibility to brush them and ensure they received the proper amount of exercise. The princesses from a dish held by a footman.
The Great War
The Great War
Dookie died at the start of World War II, but Jane provided a constant sense of comfort and companionship during those dark days, when the young princesses were moved to Windsor Palace while the King and Queen stayed at Buckingham Palace. Tragically, Jane was accidentally run over by a car in 1944, but not before giving birth to a puppy named Crackers. Princess Elizabeth wrote a letter to the man who ran over Jane, an employee of Windsor Great Park, to tell him she was certain it was not his fault.
Susan
Susan
In 1944, Elizabeth received a new puppy by the name of Sue, who later came to be called Susan. She and the princess were inseparable, and when Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, Susan to Scotland, concealed under a heap of blankets.
Motherhood
Motherhood
A year later, Elizabeth gave birth to a son: Prince Charles. Susan followed her into motherhood shortly afterwards, giving birth to a pair of puppies named Sugar and Honey. This was the beginning of what is perhaps the most famous and prolific corgi dynasty in history.
A Dark Turn
A Dark Turn
In 1950, Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter named Anne. In 1952, she became a young queen after the sudden death of her father, King George VI. It would appear that Susan did not appreciate the lack of attention brought on by her lady's new role. In 1954, , and later attacked a guard, a sentry, and a police officer. Susan died in 1959, and was buried at the Queen's estate in Sandringham. Queen Elizabeth requesting that the gravestone read, "Susan / died 26th Jan 1959 / for 15 years the faithful companion of the Queen." She later followed up with another letter, asking that the loyal dog's birthday be inscribed as well.
Time to Learn Some Manners
Time to Learn Some Manners
Before Susan died, the Queen sent Sugar off to mate with a stud, and chose two puppies to take home from the litter: Whiskey and Sherry, as gifts for the young prince and princess. Having acquired somewhat of a reputation for bad behavior, the pups were trained by the gamekeeper and his wife at Windsor Castle to learn some more royal manners so that the monarch could take them on trips and events. Here, they are pictured at the London airport in 1969.
A Full House
A Full House
Susan kicked off for the Queen, including Heather, Tiny, Bushy, Foxy, Brush, Smoky, Jet, Kelpie, Phoenix, Mint, Fay, Linnet, Pharos, Monty, Bramble, Laurel, Jasmine, Cedar, Rose, Larch, Holly, Willow, and others.
Pickles, the Queen's first dorgi, appeared when Tiny cross-bred with Princess Margaret's dachshund, Pipkin. There would be more dorgis, including Cider, Berry, Vulcan, and Candy.
When the Queen landed in Scotland for her annual holiday in 1981, she was reportedly accompanied by 13 corgis, though the photo above was taken seven years prior at Aberdeen.
Another Rough Patch
Another Rough Patch
While undoubtedly adorable, the Royal Family's pack of corgis became increasingly unruly. In 1989, the Queen Mother's corgi, Ranger, led a group attack that . Two years later, the Queen between her corgis and those of the Queen Mum's, which resulted in her getting a bite on her hand that required three stitches. In 2003, her corgi, Pharos, by Princess Anne's bull terrier Dotty. The Queen's fondness for the breed was famously not shared by her immediate family or her staff.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady "little yappy nasty dogs." Princess Diana to them as a "moving carpet." Prince Charles is notoriously diffident about the breed, preferring labs. Prince William has said that he would do away with the dogs when he ascended to the throne due to their incessant barking. And in what is perhaps the best anecdote, Princess Michael of Kent once said she would shoot them, , "They're better behaved than she is."
A Loyal Bond
A Loyal Bond
Despite these issues, the Queen continued to fiercely defend her faithful friends. In 1999, one of her footmen was demoted that he liked to pour alcohol into their food and water as a "party trick." According to Darren McGrady, they were fed by a gourmet chef, who served them a rotating menu of chicken, lamb, and rabbit, some of which had been hunted by members of the royal family themselves. They often accompanied her on her walks, to the point where the dogs when she put on her kerchief as it signaled a walk, and lie sullenly on the ground when she emerged in a tiara.
The End Is Only the Beginning
The End is Only the Beginning
As the years went on, it became increasingly clear that the Queen was not looking to breed any more corgis, so as not to leave any of them behind when she died. Monty Roberts, her equine adviser, after the death of Monty (who was named after him) in 2012, but she declined. In 2016, Holly died from an illness, leaving behind just one corgi, Willow, and two dorgis, Candy and Vulcan. The Queen's corgi dynasty may be coming to an end, but the love that they shared will last forever.
Queen Elizabeth II And Her Corgis: A Love Story
Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis: A love story
On April 21, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 91st birthday, and people all over the world will pay their respects to the longest-reigning British monarch in history. But in addition to her longevity, the Queen will also be celebrating another great legacy: being the most famous, and perhaps greatest, corgi lover to ever live. Indeed, Queen Elizabeth's name is synonymous with the Pembroke Welsh breed. The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis throughout her life, and has reportedly had as many as 13 in her care at one time. The corgis have done more than offer loyalty and friendship; they have made her more relatable to her subjects, showing that behind the regal facade there is a maternal, affectionate woman who just wants to cuddle with a cute puppy at the end of a long day.
Dookie
Dookie
In 1933, King George VI a corgi named Dookie for his daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, after they both fell in love with the ones owned by the children of the Marquess of Bath. Dookie from three dogs that were brought to the family's London residence, and picked by the Queen Mother because his long tail made it easier to "see whether he is pleased or not." , Thelma Gray, who boarded the dog for a bit after he was chosen; she and her staff called him "The Duke" because they joked that he had started to act very snooty after becoming royal dog. "The Duke" turned into "Dookie," which stuck once he took up permanent residence with the Royal Family. This photo of a young Princess Elizabeth hugging Dookie was taken at Balmoral, the Royal family's Scottish home, in 1936.
Jane
Jane
Another corgi, Jane, soon followed, also from Thelma Gray. Here, Dookie and Jane are seen playing with Elizabeth (or Lillibet as she was affectionately called among family members) and Margaret at Royal Welsh House around 1936.
A Strict Schedule
A Strict Schedule
Early on, the Queen Mother implemented a stern regimen for taking care of the dogs. They were to sleep in individual wicker baskets that were elevated above the ground, to avoid drafts, and it was the girls' responsibility to brush them and ensure they received the proper amount of exercise. The princesses from a dish held by a footman.
The Great War
The Great War
Dookie died at the start of World War II, but Jane provided a constant sense of comfort and companionship during those dark days, when the young princesses were moved to Windsor Palace while the King and Queen stayed at Buckingham Palace. Tragically, Jane was accidentally run over by a car in 1944, but not before giving birth to a puppy named Crackers. Princess Elizabeth wrote a letter to the man who ran over Jane, an employee of Windsor Great Park, to tell him she was certain it was not his fault.
Susan
Susan
In 1944, Elizabeth received a new puppy by the name of Sue, who later came to be called Susan. She and the princess were inseparable, and when Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, Susan to Scotland, concealed under a heap of blankets.
Motherhood
Motherhood
A year later, Elizabeth gave birth to a son: Prince Charles. Susan followed her into motherhood shortly afterwards, giving birth to a pair of puppies named Sugar and Honey. This was the beginning of what is perhaps the most famous and prolific corgi dynasty in history.
A Dark Turn
A Dark Turn
In 1950, Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter named Anne. In 1952, she became a young queen after the sudden death of her father, King George VI. It would appear that Susan did not appreciate the lack of attention brought on by her lady's new role. In 1954, , and later attacked a guard, a sentry, and a police officer. Susan died in 1959, and was buried at the Queen's estate in Sandringham. Queen Elizabeth requesting that the gravestone read, "Susan / died 26th Jan 1959 / for 15 years the faithful companion of the Queen." She later followed up with another letter, asking that the loyal dog's birthday be inscribed as well.
Time to Learn Some Manners
Time to Learn Some Manners
Before Susan died, the Queen sent Sugar off to mate with a stud, and chose two puppies to take home from the litter: Whiskey and Sherry, as gifts for the young prince and princess. Having acquired somewhat of a reputation for bad behavior, the pups were trained by the gamekeeper and his wife at Windsor Castle to learn some more royal manners so that the monarch could take them on trips and events. Here, they are pictured at the London airport in 1969.
A Full House
A Full House
Susan kicked off for the Queen, including Heather, Tiny, Bushy, Foxy, Brush, Smoky, Jet, Kelpie, Phoenix, Mint, Fay, Linnet, Pharos, Monty, Bramble, Laurel, Jasmine, Cedar, Rose, Larch, Holly, Willow, and others.
Pickles, the Queen's first dorgi, appeared when Tiny cross-bred with Princess Margaret's dachshund, Pipkin. There would be more dorgis, including Cider, Berry, Vulcan, and Candy.
When the Queen landed in Scotland for her annual holiday in 1981, she was reportedly accompanied by 13 corgis, though the photo above was taken seven years prior at Aberdeen.
Another Rough Patch
Another Rough Patch
While undoubtedly adorable, the Royal Family's pack of corgis became increasingly unruly. In 1989, the Queen Mother's corgi, Ranger, led a group attack that . Two years later, the Queen between her corgis and those of the Queen Mum's, which resulted in her getting a bite on her hand that required three stitches. In 2003, her corgi, Pharos, by Princess Anne's bull terrier Dotty. The Queen's fondness for the breed was famously not shared by her immediate family or her staff.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady "little yappy nasty dogs." Princess Diana to them as a "moving carpet." Prince Charles is notoriously diffident about the breed, preferring labs. Prince William has said that he would do away with the dogs when he ascended to the throne due to their incessant barking. And in what is perhaps the best anecdote, Princess Michael of Kent once said she would shoot them, , "They're better behaved than she is."
A Loyal Bond
A Loyal Bond
Despite these issues, the Queen continued to fiercely defend her faithful friends. In 1999, one of her footmen was demoted that he liked to pour alcohol into their food and water as a "party trick." According to Darren McGrady, they were fed by a gourmet chef, who served them a rotating menu of chicken, lamb, and rabbit, some of which had been hunted by members of the royal family themselves. They often accompanied her on her walks, to the point where the dogs when she put on her kerchief as it signaled a walk, and lie sullenly on the ground when she emerged in a tiara.
The End Is Only the Beginning
The End is Only the Beginning
As the years went on, it became increasingly clear that the Queen was not looking to breed any more corgis, so as not to leave any of them behind when she died. Monty Roberts, her equine adviser, after the death of Monty (who was named after him) in 2012, but she declined. In 2016, Holly died from an illness, leaving behind just one corgi, Willow, and two dorgis, Candy and Vulcan. The Queen's corgi dynasty may be coming to an end, but the love that they shared will last forever.
Queen Elizabeth II And Her Corgis: A Love Story
Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis: A love story
On April 21, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 91st birthday, and people all over the world will pay their respects to the longest-reigning British monarch in history. But in addition to her longevity, the Queen will also be celebrating another great legacy: being the most famous, and perhaps greatest, corgi lover to ever live. Indeed, Queen Elizabeth's name is synonymous with the Pembroke Welsh breed. The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis throughout her life, and has reportedly had as many as 13 in her care at one time. The corgis have done more than offer loyalty and friendship; they have made her more relatable to her subjects, showing that behind the regal facade there is a maternal, affectionate woman who just wants to cuddle with a cute puppy at the end of a long day.
Dookie
Dookie
In 1933, King George VI a corgi named Dookie for his daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, after they both fell in love with the ones owned by the children of the Marquess of Bath. Dookie from three dogs that were brought to the family's London residence, and picked by the Queen Mother because his long tail made it easier to "see whether he is pleased or not." , Thelma Gray, who boarded the dog for a bit after he was chosen; she and her staff called him "The Duke" because they joked that he had started to act very snooty after becoming royal dog. "The Duke" turned into "Dookie," which stuck once he took up permanent residence with the Royal Family. This photo of a young Princess Elizabeth hugging Dookie was taken at Balmoral, the Royal family's Scottish home, in 1936.
Jane
Jane
Another corgi, Jane, soon followed, also from Thelma Gray. Here, Dookie and Jane are seen playing with Elizabeth (or Lillibet as she was affectionately called among family members) and Margaret at Royal Welsh House around 1936.
A Strict Schedule
A Strict Schedule
Early on, the Queen Mother implemented a stern regimen for taking care of the dogs. They were to sleep in individual wicker baskets that were elevated above the ground, to avoid drafts, and it was the girls' responsibility to brush them and ensure they received the proper amount of exercise. The princesses from a dish held by a footman.
The Great War
The Great War
Dookie died at the start of World War II, but Jane provided a constant sense of comfort and companionship during those dark days, when the young princesses were moved to Windsor Palace while the King and Queen stayed at Buckingham Palace. Tragically, Jane was accidentally run over by a car in 1944, but not before giving birth to a puppy named Crackers. Princess Elizabeth wrote a letter to the man who ran over Jane, an employee of Windsor Great Park, to tell him she was certain it was not his fault.
Susan
Susan
In 1944, Elizabeth received a new puppy by the name of Sue, who later came to be called Susan. She and the princess were inseparable, and when Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, Susan to Scotland, concealed under a heap of blankets.
Motherhood
Motherhood
A year later, Elizabeth gave birth to a son: Prince Charles. Susan followed her into motherhood shortly afterwards, giving birth to a pair of puppies named Sugar and Honey. This was the beginning of what is perhaps the most famous and prolific corgi dynasty in history.
A Dark Turn
A Dark Turn
In 1950, Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter named Anne. In 1952, she became a young queen after the sudden death of her father, King George VI. It would appear that Susan did not appreciate the lack of attention brought on by her lady's new role. In 1954, , and later attacked a guard, a sentry, and a police officer. Susan died in 1959, and was buried at the Queen's estate in Sandringham. Queen Elizabeth requesting that the gravestone read, "Susan / died 26th Jan 1959 / for 15 years the faithful companion of the Queen." She later followed up with another letter, asking that the loyal dog's birthday be inscribed as well.
Time to Learn Some Manners
Time to Learn Some Manners
Before Susan died, the Queen sent Sugar off to mate with a stud, and chose two puppies to take home from the litter: Whiskey and Sherry, as gifts for the young prince and princess. Having acquired somewhat of a reputation for bad behavior, the pups were trained by the gamekeeper and his wife at Windsor Castle to learn some more royal manners so that the monarch could take them on trips and events. Here, they are pictured at the London airport in 1969.
A Full House
A Full House
Susan kicked off for the Queen, including Heather, Tiny, Bushy, Foxy, Brush, Smoky, Jet, Kelpie, Phoenix, Mint, Fay, Linnet, Pharos, Monty, Bramble, Laurel, Jasmine, Cedar, Rose, Larch, Holly, Willow, and others.
Pickles, the Queen's first dorgi, appeared when Tiny cross-bred with Princess Margaret's dachshund, Pipkin. There would be more dorgis, including Cider, Berry, Vulcan, and Candy.
When the Queen landed in Scotland for her annual holiday in 1981, she was reportedly accompanied by 13 corgis, though the photo above was taken seven years prior at Aberdeen.
Another Rough Patch
Another Rough Patch
While undoubtedly adorable, the Royal Family's pack of corgis became increasingly unruly. In 1989, the Queen Mother's corgi, Ranger, led a group attack that . Two years later, the Queen between her corgis and those of the Queen Mum's, which resulted in her getting a bite on her hand that required three stitches. In 2003, her corgi, Pharos, by Princess Anne's bull terrier Dotty. The Queen's fondness for the breed was famously not shared by her immediate family or her staff.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady "little yappy nasty dogs." Princess Diana to them as a "moving carpet." Prince Charles is notoriously diffident about the breed, preferring labs. Prince William has said that he would do away with the dogs when he ascended to the throne due to their incessant barking. And in what is perhaps the best anecdote, Princess Michael of Kent once said she would shoot them, , "They're better behaved than she is."
A Loyal Bond
A Loyal Bond
Despite these issues, the Queen continued to fiercely defend her faithful friends. In 1999, one of her footmen was demoted that he liked to pour alcohol into their food and water as a "party trick." According to Darren McGrady, they were fed by a gourmet chef, who served them a rotating menu of chicken, lamb, and rabbit, some of which had been hunted by members of the royal family themselves. They often accompanied her on her walks, to the point where the dogs when she put on her kerchief as it signaled a walk, and lie sullenly on the ground when she emerged in a tiara.
The End Is Only the Beginning
The End is Only the Beginning
As the years went on, it became increasingly clear that the Queen was not looking to breed any more corgis, so as not to leave any of them behind when she died. Monty Roberts, her equine adviser, after the death of Monty (who was named after him) in 2012, but she declined. In 2016, Holly died from an illness, leaving behind just one corgi, Willow, and two dorgis, Candy and Vulcan. The Queen's corgi dynasty may be coming to an end, but the love that they shared will last forever.
Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis might be the greatest love story of our time
It's perhaps the greatest love story of our time.