Honestly, if you close your eyes and think about Queen Elizabeth II, there are probably three things that pop into your head immediately: the crown, the bright monochromatic outfits, and those short-legged, big-eared dogs. Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis were inseparable for seven decades. It wasn't just a "branding" thing. It was real.
But there’s a lot of fluff out there. People think she just liked cute dogs. It goes way deeper than that. These dogs were her shadow. They were her privacy screen. In a life where every single move was scripted, the dogs were the only ones who didn't care she was the Queen. They just wanted a treat or a walk.
It all started back in 1933. Her dad, the future King George VI, brought home a puppy named Dookie. Elizabeth was only seven. She fell in love. But the real icon was Susan. Susan was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi given to Elizabeth for her 18th birthday in 1944. Susan was so important that she actually crashed the royal honeymoon. She was hidden under rugs in the carriage when Elizabeth and Prince Philip headed to Broadlands. Imagine being a world leader and smuggling a dog on your honeymoon. That's the level of devotion we're talking about.
The Dynasty of Susan
Most people don't realize that almost every corgi the Queen owned for the next 70 years was a direct descendant of Susan. We are talking about more than 14 generations of dogs. This wasn't a casual hobby. It was a breeding program. The Queen was an expert. She knew the pedigrees by heart. She didn't sell her puppies; she gave them to family or kept them.
It's actually kind of wild when you think about the sheer number. She owned more than 30 corgis and "dorgis" (that's a corgi-dachshund mix) over her lifetime. The dorgi thing happened by accident, by the way. One of the Queen’s corgis, Tiny, had a bit of a moment with Princess Margaret’s dachshund, Pipkin. The result was a crossbreed that the Queen ended up loving.
Life at the Palace
Don't let the "palace" part fool you. These dogs didn't just sit on gold cushions. Well, maybe they did, but they lived a very specific life. They had their own room—the Corgi Room. It was located near the Queen's private apartments. They slept in elevated wicker baskets to avoid drafts. That’s a very British detail.
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The food was better than what most humans eat. Former royal chef Darren McGrady has talked about this quite a bit. He spent years finely mincing meat for the dogs. No chunks. No bones. Everything had to be perfect because if the dogs got sick, it was a major issue. We're talking fresh rabbit, beef, and chicken.
One of the coolest, or maybe weirdest, details is how they were fed. The Queen did it herself whenever she could. It was a ritual. The dogs sat in a semi-circle, and she fed them in order of seniority. If you were a young pup, you waited your turn. It was a lesson in discipline. It was probably the only time in the day when the Queen was just a "dog mom" and not a Head of State.
Why the Corgis Actually Mattered
Psychologically, the corgis served a massive purpose. If you’ve ever felt awkward at a party, you get it. The Queen was famously shy. Walking into a room full of foreign dignitaries is terrifying, even if you are the Queen of England. The dogs were a "conduit." They broke the ice. People would talk about the dogs instead of jumping straight into heavy political stuff.
Princess Diana famously called them "the moving carpet" because they were always underfoot. They were a constant presence. They provided a sense of normalcy in a very abnormal environment. When the Queen was at Balmoral or Sandringham, she’d put on her headscarf and wellies and just walk the dogs. No security right on her heels, just the dogs.
The Bite Incidents
Let’s be real: corgis are nippy. They are herding dogs. They are bred to nip at the heels of cattle to move them along. They don't care if those heels belong to a footman or a visiting diplomat. There are several documented cases of the royal corgis being, well, a bit bratty.
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- In 1954, one of the dogs bit a clock winder at Buckingham Palace.
- In 1968, a postman was bitten at Balmoral.
- Even the Queen wasn't safe; she once needed stitches after trying to break up a fight between ten of her dogs.
It shows they weren't robotic accessories. They were real dogs with tempers. The Queen loved them anyway. She reportedly had a "no-punishment" rule for the dogs, which probably made the staff’s lives a bit difficult, but it showed her soft side.
The End of an Era
As the Queen got older, she made a very conscious, and frankly heartbreaking, decision. Around 2015, she stopped breeding them. She didn't want to leave any young dogs behind when she passed away. She didn't want them to be lonely or passed around. That’s a level of empathy you don't always see.
However, her family still brought dogs into her life. Her son, Prince Andrew, gave her two puppies—Muick and Fergus—during the COVID-19 lockdown while Prince Philip was in the hospital. Fergus sadly died quite young, but Muick stayed. Then came Sandy.
The image of Muick and Sandy waiting outside Windsor Castle during the Queen’s funeral procession in 2022? That broke everyone. It was the final visual of a bond that lasted nearly a century.
Legacy and What We Can Learn
The Queen’s relationship with her dogs changed the perception of the breed forever. Before her, corgis were just farm dogs in Wales. Now, they are synonymous with royalty. But more than that, it taught us something about her character.
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It showed she valued loyalty above almost everything else. Dogs don't have an agenda. They aren't looking for a promotion or a title. In the world of the monarchy, that kind of pure relationship is incredibly rare.
How to Apply This to Your Life
If you’re looking at this story and thinking about your own relationship with pets, there are a few practical takeaways.
- Consistency is key. The Queen’s dogs thrived because of a strict routine. Dogs love knowing what’s coming next.
- Know your breed. She didn't just have dogs; she had herding dogs. She understood their energy and their quirks. If you're getting a pet, do the research she did.
- The Power of the Walk. Even with a schedule that would kill most people, she made time to walk them. It’s as much for your mental health as theirs.
- Plan for the future. Her decision to stop breeding showed incredible foresight. Responsible pet ownership means thinking about what happens to them if you aren't there.
The corgis are now living with Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, at Royal Lodge. They’re reportedly doing well, living out their days in the same luxury they were born into. It’s the end of a very specific, very furry chapter in British history.
To really understand the Queen, you have to understand the corgis. They weren't just pets; they were her most trusted confidants. In a life of immense public duty, they were her private joy.
To emulate the Queen's approach to pet care, focus on high-quality nutrition and a rigorous daily exercise routine tailored to your dog's specific breed traits. Research the historical lineage of your chosen breed to better understand their temperament and instinctual behaviors. Finally, ensure you have a long-term care plan in place, just as the Royal Family did, to provide your pets with stability throughout their entire lives.