Britain is in the spotlight this week, with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The iconic monarch ruled longer than many of us have been alive. As you may know, the Queen was known for her love of corgis: specifically, the Pembroke Welsh Corgis. A local veterinarian discusses these pampered pups below.
Pampered Pups
As you can probably guess, being the Queen’s pet is a pretty cushy gig. The 30-some corgis that the monarch owned over the course of her life ate things like steak, rabbit, and chicken from silver platters. The pups, who had names like Plover, Disco, and Mint, slept in cushioned baskets and were always fed in order of seniority. They also each got their own Christmas stockings.
Beloved Pooches
Corgis are super cute, so it’s easy to see how so many Brits fell in love with the royal corgis. They were even the inspiration for a movie. In the film, aptly titled The Queen’s Corgis, the Queen’s favorite pooch gets lost and ends up in a dog fighting club, and must find his way back home.
Of course, not everyone was enamored with the fluffy pups. Princess Diana once referred to them as a ‘moving carpet’!
A Furry Legacy
The Queen stopped breeding corgis in 2015, because she didn’t want to leave any behind after her passing. However, she made one exception in 2021, when Prince Andrew, along with his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, gave her an adorable puppy in honor of what would have been Prince Philip’s 100th birthday.
Plucky Pups
Corgis are really cute, but they are also very smart, and, like the Queen herself, a little fiesty. They are extremely intelligent, and are actually known for herding cattle. Given that said cattle are quite a bit larger than corgis are, that’s pretty impressive!
History
Queen Elizabeth first fell in love with corgis at a young age, when she was charmed by the pups owned by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her father gave her a corgi of her own for her 18th birthday. That dog, Susan, accompanied her on her honeymoon, and was the ancestor of the Queen’s other corgis.
Scandals
True to royal form, the corgis have had a few scandals of their own. A footman was once demoted for pouring booze into the pups’ bowls, and watching them stagger about “with great relish.” We can definitely agree with the Queen on this one. Alcohol is actually very dangerous to dogs … even royal ones!
Do you have questions about your furry friend’s health or care? Contact us today!
