Queen Elizabeth's Dogs: The Hidden Story Behind Her Beloved Corgis

Queen Elizabeth's love for Pembroke Welsh Corgis spanned her entire life. She owned more than 30 of these loyal companions, starting with her first corgi Dookie in 1933. Her special connection with these dogs blossomed when she got Susan as her 18th birthday present. Susan became the matriarch of an amazing royal breeding program that lasted 14 generations.

The Queen's corgis lived quite the luxurious life. A gourmet chef prepared their meals with beef, lamb, rabbit, and chicken. Buckingham Palace had a special area called the Corgi Room where these royal pups slept in raised wicker baskets. The Queen's dedication to her furry friends showed during Christmas. She personally filled each corgi's stocking with presents, which showed the deep bond between her and her four-legged family members.

This detailed piece tells the story of Queen Elizabeth's remarkable bond with her corgis. The tale spans from their modest beginnings to their most important role in the monarchy's public image. These beloved dogs even made a memorable appearance in the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

The Queen’s First Corgis: Where It All Began

The British Royal Family's love story with Pembroke Welsh Corgis started in 1933. King George VI, who was Duke of York back then, brought home a corgi named Dookie to his daughters Elizabeth and Margaret. This simple decision sparked one of history's most famous bonds between a monarch and a dog breed.

Dookie and Jane: The first royal corgis

Dookie came from Rozavel Kennels, a well-known Pembroke Welsh Corgi breeder. Seven-year-old Princess Elizabeth bonded deeply with this small, energetic dog. The friendly pup adapted quickly and became much more than just another palace pet.

A second corgi named Jane soon joined the royal household. These two dogs introduced the future Queen to their breed's best traits: sharp minds, unwavering loyalty, and lively personalities. Many photos from those days show the young princesses enjoying time with their corgis. These moments hinted at Elizabeth's future dedication to the breed.

Dookie and Jane served as family companions rather than breeding dogs. All the same, they created the royal family's deep affection for corgis that would later become Queen Elizabeth II's trademark.

Susan: The corgi who started a dynasty

Princess Elizabeth's 18th birthday in 1944 brought her a gift that would shape royal history - a Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy named Susan. This special dog would later become the mother of the Queen's famous breeding program and held an extraordinary place in her heart.

Susan's importance showed clearly during Elizabeth's 1947 honeymoon with Prince Philip. In stark comparison to this era's royal rules, Elizabeth made sure her beloved dog came along. The newlyweds smuggled Susan under blankets in their royal carriage to Hampshire, showing how the Queen's love for her corgis went beyond traditional royal customs.

Susan turned out to be more than just a pet. She started an impressive breeding line that lasted 14 generations. The Queen managed to keep this bloodline going until 2018, when Susan's last descendant passed away. Almost every royal corgi over seven decades came from this founding mother.

Susan's influence reached far beyond palace life and helped make Pembroke Welsh Corgis popular worldwide. What started as a birthday present ended up creating a royal dog dynasty that became inseparable from one of history's longest-serving monarchs.

A Lifelong Love: Queen Elizabeth’s Bond with Her Dogs

Queen Elizabeth's dogs were more than just companions - they represented one of the most genuine and lasting relationships in her life. Her corgis stood by her side as trusted confidants through decades of royal duties and the complexities of monarchy.

Why Susan joined the honeymoon

Princess Elizabeth's marriage to Philip Mountbatten in 1947 came with strict royal traditions. The future Queen made an unprecedented choice that showed her deep bond early in public life - she brought her beloved corgi Susan to their honeymoon at Broadlands in Hampshire. Susan traveled quietly under blankets in the royal carriage, a secret passenger who gave comfort to Elizabeth as she adapted to her role as wife and prepared for future duties.

How the Queen personally cared for her dogs

The Queen's busy schedule didn't stop her from taking a hands-on approach to her dogs' care. She took charge of their feeding and kept their routines consistent, especially during stays at Balmoral Castle or Sandringham House. Palace grounds became her private retreat where she regularly walked her corgis away from official duties.

Her dedication showed in holiday celebrations too. The royal corgis got their own Christmas stockings filled with toys and treats, which the Queen prepared herself. She created a special "Corgi Room" at Buckingham Palace where her dogs slept in raised wicker baskets. Fresh sheets were changed daily - proof that despite having plenty of staff, the Queen made her dogs' care a personal priority.

The emotional role of dogs during wartime and loss

The Queen's corgis gave her vital emotional support through difficult times. Young Elizabeth found stability in caring for her dogs while Britain faced the uncertainties of World War II. Her dogs offered unwavering companionship whenever she dealt with personal loss or political challenges throughout her reign.

These faithful friends gave her something rare - consistency in a life shaped by public duty and constant attention. This might explain why the Queen found such joy in their company well into her nineties, whether walking palace grounds or seeking quiet moments away from public view.

The Royal Corgi Legacy: Breeding, Names, and Generations

The Windsor breeding program started with a single Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Susan and grew into a remarkable royal canine dynasty spanning 14 generations. This carefully curated lineage became a defining feature of Queen Elizabeth's dogs in royal history.

The Windsor breeding program

The Queen started a sophisticated breeding operation at Windsor Castle after Susan arrived in 1944. She personally supervised the program where purebred puppies received official titles with the distinctive "Windsor" kennel name. The Queen never sold any puppies, unlike commercial breeders. She either kept them or gave them as gifts to trusted friends and family. The program's unique ability to preserve Susan's genetic legacy sets it apart from other royal traditions. Expert breeders noted that the Queen picked mating partners from kennels with qualities she admired.

Queen Elizabeth's corgis names through the years

Royal corgis received names ranging from traditional to surprisingly whimsical. Emma, Holly, Willow, and Monty represented the conventional choices. The creative names fell into several categories:

• Food and beverage inspired: Sugar, Honey, Whisky, Sherry, Candy
• Nature themes: Cedar, Bramble, Foxy, Heather, Rose, Larch
• Playful choices: Bisto Oxo, Tinker, Brush, Spick, Span

Holly and Willow, who stayed with the Queen until their deaths, came from her final breeding litter in 2003.

The caretakers behind the scenes

Bill and Nancy Fenwick played vital roles in the royal corgi dynasty's success. Windsor's head gamekeeper Bill Fenwick and his wife Nancy became the primary caretakers of the Queen's beloved Pembrokes. Nancy took charge of training the dogs, managed their feeding, and coordinated with external breeders to find appropriate mating matches. The Queen worked with prominent corgi experts Maureen Johnston and Ally Boughton to maintain her breeding lines over the decades.

Why the Queen stopped breeding in 2015

Queen Elizabeth made a heartfelt decision to stop breeding corgis in 2015. She told her equine advisor Monty Roberts that "she didn't want to leave any young dog behind". Her choice showed deep concern about outliving her beloved companions. The death of her mother and sister in 2002, along with Nancy Fenwick's passing in 2015, likely influenced this decision. The extraordinary canine legacy ended when Willow, the Queen's last connection to Susan from her 2003 litter, died in 2018.

Corgis in the Spotlight: Public Appearances and Pop Culture

Queen Elizabeth's dogs left their paw prints far beyond palace walls and became cultural icons worldwide. A corgi's silhouette grew almost as recognizable as the Queen's own profile on British currency.

The Queen's corgis in media and art

The royal corgis reached celebrity status through various publications and artistic works. They appeared on Vanity Fair's Summer edition cover with the monarch in 2016, which confirmed their status as royal VIPs. Cartoonist Carl Giles made sure to include the corgis in every illustration of the Queen after 1962, as they were inseparable from her image.

Artists created numerous tributes to these beloved dogs, with paintings adorning the Queen's private quarters. Jewish artist Cindy Lass crafted a special piece featuring twelve of her favorite dogs, based on photographs from the Queen's lady-in-waiting. The royal corgis' popularity led to commemorative statues on Doncaster High Street in 2003, celebrating her Golden Jubilee from the previous year.

Olympic cameos and royal portraits

The Queen's corgis made their most memorable appearance during the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. Monty, Willow, and Holly starred with Daniel Craig as James Bond in an unforgettable short film. The dogs showed off their "tummy rolls" before standing at attention while a helicopter seemed to whisk James Bond and the Queen away to the Olympic stadium. Monty, one of these starring corgis, passed away shortly after his Olympic performance.

How the corgis shaped the monarchy's public image

These dogs reshaped the public's view of the monarchy and added warmth to what many saw as a formal, distant institution. Princess Diana observed that the Queen was "always surrounded by corgis," giving the impression of "standing on a moving carpet."

The corgis became natural diplomats during official meetings. The Queen would use them to help visitors feel more comfortable and create a relaxed atmosphere. Social media brought a new wave of corgi popularity, with breed registrations jumping 16% in 2017 and 47% in 2018 after Netflix's "The Crown" showed young Elizabeth with her dogs.

Conclusion

Queen Elizabeth's special bond with her corgis shows the amazing connection humans can have with their dogs. Her first corgi Dookie started this lifelong love affair, but it was Susan who became the matriarch of an incredible royal lineage that spanned 14 generations and touched so many lives.

These faithful companions gave the Queen something rare - pure love and friendship without any royal rules or formality. The corgis helped show a softer side of the monarchy, and they created so many special moments with the Queen. From Christmas gatherings at Sandringham to their show-stealing appearance at the 2012 Olympics, these dogs brought joy everywhere.

The Queen's wisdom shined through when she decided to stop her breeding program in 2015. She wanted to make sure no young dogs would be left alone. All the same, her corgis' impact lives on. They helped change how people see both the breed and British monarchy. Queen Elizabeth's story with her beloved corgis reminds us that even in the most magnificent palace, a dog's simple companionship makes life truly special.