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Queen Elizabeth II passed away at 96 on September 8, 2022. She was the longest-serving monarch after reigning for 70 years.
And we all know that she's a dog lover so the question remains, what will happen to Queen Elizabeth's Corgis?
The Queen's Corgis is just as famous as the monarch herself. Queen Elizabeth's reign was so long that she will be remembered for many things. One of those things is that she was a dog lover.
Before passing, Queen Elizabeth owns 4 dogs. She has two Pembroke Welsh Corgis named Muick and Sandy, one older Dorgi (Dachshund and Corgi mix) named Candy, and a Cocker Spaniel named Lissy.
Over the years that she had reigned, you've got to wonder, how did she cope with all that stress?
Well, according to Prince William, the Queen's pets were the secret to keeping his grandmother rational and happy.
The late monarch bred over 30 canines during her seven-decade reign, experiencing a fair few several of her own to a lot of pets – including the death of her beloved Corgi and Dachshund mixes, Vulcan, in December 2020 and Furgus, in May 2021.
The Queen and Her Dogs' History
Queen Elizabeth's love for dogs all started in 1933. The Queen's obsession with the breed started when she was 7 years old.
Her father, King George VI bought a corgi named Dookie for her sister Princess Margaret. Dookie was named after their father, the Duke of York at that period.
Dookie was then followed by another corgi named Jane. Jane stayed with the royal family until the dog was struck by a car in 1944.
What Was the Queen's First Corgi Called?
But before anything else, let's go back to where it all started. Her majesty's first dog was named Susan.
Susan was the first of the bunch of 30 royal Corgis and was gifted to her for her 18th birthday in 1944. However, out of all the 30 royal Corgis and Dorgis, only two descended from Susan.
Susan and the Queen were inseparable. Susan even joined the honeymoon of Her Majesty and Prince Philip in 1947. Unfortunately, Susan died in January 1959.
The monarch owned a lot of corgis in her lifetime. One example of this is Willow.
Willow famously appeared with Her Majesty and Daniel Craig in a James Bond sketch that they recorded for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.
But when Willow was put to sleep at the age of 14, she lost the very last descendant of Susan.
In 2018, the last of the Queen's corgi named Whisper died. But this didn't stop her love for dogs.
While Prince Philip recovers from heart surgery, the Queen received two Pembroke puppies: Fergus and Muick.
Moreover, Queen Elizabeth II was also credited for starting or creating the Dachshund and Corgi mix dog breed known as the Dorgi.
This crossbreed happened when one of Elizabeth's corgi mated with Princess Margaret's dachshund named Pipkin.
Did the Queen Get New Dogs?
The Queen had more than 30 Corgis in her lifetime, but she decided to stop breeding way back in July 2015 as she did not want to leave anyone behind in the possibility of her death.
However, the Queen welcomed a new dog in January 2022. The new addition was named Lissy, a four-year-old cocker spaniel.
According to the Daily Mail, the Queen's first ever cocker spaniel is a prize winner too. Wolferton Drama (her pedigree name) competed in the 91st Kennel Club Cocker Spaniel Championship.
It was held earlier this year where she beat 38 others to be crowned gun champion.
What Will Happen To Queen Elizabeth's Corgis?
So what happens to these dogs now that the Queen has passed away?
According to the Spokesperson for the duke, the two Pembrokes, Muick and Sandy will be inherited by her son, Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, and his former wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York.
The Duke and Duchess gave these Pembrokes to the Queen as gifts in the first place.
The remainder of Muick and Sandy's lives will be spent in the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where Prince Andrew continues to live with his ex-wife.
On the other hand, it is still unsure where Candy (Queen's last surviving Dorgi) and Lissy (Cocker Spaniel) will live.
There are rumors that Candy will most likely be with Muick and Sandy or the dorgi will be given to a member of staff.
However, Lissy now lives with her trainer Ian Openshaw. But this decision is still not final and her future is expected to be made by King Charles in the coming weeks.
Is there a Corgi Room at Buckingham Palace?
Yes, there is indeed a special room for corgis in Buckingham Palace. The queen gave her corgis a room of their own at Buckingham Palace simply because she wants the best for them.
The so-called “Corgi Room,” according to sources, has elevated wicker baskets for the dogs' sleep and a space for them to play.
These dogs have a more extraordinary lifestyle than even most people. According to Darren McGrady, a chef that worked at the palace for 15 years that the corgis were looked after by two footmen called Doggie 1 and Doggie 2.
The Queen's corgis also eat gourmet meals. In an interview with Hello! Magazine, Darren said that “It would list each day what the dogs were to have.
One day it would be beef, the next day chicken, the next day lamb, the next rabbit, and it alternated through those days”.
These dogs even have their meal planned out. How luxurious is that?
“The beef could come in, we would cook it, dice it into really fine pieces, and then we did the same with the chicken.
We’d poach them, and again chop them really, really, small to make sure there were no bones so the dogs wouldn’t choke,” he added.
Life of the Queen's Corgis
The corgis and dorgis also travel with the Queen. Her Majesty also loved to get her exercise by walking her furbabies. They allegedly take walks around the palace grounds every day.
Moreover, she also once hired an animal psychologist for her pups. Her corgis and dorgis are not the friendliest dogs.
Prince William even expressed some of his issues with her dogs saying that they bark all the time in a T.V. interview in 2012.
Also, Prince Harry spoke about these dogs in an interview with BBC in 2017 saying “I’ve spent the last 33 years being barked at”.
However, in the same interview, Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle approved of the corgis.
According to her, they were “just laying on my feet during tea, it was very sweet.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a corgi?
When it comes to adding a dog to your family, remember that it's best to adopt rather than shop. However, the price differs on the type.
For instance, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi's price average is $1,000 to $2,000 while a Cardigan Welsh Corgi is between $1,200 to $1,800.
Do Corgis bark a lot?
Yes, Corgis are known to be excessive barkers. Fortunately, Corgis are intelligent and obedient. Meaning you can train them easily so that they can manage their vocal behavior.
There is no particular reason why Corgis bark excessively. These dogs bark for the same reason every other dog barks.
They may be hungry, bored, or annoyed at something, or they are warning you of a certain situation.
How long does a corgi live?
The average lifespan of a corgi is between 12 to 15 years. As the dog owner, it is your job to ensure that they'll live a long and happy life.
Our dogs will do anything for us, as members of the family, returning this with the best food, treats, toys, and home is the way to go.
What Will Happen To Queen Elizabeth's Corgis Summary
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has dog owners wondering what will happen to Queen Elizabeth's Corgis. Her Majesty will be leaving behind four dogs.
These are two Pembroke Welsh Corgis (Muick and Sandy), one older Dorgi (Candy), and a cocker spaniel (Lissy).
The two corgis, Muick and Sandy, will now be inherited by the Queen's son, Prince Andrew, The Duke of York with his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York in the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
On the other hand, the fate of Candy and Lissy has not been decided yet. King Charles is expected to make the final decision in the coming weeks.
The Queen's love for dogs started way back in 1933 when King George VI brought a corgi named Dookie for her sister Princess Margaret.
She got her first corgi Susan on her 18th birthday in 1944.
Over the years that she has reigned, there are many controversies surrounding her and the royal family.
But as a dog owner, Her Majesty was just like the rest of us, we'd do anything for our pups.
She gave everything for her royal corgis. From gourmet meals to hiring an animal psychologist. These dogs even have their room in Buckingham Palace.
At this difficult moment, our sympathies are with the Queen's family and her corgis.