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Why Did Queen Elizabeth Have So Many Corgis?

Queen Elizabeth II and Her Corgis May Be the Greatest Love Story of All Time

Why Did Queen Elizabeth Have So Many Corgis?
Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

It's hard to remember Queen Elizabeth II without thinking of her corgis. For more than 80 years, the Queen could be found surrounded by a pack of tubby Pembroke Welsh Corgis, having owned more than 30 corgi pups since 1944. While of course Corgis are adorable, but what is it about the breed that had Queen Elizabeth so smitten?

The Queen's first corgi dates back to 1933, when her father George VI introduced royal canine Dookie into the family. Then, on her 18th birthday, the Queen received a corgi of her own named Susan, who helped Queen Elizabeth create her corgi dynasty. Willow was the 14th generation to have descended from Susan, and many of her other pups are also direct descendants of Susan, whose first puppies, Sugar and Honey, helped begin a new furry dynasty. Keeping corgis in the royal household became a sweet tradition.

In 2015, however, the Queen made the difficult decision to stop breeding corgis with the fear that she might trip over one of them and hurt herself. This decision also stemmed from the desire to not leave any behind when she dies. With a relationship that lasted longer than her marriage to the late Prince Philip, the Queen even referred to her pups as "family." The daily walks and feedings also provided a comforting therapy for the Queen, which must have been particularly beneficial after the death of Prince Philip in April, 2021.

Before she died, the Queen reportedly only had two corgis left — Muick and Sandy. She also left behind a dorgi (a corgi-dachshund mix) called Candy, and a cocker spaniel named Lissy. The monarch's beloved corgi Willow died at the age of 14 back in 2018, and it marked one of the last in a long line of royal short-legged pooches. Her Majesty cared for Willow herself up until the dog's death shortly before her 92nd birthday.

In memory of the Queen and her eight generations of precious puppies, check out the gallery ahead for some of the best shots of the Queen celebrating her favourite breed.

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