The Queen and her corgis through the years
Her Majesty had a love of animals since she was a young girl and her dogs were her constant companions throughout her life.
The Queen was famous for her love of corgis and her relationship with the dogs began in her childhood. Over the course of her life she owned over 30 corgis. They featured in many of her official portraits, in family snaps, on ceramics and other mementos and even starred in 2012 London Olympic opening ceremony as the Queen receives James Bond at Buckingham Palace. Those close to the Queen say that spending time with her dogs was how the Queen relaxed and was a way of shaking off the constraints of her job. She leaves behind two Corgis, Muick and Sandy, and a Dorgi (Dachshund and Corgi mix) named Candy.
Here, we take a look back at Her Majesty's long history with her beloved corgis.
Family Life, circa 1935
The Queen Mother at a railway station with her two daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. Princess Elizabeth has one of the family's corgis on a lead.
Young Princesses, 1936
The Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, smiling at the windows of the Royal Welsh House (in the grounds of Royal Lodge, Windsor) each holding a corgi.
Royal Sisters, 1936
Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and her younger sister Princess Margaret sitting on the grass in the grounds of the Royal Lodge, Windsor, stroking a corgi.
Jane and Dookie, 1936
A young Princess Elizabeth holding a corgi dog in the grounds of her London home. Dookie and Jane were the first royal corgis. They were acquired in 1933 at the request of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, who had enjoyed playing with a Pembroke corgi owned by the children of Viscount Weymouth.
Royal Daughters, 1936
The future Queen Mother (the Queen Elizabeth) poses in the garden of the Royal Lodge at Windsor with her two daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret and their dogs.
Dog Lovers, 1937
The Royal family forming a happy group of dog lovers with their dogs, including Dookie, Jane and Choo-Choo.
His Majesty and Princess Elizabeth, 1939
His Majesty George VI with Princess Elizabeth. The dog at their feet is their beloved Welsh corgi named Dookie.
Dookie acquired his nickname when he was sent away for training as it was known he was destined for the household of the Duke of York.
Royal Family, April 1940
The Royal Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, with their mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, 1900 - 2002) and their father Albert, Duke of York (George VI, 1895 - 1952) at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Royal Pets, 1940
A teenage Princess Elizabeth holding a Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog.
Gardening Princesses, 1940
Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth on a terrace of the Royal Lodge, Windsor. Their pet corgis were constant companions wherever they went, including when they did some gardening!
Princesses With Corgi, 1940
Princess Elizabeth reads to her sister Princess Margaret and Jane the corgi by a window at Windsor Castle.
Princess Elizabeth, 1941
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret sitting on the lawn at Windsor Castle in July 1941 with one of their dogs.
Royal Animals, 1944
Princess Margaret introducing a young corgi dog to a horse which Princess Elizabeth is holding in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
Elizabeth at Windsor, 1944
Princess Elizabeth holding a corgi pup named Susan in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Susan was given to her as a present on her eighteenth birthday.
The Royal Lodge, 1946
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with their daughters, Princess Margaret (right) and Princess Elizabeth (left) at the Royal Lodge, Windsor. The family dogs lie sweetly at their feet.
A Royal Honeymoon, 1947
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh playing with the Princess' pet corgi Susan at Broadlands, in Hampshire, during the start of their honeymoon.
Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral, 1952
Queen Elizabeth II of England at Balmoral Castle with one of her Corgis, 28th September 1952.
Royal Children, 1952
Queen Elizabeth sitting on a bench in the garden of Balmoral Castle in Scotland, with her children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. A royal corgi sits watch in the background. The Queen spent most summers at the 50,000-acre country estate in Aberdeenshire, usually with her beloved husband Philip and family by her side.
Queen Elizabeth II, 1955
Queen Elizabeth II with one of her dogs peeking out of the car window, as she arrives at Buckingham Palace in London from Windsor, for Prince Charles' 7th birthday.
Elizabeth II with her dogs, 1957
Queen Elizabeth II with her dogs Brandy and Whiskey. Quite a few of the Queen's dogs were named after drinks, including Rum and Cider, both corgis.
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