Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, is remembered for her unwavering love of animals and her patronage of several animal charities.
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In particular she was well known for her lifelong affection for Pembroke Welsh corgis – bold, short-legged herding dogs that became her signature companions. She shared her home with more than thirty of them during her lifetime.
As a Princess, Elizabeth fell for corgis after seeing a family friend's dog. Her father contacted breeder Thelma Gray for the first puppy and named him Dookie. The dog was apparently mischievous and prone to nipping. He nonetheless charmed the public and helped popularise the Pembroke corgi.
A few years later, the same breeder sent another puppy, Lady Jane. Then, at Christmas 1936, the royals released a children’s book called Our Princesses and Their Dogs, which proved to be a clever piece of royal publicity.
Princess Elizabeth's very first Pembroke corgi was given to her for her 18th birthday in 1944 by her father. The dog's registered name was Hickathrift Pippa, but it was nicknamed Susan. Most of Her Majesty's subsequent dogs were descendants of Susan.
Kennel Club figures showed a spike in Pembroke corgi registrations in 1944.
The late Queen's Pembroke corgis were well-travelled, accompanying the royal family on trips by train, by car and even aeroplane.
The expansive grounds of Windsor Great Park provided an ideal playground for the Her Majesty's Pembroke Welsh corgis. They enjoyed running freely across the rolling lawns, wooded areas and gardens.
The late Queen couldn’t resist petting a corgi, often pausing at royal events to give a stroke to visiting pups brought by devoted fans.
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Even at Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s corgis couldn't be left out of official engagements...
Later in life, the Queen was a vocal supporter of animal charities, often delighting in meeting the corgis and other dogs they helped care for...
And who can forget the Queen's corgis appearing with James Bond?
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