The Pembroke Welsh Corgi: Royal Pups of a Dog-Loving Queen

Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96, and she will always be remembered as the monarch who loved and bred Pembroke Welsh corgis, and who was devoted to these pups her entire life. This is the legacy of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
When Princess Elizabeth was 18 years old, her family gave her a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Susan. The family had already had a corgi named Dookie, so they knew the young princess would adore the dog. What they didn’t know was that caring for Susan would spark a lifelong friendship and a deep love for corgis.
The Queen and Susan’s Friendship Lasted a Lifetime
Susan was Princess Elizabeth’s faithful companion for 15 years, accompanying the Queen just about everywhere—even on her honeymoon after her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947!
Then, Susan started a family of her own, giving birth to her first litter of puppies in 1949. And would you believe that every single one of the 30 corgis that the Queen had in her life descended from Susan? Talk about best friends furever!
The Queen continued breeding corgis throughout most of her life, producing about 14 generations of pups that all stemmed from her beloved Susan. Indeed, upon the Queen’s, the American Kennel Club called her “one of the most prolific and dedicated Pembroke Welsh Corgi breeders and ambassadors that the world has ever seen.”
Corgis and Dorgis, Oh My!
The Queen will be remembered as the monarch who was always surrounded by corgis. They even made a movie about it!
As with most dog lovers, she typically had more than one fur baby at a time, and they all lived in the lap of luxury in their own room in Buckingham Palace. They traveled with the Queen, vacationed with her, and had free reign in the palace to accompany her everywhere.
In fact, Princess Diana once said “The Queen is always surrounded by corgis so you get the feeling you are standing on a moving carpet,” according to USA Today.
But it wasn’t always just corgis! In 1971, a chance encounter between one of the Queen’s corgis and one of Princess Margaret’s dachshunds resulted in a brand new breed: the dorgi. Although the first litter was a happy accident, the sisters mated the pups again in the future to produce more litters of these a-dorgi-ble doggos!
The Passing of an Animal-Loving Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022. She is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.
At the time of her passing, the Queen had four dogs: two corgis, Muick and Sandy, a dorgi named Candy, and a cocker spaniel called Lizzie. While no official plan has been announced, it’s thought that her children or grandchildren will take over as pet parents to the royal pups.
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