The Queen’s Corgis

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138 – November/December, 2022

By Amy Fernandez

Even Americans have been enthralled by the spectacle of Britain’s farewell to their beloved queen. The pageantry and ceremony kind of takes your breath away. Although every stage of this carefully choreographed occasion was incredibly dazzling, nothing compared to the sight of her beloved horses and Corgis lined up for their final goodbye to their owner.

Pets have always played a conspicuous role in Britain’s royal funerals. For example, the ceremony for Elizabeth’s great grandfather Edward VII nearly sparked an international incident when his Fox Terrier, Caesar, was given precedence in the funeral procession over several heads of state (including his German nephew the Kaiser). Of course, for dog lovers it seemed perfectly reasonable. Edward VII and his wife Queen Alexandra had presided over the birth of the formal kennel club world. During his short reign they helped to popularize a wide range of breeds from Samoyeds and Borzoi to Irish Terriers and of course, Caesar, the most famous Wire of his day.

So, it’s safe to say that Queen Elizabeth II was born into that dog loving tradition. Her father was a great promoter (and breeder) of Labrador Retrievers–in the days before this breed owned the dog show game. But Elizabeth will always be identified with only one breed. Over the course of her 70 year reign she owned over 30 Pembrokes and the public’s fascination with royalty has virtually ensured the ongoing popularity for this half of the Corgi equation.

Elizabeth’s devotion to the breed commenced in 1933 when she and her sister Margaret received their first Pembroke, Dookie, as a gift from her parents. Otherwise known as Rozavel Golden Eagle, Elizabeth and Margaret had grown fond of a Corgi owned by one of their royal playmates. Of course, Corgis are good with kids. But like everything else royal, this was also a strategic choice, symbolizing the royal family’s respect and admiration for the lower left portion of Great Britain.

Click here to read the complete article
138 – November/December, 2022

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Posted by AnthonyA on Nov 16 2022. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.