Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved corgis find a new home with the Duke and Duchess of York.
The late monarch, who died Thursday at age 96, leaves behind four dogs, including two corgis, a dorgi named Candy and a cocker spaniel named Lissy.
Over the years, Queen Elizabeth is believed to have had a “connection” with ex-daughter-in-law Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson on dog walks, The Telegraph reports.
Last March, Prince Andrew gave his mother two puppies, Muick and Fergus, in a bid to cheer her up after her husband, Prince Philip, was hospitalized. He died a month later at the age of 99.
The dogs were found by Ferguson, who lives in Royal Lodge with her ex, despite their divorce more than 20 years ago in 1996.
Sadly, Fergus — a dachshund-corgi mix named after the queen’s uncle, who was killed in action during World War I — died of a heart defect after five months. The queen is said to be devastated by the dog’s death, especially a month after her husband’s death.
Fergus was replaced by another corgi named Sandy, who was in attendance for her 95th birthday. The two puppies reportedly brought “constant joy” to the royal family prior to her death.
The Queen regularly took her dogs for walks in the gardens of Frogmore House on the Windsor Estate and was often accompanied by Ferguson.
“The Duchess bonded with Her Majesty about walking dogs and riding horses, and even after her divorce, she would continue her great friendship with Her Majesty by walking the dogs in Frogmore and chatting,” a source said. to The Telegraph.
Last summer, Ferguson was invited to spend time at Balmoral Castle after many years of exile. The Duchess was staying at Balmoral Castle when photos of her were tip-toe in the tabloids in 1992 by businessman John Bryan.
Prince Philip was reportedly furious and decreed that he would never stay under the same roof as his ex-daughter-in-law again.
When the Queen died, Ferguson tweeted that she would miss her ex-mother-in-law “more than words”.
“She has selflessly given her entire life to the people of the UK and Commonwealth,” she wrote. “To me she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me by staying close to me even after my divorce.”
The Queen has had a lifelong love affair with the messy dog breed.
In 1933, when she was only 7, her father – then the Duke of York – bought her and sister Margaret a corgi named Dookie. A second corgi named Jane later joined the family.
The Queen owned over 30 over the years, many of whom are descended from a corgi named Susan, who was given to her by her parents in 1944 as an 18th birthday present.
Generations of Susan’s descendants lived with the Queen until 2015, when Willow, who lived for nearly 15 years, died. According to reports, the Queen was particularly hard hit by Willow’s death, as it marked the end of Susan’s lineage.
A pack of corgis apparently always followed the Queen around the palace, which Princess Diana called a “moving carpet.”
Of course, the dogs lived a luxurious life, living in their own room in the palace, which came to be known as the Corgi Room. They slept on raised wicker baskets, with sheets changed daily. Their menu featured fresh rabbit and beef served by a chef. And at Christmas, the Queen made sure the dogs were given stockings filled with toys and treats.
In 2015, it was reported that the Queen had no plans to add any more dogs to her brood. She told horse trainer Monty Roberts that she no longer wanted young dogs because “she didn’t want to leave young dogs behind. She wanted to end it.”
However, the new puppies brought her good luck.
Her dresser, Angela Kelly, recently revealed that her new puppies were a “constant joy” for the monarch and “always put a smile on everyone’s face.”