Queen Elizabeth II passed away today at the age of 96. She left behind two Corgis, Muick and Sandy, and a Dorgi (Dachshund and Corgi mix) named Candy.
The leader reigned for a whopping 70 years, overseeing major global conflicts and handling many a royal scandal. She also leaves behind a legacy of royal canines — a line of over 30 Pembroke Welsh Corgis who have trotted the halls of Buckingham Palace since the queen’s coronation.
A Royal Bloodline
Susan (yes, Susan) was the first of the bunch, having been gifted to the queen for her 18th birthday. Amazingly, all but two of the 30 royal Corgis and Dorgis descended from her. Iconically, she is buried in the pet cemetery that Queen Victoria built at the Sandringham House.
In 2012, the queen announced that she would no longer breed Corgis from Susan. She didn’t want the dogs to survive her in the event of her death. Neither Muick, Sandy, nor Candy descended from Susan, making them the only three of the queen’s dogs from outside breeders.
As for Muick, Sandy, and Candy, they will most likely be taken care of by the royal family. It’s highly doubtful that Prince (now King) Charles will continue his mother’s tradition. Susan’s lineage ends with Queen Elizabeth, just as the monarch wanted.
Corgi Controversy
Though it’s hard to outdo the royal family in terms of drama, the queen’s Corgis took their best shot.
You may be interested to know that the Wikipedia page for the royal Corgis contains a “victims” section that describes the handful of injuries suffered at the paws of the queen’s pack.
Most are minor, but a couple stand out. One incident in particular details a fatal disaster in which the Queen Mother’s dog led a pack of Corgis to attack and kill the queen’s Dorgi, Chipper. In a 2003 incident, Pharos, a tenth-generation offspring of Susan, was put down after he was mauled by a visiting dog.
While the royal Corgis certainly saw their fare share of conflict, there’s no denying what Queen Elizabeth did for the breed. The AKC calls her “one of the most prolific and dedicated Pembroke Welsh Corgi breeders and ambassadors that the world has ever seen.”
