A breed made to be loved by royalty
Royal corgis are the Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs owned by Elizabeth II and her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Fond of corgis since she was a small child, Elizabeth II has owned more than 30 corgis since she became Queen of the Commonwealth realms in 1952.
In 2007, Elizabeth II had five corgis: Monty, Emma, Linnet, Willow, and Holly; five cocker spaniels: Bisto, Oxo, Flash, Spick, and Span; and four dorgis (dachshund-corgi crossbreeds): Cider, Berry, Vulcan, and Candy. Monty, Willow, and Holly appeared in the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony when, in a sketch, Daniel Craig (in character as James Bond) arrived at Buckingham Palace to escort the Queen to the event. It was reported in 2015 that the Queen stopped breeding corgis so as not to leave any behind when she died. Her final corgi, Willow, died in April 2018. Two dorgis, Vulcan and Candy, survived. Vulcan died of ‘old age’ in 2020. The Queen’s only remaining dorgi was Candy, before it was joined by another dorgi pup named Fergus and a pure-bred corgi called Muick in 2021.
The corgis enjoy a privileged life in Buckingham Palace. They reside in a room devoted to their habitation, known as the Corgi Room, and sleep in elevated wicker baskets. The corgis have an extensive menu at the palace which include fresh rabbit and beef, served by a gourmet chef. At Christmas, the Queen makes stockings for the pets – full of toys and delicacies, such as biscuits.
The royal corgis are known all across the world and are closely associated with the Queen. The corgis have had numerous items dedicated to them, in particular being the subject of many statues and works of art.
Glossary:
to be fond of = prediligere, avere un amore per qualcosa;
crossbreed = incroci fra animali di razze differenti;
to breed = (in questo caso) allevare;
to devote = (in questo caso) disporre, mettere in uso per uno scopo specifico;
wicker = vinile;
stocking = calza o calzamaglia;
The Royal Life of the Queen’s Corgis
