International Corgi Day 2023; why are they the chosen dog of the Royal Family?

They say that a dog is a man’s best friend but they were also very close pals with the late Queen Elizabeth II and were very rarely not seen by her side; two even said their farewell during her funeral procession last year.

Over Her Majesty’s 70-year-reign, Elizabeth called at least 30 corgis and dorgis (dachshund corgi mix) her pets with names such as Sherry, Susan and Rufus, and looked after her first pup at the age of seven called Dookie.

Elizabeth’s love for the breed began when she and her sister Princess Margaret went to visit the home of the 5th Marquess of Bath, Thomas Henry Thyme, and met their beloved pets.

Following this, corgis were always seen at the heels of Elizabeth II with ‘Susan’ also joining her on her honeymoon with Philip before giving birth to puppies the same day that the now-King Charles was born.

The late Queen said that her “corgis were her family” and that they dined on chicken and steak while sleeping in their own corgi room in Buckingham Palace.

Royal dog trainer Dr Roger Mugford once told Town and Country: “The context and content of their meals is very important to Her Majesty, who tailors what they are fed to their age, clinical needs, and so on…Eight exotic porcelain bowls are carried in by a butler, each for a particular dog. 

“Eight dogs are arranged in a semi-circle to sit and wait to be given their meal bowls. It's all disciplined and well-organised by Her Majesty; few other owners can exert such control over their dogs to 'wait' for their food in turn."

Sadly, in 2012, Elizabeth stopped breeding corgis as she did not want to leave a young pup behind in addition to her children not having the same love for the breed.

However on International Corgi Day 2023, we show our appreciation for the late Queen’s floppy-eared friends.