The Queen: A Royal Dog Lover

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

19 Jun 2007 11:14 AM

I'd heard a lot about the movie The Queen starring Helen Mirren (who did as fantastic a job as was touted, by the way) so I Netflixed it and finally had a chance to watch it the other day. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was not expecting to find out the Queen of England was such a dog lover.

In the movie, she's portrayed as stoic, well-controlled and the epitome of good breeding, refinement and manners. That's what I would expect. I was not expecting dogs to be in the movie at all --much less allowed inside her residences or her taking obvious delight being with them.

But there she was, surrounded by Corgis or taking the Labrador Retrievers for a ride out to the hunting expedition. And during the scene where her SUV breaks down and she's waiting for help, here comes a stag with a full glorious rack of horns. She marveled at him --then shooed him away when she heard the gunshots and was reminded her grandsons were part of the expedition hunting that very beast.

I don't know much about British royalty except for the more sensational muck that hits the news. However, even though her love for dogs was in no way the plot the movie revolved around (the tragedy of Princess Diana's death was), it was made quite clear that the Queen was definitely a dog lover. That won me over and made me curious to find out more.

Fun Facts about Queen Elizabeth II's Love for Dogs

• She is a Patron of The Kennel Club.

• She inherited her love of dogs from her father, who was actually an animal welfare activist.

• Her Corgis travel with her to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham, and Balmoral.

• Her children --Princess Anne, Princes Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward-- all have dogs too.

• Her sister, Princess Margaret, favors Dachshunds, some of which have become "friendly" with the Queen's Corgis, resulting in what they joke are "Dorgis."

• She has four Corgis, Pharos, Swift, Emma and Linnet; three "Dorgis," Brandy, Cider, and Berry; and five Cocker Spaniels, Bisto, Oxo, Flash, Spick and Span.

Related Articles About Pets in High Places on This Side of the Pond

All Hail the Resident Pets in Chief!

All the President's Pets (Washington and Lincoln's at least)

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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Samual (11722) 18 May 2008 02:32 PM

Alot of people outside of the UK don't realise how ordinary the Queen actually is, she was part of the military in WW11 when she turned 18, she was a driver for the armed services delivering ammunitions. Here the royal family especially the late Queen mother are famed for their love of animals, especially Corgi's.

Courtney Mroch (9169) 19 May 2008 12:15 PM

Oooh! Thanks for this great comment, Samual.