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One Of Queen Elizabeth’s Last Welsh Corgis Has Died

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 18:14 PST, Oct 9, 2016

One of Queen Elizabeth’s last remaining Pembroke Welsh corgis, Holly, has died and has been buried in Balmoral, Scotland. Holly, who was last photographed by Annie Leibovitz earlier this year for Vanity Fair, was put to sleep by the Queen after an illness. Queen Elizabeth has one remaining corgi, Willow, and two Dorgis (dachshund-corgi mixes), Candy and Vulcan.

The iconic image of Queen Elizabeth and her corgis is known around the world, but as the Queen ages, so does her herd of corgyn. In honor of Queen Elizabeth’s latest birthday, Vanity Fair featured the Queen and her corgis on the cover. Even the Queen’s family says that wherever the Queen is, her corgyn are not far behind. The Queen’s dogs each have a butler to prepare their meals and serve them their medications and vitamins. The Queen’s corgyn eat out of silver bowls and ride in the car when Queen Elizabeth travels, says the Inquisitr.

As Queen Elizabeth’s dogs pass, she has not been getting new pups, as she does not want to leave young dogs behind when she passes, according to Vanity Fair. Monty Roberts, Queen Elizabeth’s advisor on horses and dogs, says he urged her to get a new corgi after the death of her male, Monty (named for Roberts) in 2012, but she said no.

“[S]he didn’t want to have any more young dogs. She didn’t want to leave any young dog behind. She wanted to put an end to it.”

Holly has been buried in the garden at Balmoral Castle in a spot that can be seen out of the Queen’s bedroom window.

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Holly, the corgi who starred with Queen Elizabeth in the 2012 James Bond sketch has passed, and the Queen is reportedly distraught, says the Daily Mail. Holly was put down by a veterinarian at Balmoral after an illness associated with old age. Holly’s age, 13, is reportedly the human equivalent of 81, which is nine years younger than the Queen.

For nearly her entire life, Queen Elizabeth has lived with corgis and dorgis, and now the herd is getting small. Queen Elizabeth is said by palace sources to be very sad that only Willow is left.

‘The Queen was deeply upset but she doesn’t like seeing her dogs suffer and Holly had reached a very good age. She gets more unsettled if they are distressed and she knows that putting a dog down is often the kindest solution.”

Another source says that the Queen was with Holly to the end.

“She was devoted to Holly and wherever the Queen was, the dog was never far behind.”

Since 1945, it is said that the Queen has had thirty corgyn, many of whom were descendants of Susan, the corgi Queen Elizabeth received on her eighteenth birthday. Her largest grouping of corgyn was thirteen, and though they are smaller dogs, they were said to have driven much of the staff crazy. This includes Queen Elizabeth’s butler, Paul Burrell, who was charged with cleaning up corgi messes around the palace. Burrell tells a story where he claimed he was once knocked unconscious after nine corgis tripped him up.

Though thirteen years is the average lifespan of a Pembroke Welsh corgi, Kelpie, one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorites, lived to be seventeen. The palace was asked for a public statement about the passing of Holly.

“It is a private matter.”

Do you think Queen Elizabeth is right not to get any more corgyn, as she is 90 herself?

[Featured Image Carl Court/Getty Images]

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