It’s no secret that the Royal Family are huge dog lovers – Just like us! We are a nation of dog lovers. The Royal Family’s passion for their royal pooches can be seen throughout their history.

Queen Elizabeth ll was given her first Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Susan, as an 18^th birthday present. Little Susan was so precious that Her Majesty even took her on her honeymoon after marrying the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen went on to own many descendants of Susan, as well as Dorgis (Dachshund cross Corgi) and Cocker Spaniels.

The Queen’s dogs have always been a big part of the family, quite often accompanying her on trips and visits, and it is thought that she has had as many as 30 dogs since her accession to the throne in 1952.

Prince Charles, in his younger days, was often pictured with his golden Labrador, Harvey, but more recently can be seen with his two rescue Jack Russel Terriers, Bluebell & Beth. HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall adopted the pair from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (where the Duchess is a royal patron) and they can be seen in photographs with the couple on their 15^th wedding anniversary.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a typically energetic and loving Cocker Spaniel called Lupo, who sadly passed away in 2020. The late Lupo often popped up in family photographs showing his clear devotion to his family, including a picture of the young Prince George on his birthday in 2016. It has been reported that Kate’s brother James has now gifted them a Cocker Spaniel puppy from his own dog Ella’s litter.

Queen Victoria & Prince Albert were equally attached to their four-legged friends. Prince Albert’s dog Eos, a majestic Greyhound, had his portrait painted by Sir Edwin Landseer as a gift from Victoria to her beloved husband. It’s reported that, as Prince Albert prepared for his travels to the UK for his wedding to Victoria, he sent Eos over ahead of him to greet a thrilled Queen Victoria the evening before Albert arrived.

Queen Victoria herself kept and bred Pugs during her lifetime and passed down her love for the breed to her great grandson King Edward Vlll and his wife Wallis Simpson who apparently owned at least 11 them.

The Royal Spaniels

While Corgis and Cockers seem to be a firm favourite with the modern royals, we cannot forget the spaniels named after the monarch King Charles himself, The King Charles Spaniel, and its cousin the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was established and recognised as a breed in 1945 after many years breeding down from bigger sporting spaniels to become smaller, toy spaniels.

Queen Elizabeth l is said to have had a ‘spaniel gentle’, an early relative, and by the reign of Charles ll, several toy spaniel varieties were around. The flamboyant king wouldn’t go anywhere without his spaniels and was even painted with one on his lap at 4 months old in his earliest-known portrait. The late Princess Margaret was also a notable royal spaniel fan who adored her Cavalier, Rowley.