"Psycho": Biographer reveals truth about Queen Elizabeth's corgis
The late Queen Elizabeth's love for her corgis was well known throughout her reign, but a new book suggests the pups weren't as sweet as they seemed.
The late monarch was a fan of corgis and dorgis – a mix breed between a corgi and dachshund, and she bred them from a young age, owning a total of 83 over 14 generations.
In his new biography, A Voyage Around the Queen, Journalist Craig Brown has revealed that the Queen's dogs were actually "psycho" and known for their unpredictable temperament.
While it was a common trait for their breed, Brown claims that the lineage bred by the Queen was particularly nightmarish, especially her first Corgi, Dookie.
"Dookie did not restrict his aggression to humans: he would happily attack the dining room chairs at Royal Lodge, the family home in Windsor Great Park," he shared.
He claimed that Dookie even once bit a politician who came to visit. According to Brown, the corgi's disposition for violence was passed down from generation to generation, even recalling what the Queen's first dorgi, Honey, was like.
"In 1984, Piper, the great-great-great-grand dorgi of Honey sank his teeth in several victims, including the Queen Mother and Prince Edward," explained Brown.
The journalist added that Piper was then handed over to Princess Anne, who allegedly has a "soft spot for nippers and biters."
The late Queen did eventually figure out how to keep the violence at bay, although the method itself is a little strange.
"Coincidentally, the way to scare off a belligerent corgi is the same as for a belligerent human being: a blast from the bagpipes," Brown wrote.
"Happily, the Queen always kept a set of bagpipes at hand."
Images: Instagram/ thequeenscorgis