Sarah Ferguson shares update on Queen’s corgis
In the weeks after the death of Queen Elizabeth, some have turned their attention to the welfare of her beloved and iconic corgis - and how their new caretakers are faring in their new role.
The passing of the long-reigning monarch saw her two dorgis, Sandy and Muick, pass into the care of her son Prince Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who says it has been a “big honour” to look after the pooches.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the Duchess of York described the dogs as “national treasures” and spoke about how they have adjusted to living with her five Norfolk Terriers.
“It's a big honour. Sandy and Muick are national treasures and they have been taught well,” she told the outlet.
"They all balance out, the carpet moves as I move but I've got used to it now."
Dr Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist who has trained the Queen’s corgis, previously explained that Sandy and Muick would be aware of their owner’s passing as they become cared for by Prince Andrew and the Duchess full-time.
"Dogs are very perceptive of changes in their owners,” he said.
“I'm sure they knew that Her Majesty was in decline and they will have missed her. Doubt there will be serious changes in the grief, because they were so used to being cared for by other members of the household and, of course, by Prince Andrew, who was present at the death and is taking over their care now."
Corgis Sandy and Muick played a part in the Queen’s proceedings and were spotted with their soon-to-be new carer Prince Andrew outside Windsor Castle. Image: Getty Images
It is understood that the corgis were in the room at Balmoral Castle when the Queen died.
During the funeral, Muick and Sandy were involved in proceedings and spotted waiting outside Windsor Castle as her coffin arrived.
While the pair were gifted to the monarch in recent years, they are two of 30 corgis the Queen owned over her lifetime.
The late monarch bred ten generations of corgis, with all of her corgis besides Muick and Sandy being direct descendents of her first dog Susan, who was a gift to the Queen on her 18th birthday from her parents.
In 2015 the Queen stopped breeding dogs as she “did not want to leave any behind” when she died.
Image: Getty Images