What Will Happen to the Queen’s Dogs After Her Passing?
We don't exactly know yet, but experts have some thoughts.


Queen Elizabeth II was so associated with her love for corgis that you can even buy plush toy versions of the dogs in the Royal Palace shops.
At the sad time of her passing on Sept. 8, the monarch was believed to own about four or five dogs: "two corgis named Muick and Sandy, a Dorgi called Candy, and two Cocker Spaniels," as reported by Newsweek. And over her reign, she is thought to have owned some 30 corgis total.
But what will happen to the dogs that survive the monarch now that she is no longer there to care for them?
"I imagine the dogs would be looked after by the family, probably Andrew [as] he's the one that gave them to her, they're quite young, the corgi and the dorgi," royal biographer Ingrid Seward speculated, speaking to Newsweek.
But royal author Penny Junor has a different theory: "Care of the dogs has fallen sometimes to footmen but mostly to the Queen's trusted dressmaker, assistant and right-hand woman, Angela Kelly; and to her equally trusted page of many years standing, Paul Whybrew, who was seen walking with the Queen and the dogs in the James Bond spoof," Junor wrote in a 2018 book, per Newsweek.
Read: We don't actually know what will happen to the dogs now, and it remains to be seen while arrangements continue to be made in the coming weeks.
But though the Queen may have had an eternal love for corgis, not everyone in the royal household was such a huge fan of the pets. The late Prince Philip, for one, was reported to often be heard saying, "Bloody dogs. Why do you have so many?" as reported by The Guardian.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Annoyed By Your Overly Visible Nose Hairs? Here's What the Pros Do
Putting the best removal methods to the test.
-
Doja Cat Gives Celine's Triomphe Bag the Butter Yellow Treatment
Her style is taking a turn toward the demure.
-
No One Would Guess These H&M and Zara Finds Aren’t Designer
These under-the-radar finds look triple the price.
-
Former Royal Butler Says Prince William and Princess Kate's "First Priority" Is "Very Different" Than Queen Elizabeth's Was
The Prince and Princess of Wales are changing the modern monarchy.
-
Staff Had "Never Seen Queen Elizabeth as Angry" as When Royal Visitor "From Hell" Brought a Dangerous Surprise Guest
The unwanted visitor caused an international incident.
-
Queen Elizabeth Gave the Perfect Response When Pope Francis Presented Her With Priceless Gifts for Prince George
The late pope spared no expense when it came to treating the infant prince in 2014.
-
Queen Elizabeth's Two-Ingredient Lunch Supposedly Helped Her Stay Healthy and Look Younger
The late monarch was "not a foodie," but kept her meals simple and fresh.
-
The Witty Way Queen Elizabeth Responded When a Royal Family Member Said Corgis "Should Be Shot"
Criticizing the monarch's beloved pups was a big mistake.
-
The "Awkward" Royal Family Easter Rule Kate Middleton Broke in 2018 Involving Queen Elizabeth II
The Princess of Wales was pregnant with her third child—Prince Louis—at the time.
-
Former Royal Butler Says Donald Trump's Comments About Queen Elizabeth and King Charles Are "Perfect PR" for the Royal Family
"The royal’s PR team are not going to mind that at all."
-
James Middleton Shares Why He Was "Breathless and Flustered" During Meeting With Queen Elizabeth
"I heard a snort of laughter and looked past the Queen to see everyone in the room stifling their giggles."