Queen Elizabeth II was loved by millions across the globe, including her very own corgi dogs who sometimes appeared in public with Her Majesty.
While the late Queen did not divulge many details of her life behind closed doors, her love for her dogs was evident and well-documented for years, dating back to her life as a princess living at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
As well as appearing by her side in public, including on a Vanity Fair magazine cover celebrating her 90th birthday and in the James Bond sketch she filmed with Daniel Craig ahead of the 2012 London Olympics, the dogs were also by her side in private whether at home or on long dog walks.
However, as Her Majesty raised over 30 dogs during her reign, it meant she had to face upset when each of them passed away. While big farewells did not take place, it has been reported that the late Queen did have her very own pet cemetery in Sandringham, Norfolk.
The cemetery, which is close to Sandringham House, can be accessed by the public and has numerous tiny tombstones in honour of the late corgis.
On each of these stones, the dogs – who are named – are referred to as “The faithful companion of the Queen”.
Among the tombstones at the site are those for her corgis Susan, Sugar and Heather, with Susan having been a birthday gift to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday.
The dog is believed to have gone with the late Queen on her honeymoon to Scotland with Prince Philip shortly after their 1947 wedding.
As well as tiny tombstones for her beloved corgis, the site also has memorials up for other breeds of dog owned by Her Majesty and her husband Prince Philip, including her labradors. One memorial is in memory of “Sherry of Biteabout” one of Her Majesty’s black Labradors, and another is in place for her second black Lab named “Sandringham Slipper”.
The memorial wall also named a yellow Labrador called Candy, believed to have been the closest dog to Prince Philip.
The late Queen is believed to have decided to have her pets remembered at the cemetery after it was first set up by Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmother, after her Border Collie Noble died in 1887, according to My London.
It is not known whether King Charles and Queen Camilla, who had to say goodbye to one of their rescue dogs earlier this month, will use the cemetery for their own late furry friends.
