The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a herding breed hailing from Pembrokeshire, Wales. The name "corgi" is thought to be derived from the Welsh words "cor" meaning dwarf and "gi" meaning dog.
Legends suggest that corgis once served fairies and elves by pulling their carts. These intelligent and friendly dogs are known for their distinctive "talking" expressions and mischievous smiles.
Bred for herding, their short legs and long bodies allow them to easily nip at the heels of livestock. This skill led to them being called "pincer dogs".
Favourite dog of the Queen of England
Thanks to Queen Elizabeth's love for dogs, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed became known everywhere as the Royal Corgi. This love has a long history.
In 1933, when Elizabeth was 7 years old, her father King George VI brought home a corgi puppy, he was named Dookie. Soon another dog settled in the palace, she was named Jane. Needless to say, how children love puppies and become attached to them. This is exactly what happened to Queen Elizabeth: having fallen in love with corgis as a child, she surrounded herself with these dogs all her life, which accompanied her almost everywhere. It is believed that she had more than 30 of them in total. Elizabeth called them her family.
For her 18th birthday, Elizabeth received her own corgi named Susan, which she cherished deeply. So much so that she took Susan on her honeymoon in 1947 without her husband, Prince Philip, knowing. The royal corgis were treated like royalty in the palace, with their own room filled with wicker baskets that were stocked daily. They had a personal chef who prepared a variety of meals for them, often hand-fed by the queen herself. Additionally, the queen would personally take the royal corgis for walks.
The royals appeared to have a distaste for dogs due to their constant barking, but the queen was unfazed by this annoyance. She frequently pardoned their mischievous behaviour, such as nipping at her heels or even biting the mailman. In 1999, the palace footman responsible for caring for the corgis faced consequences for his actions, including a demotion and salary reduction, after he allowed the dogs to consume alcohol for entertainment.
To commemorate the Queen's 50th year on the throne, the United Kingdom issued a new coin featuring Her Majesty alongside her beloved royal corgi. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth decided to stop breeding corgis in order to prevent creating more homeless dogs. However, in 2021, Prince Andrew gifted his mother a new puppy for Prince Philip's 100th birthday, bringing her back to the memories of her first dog gifted by her father. Thus, the cycle comes full circle.
Royal Corgi Racing
In 2022, the Queen celebrated her “platinum” jubilee, her 70th anniversary on the throne. The whole country celebrated this event with concerts, shows and parties.
In Scotland, at the Musselburgh Hippodrome, in honour of the Queen, they decided to hold the country's first Corgi Derby, in which the royal corgis and even a relative of one of the corgis that belonged to Her Majesty, the oldest dog named Paddy, took part.
In total, 7 races were held during the day, the total prize fund was $250 thousand.
The competition took place amidst fiery excitement, with the spectators' enthusiasm fuelling the athletes. However, many participants were confused about the proceedings. As a result, some dogs, tapping into their shepherd lineage, playfully raced each other on a treadmill instead of herding sheep.
After a quick decision, the race commenced with three athletes quickly surging ahead and reaching the finish line simultaneously. The crowd in the stadium erupted in excitement. However, the leading trio decided to halt a few metres before the finish line and engage in a playful competition instead.
Ultimately, the victory in the inaugural Corgi Derby in the United Kingdom was claimed by a corgi named Georgie. He was awarded a trophy, a prize, and a luxurious box of treats.
Royal Corgi Race 2015
In 2015, a bookmaker organised a royal corgi race in anticipation of Prince William and Kate Middleton's second child. The race featured 10 adorable corgis named after potential baby names, with Elizabeth and James as the top contenders. Surprisingly, the winner was named Alexandra, which puzzled fans when the couple ultimately named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana on May 2.
Once again, the royal corgi race highlighted the special bond between this breed and the royal family, as Queen Elizabeth II's favourite dogs. Corgis have a special charm that makes them a beloved choice among dog owners, who may feel a bit regal themselves when they have one.