Her Majesty The Queen is reportedly heartbroken after her last corgi, Willow, died on Sunday.
Willow, who was 14th generation and descended from the Queen’s first dog Susan, is said to have had a cancer-related illness and Her Majesty made the decision to end her suffering.
The dog featured in the now infamous James Bond sketch for the London Olympics opening ceremony, alongside Holly – who died at Balmoral in 2016 (see video above).
Willow’s death marks the end of an era for the Queen and corgis – as she has been breeding them since she was given Susan, her first corgi, on her 18th birthday by her father.
A Buckingham Palace source said: “She has mourned every one of her corgis over the years, but she has been more upset about Willow’s death than any of them.
“It is probably because Willow was the last link to her parents and a pastime that goes back to her own childhood. It really does feel like the end of an era.”
The Queen still has one last corgi, called Whisper, which she agreed to adopt after the death of his owner, who was a former Sandringham gamekeeper. She also has two dorgis – corgi-dachsund crosses – called Vulcan and Candy.
It is thought the beloved companion has been buried in the castle grounds.
