The declining breed of Pembrokeshire Corgi needs a Royal hero – is it only Prince George of Cambridge who can save The Queen’s favourite breed now?
The Crown Chronicles reported that Her Majesty has stopped breeding Corgis, so that none are left after she dies. The Queen is currently 89, and her small pack of dogs are also in their advanced years.
Could Prince George be the one to save his great-grandmother’s favourite breed? Splash News
The Queen and The Queen Mother brought the spotlight to the Welsh small-breed and the dogs soon became eponymous with the Royal Family and Buckingham Palace. The iconic Royal Corgi has become a staple in Royal gift shops, from cuddly toys to books to tea towels.
Despite having grown up with them, none of Her Majesty’s children have taken to the breed; Prince Charles and Camilla have two rescue Jack Russells, Princess Anne keeps English Bull Terriers, and we have only ever seen photos of Spaniels or Labradors, the UK’s most popular breed, with The Earl of Wessex.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge own a Cocker Spaniel, Lupo, and Princess Beatrice has a Norfolk Terrier, one of whom was sadly attacked by The Queen’s Corgis a few years ago, so The Queen’s grandchildren haven’t taken to the breed either.
They are apparently known to nip at ankles, and bark incessantly – yet The Queen adores her pooches, who are ferried across the country – on trains, planes and in cars – to be with their Royal mistress. She first had a Corgi aged 18: Susan.
So it may be up to the next generation of Royals to bring the Corgi back into fashion. The breed was put on the Kennel Club’s ‘watch list’ of breeds in 2009, then on the vulnerable list in 2013. In 1960, at the peak of popularity, over 9,000 dogs were registered with the Kennel Club – but just 274 were in 2014.
Like his mother, Prince George has become something of a trendsetter. The clothes he wears are identified within minutes, and then regularly sell out. Creations from designs such as Rachel Riley and Trotters are the clothes of choice for the little Prince, and it is hoped that George’s popularity in this respect could help the breed in future.
Princess Charlotte could, of course, give a helping hand in this respect, but at only three months old, we are yet to witness the purchase power of this Princess.
