Queen Elizabeth and Susan.Photo: Lisa Sheridan/Hulton Archive/Getty
Even in a moment of great sadness,Queen Elizabethtook the time to thank the veterinarian who cared for her beloved corgi, Susan, before her death.
Susan, the monarch’s pet dog who was the matriarch of 14 generations of royal corgis, died on Jan. 26, 1959. After Susan’s death,Queen Elizabethpenned a thank you note to veterinarian Harold Swann, who had tried to save the Pembroke Welsh corgi’s life.
In her letter, the Queen wrote: “I would like to thank you for all you did for my dear old Susan when she became ill, and for the immense amount of trouble you took in getting her sent to Cambridge and for all the care she had while she was there. I had always dreaded losing her as I had had her since she was six weeks old, but I am ever so thankful that her suffering was so mercifully short.”
The letter was signed, “Yours sincerely, Elizabeth R,” with the “R” standing for “Regina,” the Latin word for queen.
Anwar Hussein/Getty
Susan was buried on the Sandringham estate with a special headstone that read, “For almost 15 years, the faithful companion of the Queen.” The monarch “personally chose the inscription for the headstone,” Caroline L. Perry, author ofThe Corgi and the Queen, tells PEOPLE.
Queen Elizabeth and Susan.AFP via Getty
Queen Elizabeth stopped breeding her corgis descendent from Susan in 2012 as she didn’t want to leave any behind when she died. However, shereceived two puppiesin March 2021, shortly beforePrince Philip’s death. After one of the dogs died just weeks later, Prince Andrewgifted his motherwith a new puppy on what would have been Philip’s 100th birthday.
Muick and Sandywere outside asQueen Elizabeth’s coffin arrived at her final resting place at Windsor Castle during her Sept. 2022 funeral processions. (The Queen’s dogsnow livewith Prince Andrew and his ex-wife,Sarah Ferguson, at the Royal Lodge in Windsor along with five Norfolk terriers. Fergie toldThe Telegraph:“They all balance out, the carpet moves as I move but I’ve got used to it now.")
Queen Elizabeth’s corgis at her funeral.GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty
Queen Elizabethwas so closely associated with her corgis that the dog breed is even featured ongifts at the Royal Collection Shop.
“Susan’s legacy was enduring,” says Perry. “Because of her — and her descendants — the corgi will forever be the symbol of the second Elizabethan age.”
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The Corgi and the Queen.Godwin Books
source: people.com
