The Royal Family has announced that one of Queen Camilla’s dogs, Beth, has died.
While the Royal Family have long had an association with Corgis, ever since Queen Elizabeth II’s father King George VI brought home Dookie in 1933 (we know that she used to give her pups plenty of the best dog treats) the current King and Queen had Jack Russell Terriers Beth and Bluebell.
The Royal Family wrote in a statement on social media yesterday (18 November), “A sad farewell to Beth, The Queen’s much-loved companion from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire.”
It’s believed that Beth was euthanized at the weekend after being diagnosed with an untreatable tumor. The Queen adopted her in 2011, and adopted Bluebell the following year after she was found wandering around a London park with a painful skin condition.
Peter Laurie, chief executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, paid tribute to Beth, too. “We’re very sad to hear that Beth, HM The Queen’s rescue dog, has sadly passed away,” he said. “Her Majesty, our Patron, rehomed Beth from Battersea in 2011 and we have many fond memories of Beth visiting our centers over the years. Our thoughts are with Their Majesties at this time, we know how difficult it is to lose a beloved pet and Beth was very special indeed.”
The Queen was so fond of her dogs that they even featured on her coronation gown, with goldwork motifs embroidered onto the dress. And Beth often appeared alongside her parents at royal engagements – in 2022, she competed in a loyalty duel with the late TV presenter Paul O’Grady and his dog, Sausage, at Battersea’s Brands Hatch center as part of the filming for his show For The Love Of Dogs.
And in 2020, Beth was there when the then-Duchess of Cornwall unveiled a plaque to open new kennels for Battersea.
Meanwhile, after Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022, it was announced that her son, Prince Andrew, and his ex-wife, Sarah Duchess of York, would adopt her two surviving corgis. The Duchess wrote on Instagram for International Dog Day in August, “For all the unconditional love, loyalty, and joy they bring into our lives, Sandy and Muick will be getting an extra treat on their special day!"
If you’re thinking of following Queen Camilla’s lead and adopting a pup, here are eight things you need to know before getting a rescue dog.
