Queen Elizabeth II was known for her wicked sense of humour - and would never turn down an opportunity to have fun while serving her country. According to broadcaster Alexander Armstrong, the late Queen used to write letters to her staff member's dogs on behalf of her royal corgis.
In the ITV documentary, The Queen and her Cousins, made to mark Her Majesty’s 95th birthday, Mr Armstrong explained how he hung up a handwritten letter from the Queen’s former equerry, Sir Blair Stewart-Wilson, in his bathroom. Speaking about Sir Wilson, Mr Armstrong said: "He would write these letters from their Jack Russell to the corgis and the Queen would write these letters back.
"And they put this series of letters up, and they are so funny. I wish I could remember them. I remember holding my stomach, howling with laughter because they are wickedly funny."
It comes as the Duke of York and his ex-wife have confirmed they will take in the late Queen's corgis following her death on Thursday, September 8.
A spokeswoman for Prince Andrew said he and Sarah, the Duchess of York will take on Muick and Sandy – two dogs the late monarch received as gifts from her son.
Corgis and dorgis, a cross between a corgi and a dachshund, have been mixing with the royals since 1933, when the family first welcomed a Pembrokeshire Welsh Corgi.
The dog, who was renamed Duke from Dookie, has been immortalised in official Royal photographs, which give a rare glimpse into Her Majesty's childhood.
Her passion for pets has been documented in royal photographs throughout the years, with many showing the Queen as a young girl posing alongside her beloved dogs.
Her Majesty, who had celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this year, was gifted her first ever corgi, Susan, on her 18th birthday in 1944. Not wanting to leave Susan's side, the Queen managed to 'sneak' her on her honeymoon with Prince Phillip three years later.
It has been reported Prince Phillip 'loathed' the Queen's dogs because they were "too yappy" - but this didn't stop her from filling Buckingham Palace with them.
Despite not winning over Prince Phillip, three of the Queen's dogs, Monty, WIllow and Holly, won over the nation after making their TV debut alongside Her Majesty and Daniel Craig in a James Bond sketch.
Filmed at Buckingham Palace, the sketch became part of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony – and has since been viewed more than 50 million times on YouTube.
Her dogs have also become the focus of their own animated movie called The Queen's Corgis, which stars Jack Whitehall and Dame Julie Walters as voice actors.
The animated movie provides an insight into what life might be like for the Queen's dogs, and includes mention of the 'Corgi Room', where the dogs sleep in elevated wicker baskets.
Credited for creating the dorgi breed, Queen Elizabeth II was said to be very hands on with her dog and walks them around the Palace grounds every day.
She was known for giving her dogs' unusual names including Bisto Oxo, Whisky, Cider, Spick, Span, Bushy and Brush.
In February 2021, the Queen was gifted two new puppies, a corgi, Muick and a Dorgi, Fergus, by her son the Duke of York and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
The puppies were given to the Queen to keep her company whilst her husband Prince Philip was in the hospital.
However, sadly, Fergus died just three months after he was given to the Queen.
In June 2021, Prince Andrew and his daughters gave the Queen another corgi, named Sandy, to keep Muick company.
The Queen also owned an elderly dorgi, called Candy, who recently appeared in footage of the monarch looking at items from previous jubilee celebrations.
You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.
