Where Queen's pets are now - new homes, grief therapy and lifetime awards

11 September 2023 , 13:02

595 0

The late Queen's death has had a lasting impact on not just her family and the wider world - but also her pets. When the former monarch passed away a year ago at the age of 96 at Balmoral, she left behind some of her most treasured and beloved animals. In fact, some of them were brought out at her funeral in some of the most tear-jerking moments to say a final goodbye to their owner. But a year on since her death, where are these animals now? Who looks after them and what do they do? Here we take a look...

Corgis

The late Queen was known to be a huge dog lover and the two pups that stole the heart of the nation were her corgis Sandy and Muick. The two dogs were seen at the former monarch's funeral service at Windsor Castle - leaving many royal fans in tears.

Where Queen's pets are now - new homes, grief therapy and lifetime awards dqxikeidqkikdinv

Sandy and Muick live with Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew (@sarahferguson15/Instagram)

Sandy and Muick were the last two corgis the Queen owned after having more than 30 over her lifetime, all descended from her first, Susan, who was an 18th birthday present from her father, George VI. The dogs currently live with Fergie and her ex-husband Prince Andrew, who both live at Royal Lodge in Windsor despite no longer being married. In a post on Instagram, Fergie marked one year since the Queen passed away with a picture of herself with Sandy and Muick and shared a touching message that left people in tears.

She wrote: "As we mourn a year on, we also celebrate the wonderful times we shared with Her Late Majesty the Queen. She entrusted me with the care of her corgis Sandy and Muick and I am delighted to say they are thriving." Fergie and Andrew were entrusted with the two corgis as it was actually the Duke of York who gifted both Sandy and Muick to the Queen before she died.

Muick was a gift from Andrew and his daughters - Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie - to keep the Queen company while her husband Prince Philip was in hospital prior to his death in April 2021, while Sandy was given to the late monarch in June 2021 on what would have been Philip's 100th birthday.

Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'

Where Queen's pets are now - new homes, grief therapy and lifetime awards

Sandy and Muick say a final goodbye to their former owner (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In April this year, Fergie gave an update on how the corgis were adjusting to life at Royal Lodge, as she said she believed they were "over their grief" for the late Queen as their "tails have gone up". She also added that they sleep in "royal dog beds at night with crowns on them" and praised the monarch for training them to be "so gentle".

She also revealed on ITV's This Morning that she consulted a 'dog whisperer' to learn how to best care for the grieving corgis. She said in April: "He said you have to give them space. And I’ve noticed that at night they do like their own space. I respect that they probably do miss her. I miss her, too."

The Queen was also the proud owner of a cocker spaniel called Lissy, who won the 91st Kennel Club Cocker Spaniel Championship last year. It is believed she is living with her trainer, Ian Openshaw, for the time being.

Horses

Meanwhile, another creature that won the hearts of the world was the Queen's fell pony Emma, whom she had owned for 15 years. The world witnessed a tender moment as the pony was spotted during the Queen's funeral procession last September. Emma left viewers deeply moved as she was seen alongside floral tributes for the monarch bowing her head as the Queen's hearse passed, flanked by soldiers from the Queen's Guard.

Groom Terry Pendry made the moment even more touching as he laid out the Queen's Hermes headscarf - which she often wore while riding - across Emma's saddle for the occasion. Mr Pendry, in his bowler hat, black jacket, and riding boots, also bowed his head as the coffin passed.

Emma stood by as the procession followed the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II (Getty images)

The Royal Family previously released a photo of the pony on social media, explaining: "For the past fifteen years, Queen Elizabeth regularly rode Emma for light exercise in the grounds around Windsor Castle. Emma paid tribute to Her Majesty during the Ceremonial Procession in Windsor on Monday 19th September. She will continue to be much-loved and cared for at the Royal Mews, Windsor, and regularly exercised by its small, dedicated team.

In addition to this, Emma has since won a very special award, being named horse of a lifetime at the Horse & Hound Awards in December 2022. She won the trophy following a public vote and the award, as well as a bag of carrots, was accepted by Lizzie Briant, who competed on Emma in showing classes.

The late Queen riding Emma at Windsor Castle in 2014 with Terry Pendry (Shutterstock)

Emma - full name Carltonlima Emma - was bred at the Murthwaite Stud farm in Cumbria by Thomas Capstick, who passed away in 2015. She was just eight when the Queen first started riding her. Mr Pendry once described Emma, who was bought by the Queen in 2004, as "a wonderful servant to Her Majesty" and one of her favourite ever horses.

A year after losing her owner, Emma was seen on Friday out for a walk around the grounds at Windsor, on the first anniversary of the Queen's death. Mr Pendry led the black pony around the same area she likely would have walked with Her Majesty during their rides, in a very sweet and poignant tribute.

But Emma was not the only horse that the late Queen owned. It's believed she also owned more than 100 horses, all kept at the Royal Stud in Sandringham. According to her daughter-in-law, Queen Camilla, Elizabeth ll could name "every horse she’s bred and owned, from the very beginning". These horses were all inherited by King Charles and Camilla, with one Desert Hero, winning a thrilling race at Royal Ascot earlier this summer.