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Muick and Sandy: Queen's beloved corgis remained 'with her in the room' even in her final hours

The Queen accepted Muick and Sandy from Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice on the condition that they would have them back if needed

BY KUNAL DEY

PUBLISHED SEP 26, 2022

Muick and Sandy, the Queen's beloved corgis, were by her side till the end -- even in her final hours (Dominick Lipinsky & Ben Stansall/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND: Muick and Sandy, the Queen's beloved corgis, stood by her side till the end -- even in her final hours.

The dogs were "with her in the room" as she lay on her deathbed, palace sources have revealed. Muick and Sandy previously grabbed headlines when they made a somber appearance at Windsor Castle during the monarch's last journey on Monday, September 19. Prince Andrew gifted Muick -- pronounced 'Mick' and named after Loch Muick on the Balmoral estate -- to his mother as a pup, along with another named Fergus. The second dog, unfortunately, died three months later, and another corgi named Sandy was found to replace him with the help of the Queen's granddaughter, Princess Beatrice.

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The Queen loved her corgis with a passion, but her pets did not always reciprocate her devotion. Back in the 1980s, she was reportedly nipped on the hand by one of her corgis and needed stitches. She later roped in a behavior expert, Dr Roger Mugford, to school the pack, which was nine-strong at the time. One of them was reportedly so unruly that he was sent to live with the Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne.

British Royal Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by an unspecified person, with Prince Andrew and his nanny, Mabel Anderson, in the background along with two of the Queen's corgis, on their arrival at Liverpool Street Station in London, England, 2nd February 1962. The Royal Family are returning to London following their stay at the Sandringham Estate. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) — British Royal Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by an unspecified person, with Prince Andrew and his nanny, Mabel Anderson, in the background along with two of the Queen's corgis, on their arrival at Liverpool Street Station in London, England, February 2, 1962 (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

According to the Daily Mail, when Mugford advised the sovereign to have fewer dogs, she reportedly told him, "Dr Mugford, Prince Philip has already told me that I have too many dogs. If I wanted advice of that sort, I could have saved your fee." The monarch, instead, continued to expand her collection of corgis and other canines, owning a total of 30 during her illustrious, 70-year reign.

British Royals Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021), Prince Charles of Edinburgh. Princess Anne of Edinburgh, and Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), who sits in a wicker garden chair with her corgi Sugar asleep at her feet, in the gardens below the East Terrace on the South Front of Windsor Castle in Windsor, Berkshire, England, June 1959. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) — British Royals Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles of Edinburgh. Princess Anne of Edinburgh, and Queen Elizabeth II, along with her corgi Sugar asleep at her feet, are all smiles in the gardens below the East Terrace on the South Front of Windsor Castle in Windsor, Berkshire, England, in June 1959 (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Her first Pembroke Welsh corgi was Susan, who was gifted to her on her 18th birthday in 1944. The pooch died in 1959 and was buried at the pet cemetery in Sandringham. In 1971, the Queen was credited with inventing the dorgi breed -- after her corgi Tiny crossed with her sister Princess Margaret’s dachshund Pipkin. Dr Mugford recently said that that the animals were "psychologically so important" for the Queen’s happiness. He said they were likely happy living in the familiar surroundings of the Duke of York's home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park. Lissy, the Queen's other dog, is reportedly the current Kennel Club cocker spaniel gundog champion. Her pedigree name is Wolferton Drama.

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The Queen continued to breed corgis until 2015, after which she was reluctant to take on more dogs as she didn't want to leave any behind. In fact, she accepted Muick and Sandy on condition that Andrew or Beatrice would have them back. That said, they remained by her side until the end.

The royal corgis await the cortege ahead of the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. A private burial in The King George VI Memorial Chapel followed. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. — The royal corgis await the cortege ahead of the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022, in Windsor, England (Photo by Peter Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

MEAWW previously reported how Prince William assured one mourner that the Queen's corgis were in good hands. "I saw them the other day, that got me quite sad," the new Prince of Wales was filmed telling a mourner on September 17. "They are going to be looked after fine," he said, adding, "They are two very friendly corgis, so they've got a good home, They'll be looked after very well. Spoiled rotten, I'm sure."