The future of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s two remaining corgis has been confirmed, following widespread speculation after news emerged that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were being forced to leave Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate.
Muick and Sandy have lived with the Duke of York and his former wife at the 30-room property since the monarch’s death in late 2022.
Last week, King Charles removed Andrew’s title and ordered him to vacate the lodge amid ongoing controversy surrounding the duke’s association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This raised one key question: what would happen to the corgis?
In a statement provided to The Independent, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Muick and Sandy will “remain with the family”.
It did not specify which family member will assume primary responsibility for their care.
Andrew is expected to move to the royal family’s Sandringham Estate in the east of England, while People has reported that Ferguson will “move forward independently” and reside elsewhere.
When the corgis moved to Royal Lodge after the queen’s death, The Telegraph quoted a source close to Andrew who said the monarch and Ferguson had connected over shared routines involving the dogs.
“And even after her divorce, she [Ferguson] would continue her great friendship with Her Majesty, by walking the dogs in Frogmore and chatting,” they said.
Queen Elizabeth II’s affection for corgis was renowned. Over her 70-year reign, she owned more than 30 corgis and dorgis – a dachshund-corgi cross – many of whom featured in official photographs and public appearances.
Her love for the breed began in childhood, after she and her sister, Princess Margaret, visited the home of a nobleman who owned two corgis. In 1933, their parents acquired the family’s first corgi, Dookie, who frequently appeared in photographs with the young princesses.
Princess Elizabeth received her own corgi, Susan, for her 18th birthday. Susan accompanied the royal couple on their honeymoon and became the foundation of a long line of loyal pets said to have enjoyed privileged lives, including meals of steak and chicken.
According to Town & Country magazine, Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, gifted Muick and a dorgi named Fergus to the queen as puppies in 2021 while Prince Philip was hospitalised. After Fergus died, the queen acquired Sandy so Muick would not be alone.
Ferguson has previously spoken about the dogs’ deep attachment to the late monarch. In an interview with Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly presenter Graeme Hall, she said Muick struggled significantly after the queen’s death.
A year later, she shared an update on Instagram, saying the queen had entrusted her with caring for the animals and she was “delighted to say they are thriving”.
Speaking at an event in London earlier this year, Ferguson suggested she still senses the queen’s presence through the corgis.
“I have her dogs, I have her corgis,” she said.
“Every morning they come in and go ‘woof woof’ and all that and I’m sure it’s her talking to me. I’m sure it’s her, reminding me she’s still around.”
Images: Instagram
