See the bronze, corgi-adorned statue honoring Queen Elizabeth II on her 98th birthday: Photos
Queen Elizabeth II – and her love of dogs – are being celebrated in her native England.
The late British monarch, who died in September 2022, was honored posthumously with a statue in Oakham, England, on Sunday, coinciding with her 98th birthday. The statue also marks "the first permanent memorial to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," according to an Instagram post from the Rutland County Council (Oakham is based in Rutland County.)
The bronze statue shows Elizabeth striking a formidable pose while donning a gown, regal cape and crown. The memorial also features a set of smaller corgi statues surrounding the queen, a tribute to Elizabeth's lifelong love of the Welsh dog breed.
"The bronze statue of Britain's much-loved and longest reigning monarch was created by Hywel Pratley and has been funded by generous donations from local businesses and members of the public," the Rutland County Council wrote.
The statue unveiling was conducted by Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland Dr. Sarah Furness, Bishop of Peterborough Debbie Sellin and U.K. Parliament member Alicia Kearns. Music was provided by the Harrington School Band and Oakham School Band, as well as the playing of bagpipes and the U.K. national anthem.
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Queen Elizabeth II's love of corgis explained
Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II owned more than 30 corgi dogs, according to the American Kennel Club. She was "one of the most prolific and dedicated Pembroke Welsh corgi breeders and ambassadors that the world has ever seen," per the AKC.
Corgis are athletic dogs originally bred in Wales for herding cattle. They’re recognizable by their short legs, originally a genetic condition called canine Chondrodysplasia. The short legs are bred into the dogs to keep them low to the ground and make it easier for them to evade kicks from cattle.
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Elizabeth's lifelong love affair with the breed began as a 7-year-old princess in 1933 when she got her first dog, a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Dookie, as a present from her father King George VI. Dookie was the first of the queen’s estimated 60 corgis and dorgis, a corgi and dachshund mix. Many came from a breeding program that spanned decades at Windsor Castle.
But Susan, given to Elizabeth in 1944 as a present for her 18th birthday, cemented the future queen's love of the breed. Susan accompanied Elizabeth on her honeymoon with Prince Philip in 1947.
Susan was later bred and became the common ancestor of Elizabeth's corgis.
Contributing: Mike Snider, George Petras, Janet Loehrke and Veronica Bravo, USA TODAY