Queen's younger son Prince Andrew to care for her beloved corgi dogs

London: Queen Elizabeth II’s younger son, Prince Andrew, will care for the late monarch’s corgi dogs who were constantly by her side, it was confirmed on Monday.

Andrew, the Duke of York, and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson – the Duchess of York, will take on the two dogs named Muick and Sandy, which were given to the Queen as gifts. Last year during lockdown, Andrew had gifted his mother Muick and Sandy was a gift from his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, for her official 95th birthday last June.

"The corgis will return to live at Royal Lodge with the Duke and Duchess. It was the Duchess who found the puppies which were gifted to Her Majesty by the Duke,” a source close to Andrew told the BBC.

"The Duchess bonded with Her Majesty over dog walking and riding horses, and even after her divorce, she would continue her great friendship with Her Majesty, by walking the dogs in Frogmore and chatting," the source said.

Royal Lodge is a mansion in the grounds of the Windsor Estate, the home of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife.

The corgis were famously referred to by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, as “moving carpets” who accompanied the monarch wherever she went in her private chambers. The Queen owned more than 30 corgis during her lifetime and reportedly said “my corgis are family”.

They were mostly descended from Susan, an 18th birthday gift from her father, King George VI, in 1944. Some of their names included: Whisky, Sherry, Sugar, Myth, Mint, Buzz, Brush, Geordie, Smoky, Dash, Dime, Disco and Dipper. The last corgi to descend from Susan died in 2018.

Fergus, a dorgi – a dachshund-corgi cross, died in May last year soon after the death of the Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, in April. Sandy was presented soon after as a birthday gift in June to cheer up the grieving Queen.

The late monarch’s dresser, personal assistant and long standing friend, Angela Kelly, said recently that the new arrivals had proved a "constant joy" and "always brought a smile to everyone's faces".

The Queen was also an enthusiastic corgi breeder. The royal household's breeding programme wound up several years ago, however, as the Queen was reportedly said to be unwilling to leave young dogs behind when she was no more.

According to the BBC, there was speculation that Prince Andrew, knowing this, may have assured his mother he would care for the dogs if the need arose.

The Duke and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have remained close since their divorce in 1996. The Duchess has said of the Queen that she was "the most incredible mother-in-law and friend" to her and that she would miss her "more than words can express".