Super sad news out of Buckingham Palace today — the queen’s last royal corgi has died
Today, April 18, 2018, will go down in history as one of the saddest days ever. The queen’s last remaining royal corgi and James Bond Olympic sketch star, Willow, has died after living 14 wonderful doggy years. The dog has reportedly been suffering from canine cancer, and Queen Elizabeth II had to make the heart-shattering decision to end her life so she would no longer be in pain. According to the Daily Mail, Queen Elizabeth “has been left heartbroken,” and we’re crying along with her.
This marks the end of an era for Her Majesty, who has been breeding corgis since 1944, when she was given her first one, Susan, on her 18th birthday.
Willow was a 14th-generation descendant of Susan. Over the span of eight decades, the Queen has bred and cared for more than 30 corgis. But back in 2012, she had to stop breeding them because she was getting older and worried that no one would look after them when she’s gone. *sobs*
"She has mourned every one of her corgis over the years, but she has been more upset about Willow’s death than any of them," a source from the Buckingham Palace says. "It is probably because Willow was the last link to her parents and a pastime that goes back to her own childhood. It really does feel like the end of an era."
The queen was reportedly still feeding and playing with Willow this past weekend, but the dog’s condition suddenly worsened and she had to be put to sleep.
"She does not like seeing her dogs suffer and she knows that sometimes putting a dog down is the kindest course of action – although that doesn’t make her loss any less," the source says. "One comforting fact was that Prince Philip, recuperating from his hip replacement operation, was able to be with her at Windsor."
But, don’t worry, Her Majesty has several dogs remaining. She is still in the company of two “dorgis” – corgi-dachshund crosses – Vulcan and Candy, and an adopted corgi named Whisper.
RIP, Willow. You will be sorely missed.
