Queen Elizabeth got her first corgi when she was 18. In the meantime, dogs had gone somewhat out of fashion in Great Britain. But thanks to a Netflix series, interest is picking up again.
Just in time for the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s throne (96), interest in the Queen’s favorite dog breed is increasing again in the United Kingdom: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
In 2021, 1,223 puppies were registered nationwide, more than in almost 30 years, according to the umbrella organization of British dog breeders’ associations The Kennel Club (TKC) on Monday. Known for her love for the Welsh Sheepdog, the Queen has bred Corgis herself for decades.
“The Crown” made corgis popular again
The Kennel Club blamed the Netflix series “The Crown” for the most recent increase. The series about the life of the monarch brought the race back into public consciousness. TKC spokesman Bill Lambert expressed his delight that Welsh Corgis are back in popularity “in such an important year for the Queen”. The “Crown” series has provided a boost in recent years. “But the Queen originally played a key role in promoting corgis to the public. What a wonderful testament to her 70th year on the throne, to see her beloved breed regain popularity,” said Lambert.
Corgis came to prominence in 1944 when then-Princess Elizabeth received the puppy Susan for her 18th birthday, who would go on to found a royal Corgi dynasty. By 1960, the number of cubs had risen to almost 9,000. This was also due to the spread of television, which made the members of the royal family – and their animals – better known.
But then the interest dropped enormously – in 2014 only 274 puppies were registered. Among other things, experts blame the fact that there are hardly any professional breeders and hobby breeders are concentrating on simpler breeds. With the “Crown” start in 2018, the number of Corgi puppies shot up again.
