It's going to be a lonely Christmas for Queen Elizabeth because she won't be with her family for Christmas due to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Queen is also in mourning because her most loyal dog, Vulcan, died after 13 years of companionship.
The Dachshund-Corgi crossbreed reportedly passed away in Windsor a few weeks ago. Daily Mail reported that the cause of death was not known but the dog's old age could be a factor.
Vulcan is the last of two Dorgis of Her Majesty. She's now left with just Candy as her companion, and this pooch is also aging.
Sources told The Sun that the Queen is naturally upset about losing Vulcan. However, Queen Elizabeth reportedly didn't want any more dogs and has stopped breeding her pets since 2018. Apparently, Her Majesty does not want her dogs to be without a fur parent when it is her time to die.
The Queen has always had Corgis throughout her reign. Her last purebred, Willow, had to be euthanized in 2018 after suffering from cancer. Willow descended from Susan, the Corgi she got as a gift at 18 years old. Vulcan and Candy have been the product of crossbreeding from Pipkin, Princess Margaret's dachshund, and one of the Queen's Corgis.
The royal pooches are not prohibited from attending royal events in Buckingham Palace. In fact, the dogs are sometimes pictured as the Queen arrives to greet VIPs and distinguished guests.
Insiders said that the Queen's dogs know that they have to behave well when Her Majesty is wearing a tiara. However, they get excited when they see her with a headscarf because this means that it's time for them to take a walk.
Queen Elizabeth's dogs have their own room in Buckingham Palace and Windsor. They also travel with Her Majesty whenever possible so that the Queen can feed and care for them as much as she can.
Vulcan's death comes just days after Prince William and Kate Middleton also announced that their nine-year-old cocker spaniel, Lupo, passed away in November. The pet was a gift from Carole and Michael Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge's parents after getting married to the Duke of Cambridge. He would also join the family whenever they moved houses from Kensington Palace to Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
But the royal couple will have a beautiful reminder of Lupo once they receive a Christmas present from portrait artist Rob Ballentine. He will be sending Prince William and Kate a drawing of their beautiful dog.
However, Royal courtiers said that Lupo was not allowed at Queen Elizabeth's homes because of Her Majesty's dogs. Apparently, the Corgis are not sociable around other dogs and have attacked the pets of Princess Beatrice and Princess Anne.
