The dogs were gifted to the former monarch while she was staying in Windsor during lockdown to ‘keep her entertained’ while the late Duke of Edinburgh was in hospital. The Queen apparently named the dorgi Fergus after an uncle, Fergus Bowes-Lyon, who was killed in World War I in 1915. Tragically the puppy passed away just weeks after moving to Windsor, shortly after Prince Philip also died, in April 2021. The dog was soon replaced with a new corgi puppy from Andrew and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie for her 95th birthday, who the Queen named Sandy. Muick (pronounced Mick), meanwhile, is named after one of Elizabeth’s favourite Scottish spots near her beloved Balmoral.
According to The Telegraph, a source close to Prince Andrew said that the Queen and Sarah often connected over their shared love of animals: ‘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’.
Queen Elizabeth II with her corgi
Bettmann
The Duke of York made his first public appearance since settling a sexual assault case with Virginia Roberts Giuffre at his father’s memorial service in March, in which he was given a prominent role, accompanying his mother to her seat in Westminster Abbey.
In June, he was absent from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations due to testing positive with Covid-19.
