Dog trainer to the Queen's corgis says the animals are fed in rank order off silver plates
By Hannah Furness, Arts Correspondent
Admirers of the Royal family may well expect the Queen's mealtimes to be dominated by strict protocol about seniority, dinner served on silver and porcelain, and specially-designed menus for each member of the family.
They may not be aware that such luxury applies not only to human Royals, but also their dogs.
The Queen’s corgis also enjoy an “individually designed menu”, served by hand in strict order of each dog’s importance, their trainer has disclosed.
Dr Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist and behavioural therapist, said the Royal corgis eat homeopathic and herbal remedies along with their favourite fare, presented to them by a butler.
The Queen with her corgis Photo: LFI
In an interview with Town & Country magazine, which has dedicated its next issue to the Queen’s 90th birthday, he lifted the lid on the Royal pets and their lives behind the scenes.
“At feeding times, each dog had an individually designed menu, including an array of homeopathic and herbal remedies,” said Dr Mugford, describing a visit to the Queen’s inner circle.
“Their food was served by a butler in an eclectic collection of battered silver and porcelain dishes.
“As I watched, the Queen got the corgis to sit in a semi-circle around her, and then fed them one by one, in order of seniority.
The Queen with her corgis Photo: Alpha
“The others just sat and patiently waited their turn.”
The dogs have previously been reported to be fed on a diet including fillet steak, chicken breast and home-made gravy, with scones crumbled up into their bowls for a treat.
Speaking of the Queen’s love of animals, Dr Mugford continued: “The Queen has definite views about how dogs should be cared for: she doesn’t tolerate unkindness, and I remember she took a very dim view of President Lyndon B Johnson picking his dogs up by their ears.
“When she’s talking about her dogs or her horses you see a completely different side to her: she relaxes.
The Queen relaxes with her pet corgis at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, on May 12th, 1973 Photo: Topfoto
“Dogs are great levellers, and they’re not influenced by social status, which must be a great relief to her.
“No wonder she enjoys being around them.”
The Queen’s devotion to corgis, which were introduced to the Royal family by George VI. dates back to her 18th birthday, when she received Susan, a Pembroke, for her 18th birthday.
She has gone on to own more than 30 of the dogs, descended from Susan and often photographed accompanying her on and off duty.
Prince Charles and Princess Anne play in the sand with a corgi at Holkham Beach, 1957 in Holkam Photo: Buckingham Palace/Clarence House/Getty Images
She currently owns just two, Holly and Willow, with two other Dorgis – a cross-breed of a Corgi and a Daschund – named Candy and Vulcan.
It has previously been disclosed that the Queen will not introduce any new Corgis to her Royal household, after decades of replacing the pets after one dies.
Dr Mugford will share the secrets of the Royal dog dinners in the spring issue of quarterly magazine Town & Country, on sale February 25.
The edition will include a portfolio of rarely seen photographs from her reign, as well as the recipe for Prince William’s favourite chocolate cake.
The Queen with her pet corgi at the Buckingham Palace in 1969 Photo: JOAN WILLIAMS / Rex Features
The magazine is one of many publications to mark the Queen's 90th birthday this year.
A new book, published by the Bible Society, churches' group HOPE and the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, also celebrates the long reign.
Writing in the foreword, the Queen said she is "very grateful" for the country's prayers and that she has felt God's "faithfulness" throughout her reign.
"The extent and pace of change has been truly remarkable," she said, in book The Servant Queen And The King She Serves. "We have witnessed triumphs and tragedies."
The monarch also took the opportunity to allude to the current problems in the Middle East saying the world is now experiencing "terrible suffering on an unprecedented scale".
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