Susan (dog) facts for kids
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | Pembroke Corgi |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | 20 February 1944 |
| Died | 26 January 1959 (aged 14) Sandringham House, Norfolk |
| Resting place | Sandringham House, Norfolk 52°49′47″N 0°30′50″E / 52.82972°N 0.51389°E |
| Owner | Queen Elizabeth II |
Susan (born February 20, 1944 – died January 26, 1959) was a special Pembroke Corgi dog. She belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen received Susan as a gift for her 18th birthday.
After Susan passed away in 1959, the Queen herself designed a headstone for her grave. Susan was very important because she was the first in a long line of Corgis and Dorgis. Dorgis are a mix of Dachshund and Corgi dogs. All of the Queen's many dogs after Susan were related to her. These royal dogs often appeared with the Queen in public. Because of this, they became a well-known part of her public image.
Contents
How the Royal Corgi Story Began
The story of royal Corgis started before Susan. King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II's father, bought his first Corgi in 1933. This dog was named Dookie. Dookie was very popular with his daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
So, the King bought a second Corgi named Jane. He also had other dogs. But Princess Elizabeth especially loved the Corgis.
Susan's Life as a Royal Pet
Princess Elizabeth received Susan on her 18th birthday in 1944. Susan was a two-month-old Pembroke Corgi puppy. Her official name was Hickathrift Pippa, but the Princess called her Sue, which became Susan.
Princess Elizabeth loved Susan very much. She did not want to be separated from her dog. After her wedding in 1947, Susan even joined the honeymoon trip. She was hidden under blankets in the carriage as the Princess and Duke of Edinburgh traveled. Susan also went with the couple on other trips. This included a tour of an estate in a Jeep driven by Prince Philip.
In early 1959, Susan caused a small stir. She bit a policeman who was on duty at Buckingham Palace. This was not the first time she had bitten someone at the palace. She had also bitten a guard, a detective, and the royal clock winder before.
Susan's Family and Legacy
Susan became a mother to many puppies. Her first litter included Sugar and Honey. Sugar became the dog of Prince Charles. Honey was a favorite of the Queen Mother. Susan later had more puppies. The Queen kept two puppies from that litter.
Susan was the start of the Queen's famous line of Corgis and Dorgis. The Queen owned more than 30 of Susan's descendants during her life. For example, Holly and Willow, who were the Queen's dogs in 2015, were likely the 14th generation from Susan.
In 2009, the Queen decided to stop breeding her dogs. This decision came after two of her favorite dogs passed away from cancer. By April 2018, the Queen no longer had any full-bred Corgis after Willow died. One of her two remaining Dorgis, Vulcan, died in 2020. This left only one Dorgi, Candy, living as of December 2020.
Susan's Burial Place
Susan passed away at Sandringham House on January 26, 1959. She was buried in the pet cemetery there. This pet cemetery was started by Queen Victoria many years ago.
The Queen herself drew up plans for Susan's gravestone. She sent a sketch and a first idea for the words to Robert Marrington. He managed works on the royal estates. The first words for the gravestone were to be: "Susan / died 26 Jan 1959 / for 15 years the faithful companion of the Queen."
After checking Susan's birth date, the Queen asked for it to be added. Later, she made another change. She asked for the words to say "almost 15 years" to be more exact. The Queen's sketches for the gravestone were almost sold at an auction in 2004. However, the Royal Household stopped the sale. Susan's descendants, Sugar, Heather, and Pharos, were later buried near her.
