King Charles II had a dog breed named after him

Pets have played a substantial role in the British royal family for centuries.

Queen Elizabeth was famous for her love of corgis, which started when she received a Pembroke Welsh named Susan when she was 18 years old. Susan remained by her side during pivotal moments in her life, including her marriage to Prince Philip, losing her dad and becoming monarch in 1952.

The significance her dog played in her life was highlighted in a note she sent to veterinarian Harold Swann after Susan’s death.

“I would like to thank you for all you did for my dear old Susan when she became ill, and for the immense amount of trouble you took in getting her sent to Cambridge and for all the care she had while she was there,” the letter read. “I had always dreaded losing her as I had had her since she was six weeks old, but I am ever so thankful that her suffering was so mercifully short.”

Queen Elizabeth’s corgis are just some of the many important pets of the British royals. Most recently, Kate Middleton and Prince William welcomed an English cocker spaniel named Otto into their family.

Below, see nine sweet photos of the British royal family members with their beloved pets.

01 of 09

Queen Elizabeth’s corgis

Some of Queen Elizabeth’s most trusted companions over the years included her beloved corgis, who became royal icons themselves.

The late monarch received her first corgi named Dookie from her father in 1933. Shortly after, Queen Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, welcomed another corgi into the family named Jane, who kept them company as they fled to Windsor Castle during World War II, according to Vanity Fair.

The queen developed a love of the breed and owned more than 30 corgis and dachshund-corgi mixes known as “dorgis.” Most of the dogs were bred by the Queen, deriving from Susan, the Pembroke Welsh corgi she received when she was 18 years old.

Three of her corgis — Monty, Willow and Holly — even starred in a short film for the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony featuring Daniel Craig and the late monarch herself.

02 of 09

Queen Victoria’s dogs

Queen Victoria grew up close to her family dog, Dash, who was a cavalier King Charles spaniel. The dog was originally given to her mother, the Duchess of Kent, though Dash and Queen Victoria developed a tight bond.

The beloved pup died in 1840 and is buried on the grounds of Windsor Castle, per English Heritage.

His epitaph reads, “His attachment was without selfishness, His playfulness without malice, His fidelity without deceit, READER, if you would live beloved and die regretted, profit by the example of DASH.”

Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, had a number of dogs throughout their life. They were among the first owners of dachshunds in the United Kingdom, including their pup, Boy.

The monarch is pictured above with her first collie, Sharp; over the course of 40 years, Queen Victoria would go on to own more than 80 collies.

Queen Victoria also supported animals in her charitable efforts, becoming patron to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at age 16 and later adding the “Royal” prefix to its name.

03 of 09

King Charles II’s namesake spaniels

Both King Charles I and King Charles II — who ruled in the 1600s — were devotees of the cavalier King Charles spaniel breed. King Charles II grew up with spaniels, and at the age of 5, was pictured with one in a Van Dyck painting.

Over the years, his dogs went everywhere with him. According to the American Kennel Club, he became so close to them that he issued a royal decree that the dogs should be allowed in all public spaces, including parliament. The breed was eventually named after him.

04 of 09

Kate Middleton and Prince William’s dogs, Lupo, Orla and Otto

The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed their English cocker spaniel, Lupo, in 2011. Lupo was a Christmas gift to the newlyweds given by Kate Middleton’s brother, James Middleton.

Lupo played an integral part in the family’s life, having been included in some of the first public portraits of Prince George as a baby and toddler. Lupo died in 2020, and the royals shared a tribute to their late pup.

“Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away,” they posted on Instagram with a photo of their beloved dog. “He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much,” it read.

That same year, the couple added another dog to their family: a cocker spaniel named Orla. She has joined the royals for a number of appearances, including a charity polo match of Prince William’s and in several of Princess Charlotte’s birthday portraits.

Otto is Orla’s son, who joined the family in 2025. “Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today,” the couple wrote on Instagram in May 2026 in honor of Otto’s first birthday.

05 of 09

Queen Elizabeth’s pony, Emma

Much like her corgis, Queen Elizabeth was introduced to horses as a young girl. She received her first horse — a Shetland named Peggy — from her grandfather, King George, at 4 years old, per Country Living. She became an avid equestrian, breeder and owner.

One of the Queen’s favorite horses was a Fell pony named Carlton Lima Emma a.k.a. “Emma,” whom she rode for 15 years. Emma was a successful show pony who took part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The pair’s last ride was in July 2022, approximately two months before the monarch’s death. During her funeral procession in September 2022, Emma stood to the side as the late Queen’s coffin passed by at Windsor Castle. Emma had what appeared to have one of the late monarch’s riding headscarves wrapped around her saddle.

Buckingham Palace later confirmed that Emma would continue to be cared for at the Royal Mews in Windsor.

06 of 09

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s dogs, Guy, Pula and Mia

Before becoming royalty, Meghan Markle adopted a beagle named Guy from a Canadian shelter in 2015 while working as an actress on Suits.

Guy was there for some of the Duchess of Sussex’s biggest moments, including her move to the U.K., marrying Prince Harry, welcoming children and moving back to the United States. Her beloved pup also appeared in her Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan. During an episode on the series, she referred to Guy as her “shadow” and added that he had “a lot of stories to tell.”

After marrying, the Sussexes adopted two more dogs: a Labrador named Pula and a beagle named Mamma Mia, a.k.a. “Mia.” Meghan personally called animal rights attorney Shannon Keith, who runs the Beagle Freedom Project, after hearing about 4,000 beagles being rescued from overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the Envigo breeding and research plant in Virginia.

“The duchess is holding Mia and was like, ‘We’re adopting her,’ ” Keith told the Los Angeles Times in August 2022. “She was like ‘No, we don’t want a Christmas puppy … We want ones we can help who are older.’ ”

In January 2025, Guy died after nearly a decade with Meghan. The Duchess of Sussex paid tribute to him by sharing a heartfelt video featuring clips of Guy with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

“In 2015, I adopted a beagle from a dog rescue in Canada. He had been at a kill shelter in Kentucky and given a few days to live. I swooped him up….and fell in love. They referred to him as ‘the little guy’ because he was so small and frail, so I named him ‘Guy’. And he was the best guy any girl could have asked for,” she wrote in part on Instagram. “Thank you for so many years of unconditional love, my sweet Guy. You filled my life in ways you’ll never know.”

07 of 09

King Edward’s dog Cesar

King Edward, who ruled from 1901 until his death in 1910, had a wire-haired fox terrier named Caesar, who was his steadfast companion.

Caesar traveled the world with his owner and his collar read, “I am Caesar. I belong to the King,” per Windsor Castle. Above, he can be seen with the King’s daughter, Princess Mary.

When King Edward died in 1910, Caesar was photographed walking behind the carriage carrying the coffin in the funeral procession. A curled-up figure of Caesar was even placed at the foot of King Edward’s tomb in St. George’s Chapel in honor of his favorite dog.

Caesar went on to live with the king’s wife, Queen Alexandra, until his death in 1914.

08 of 09

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s dogs, Beth, Bluebell and Moley

King Charles and Queen Camilla were proud dog parents to Jack Russell terriers Beth and Bluebell. The pups were adopted from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London, of which Camilla is patron.

The dogs played such a significant role in the King and Camilla’s lives that the latter had a sketch of her dogs embroidered on her coronation dress along with the names of her children and grandchildren.

In November 2024, Buckingham Palace announced that Beth had died after being diagnosed with an untreatable tumor.

“A sad farewell to Beth, The Queen’s much-loved companion from @Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire,” the Queen’s team wrote on Instagram alongside a carousel of images of the late dog.

After Beth’s death, Queen Camilla adopted a new puppy named Moley. Like Beth and Bluebell, Moley is a rescue from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

“She’s called Moley,” Camilla said during a February 2025 visit to the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury. “Looks just like a mole!”

09 of 09

Zara Tindall’s horse Toytown

The daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, Zara Tindall (née Phillips) is a horse lover, much like her mom and grandmother. Tindall is an accomplished equestrian, having won several championships over the years and a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

“I think just the passion and love for horses that’s been passed down through our family. We’re very lucky to have them in our lives,” Tindall told PEOPLE in May 2023.

While she’s had several horses during her career, one in particular stands out: Toytown. She won several championships with Toytown, including European individual and team gold in 2005, world individual gold and team silver in 2006 and European team gold in 2007, per the BBC.

Toytown retired in 2011 and lived at Gatcombe Park until he died in 2017 at the age of 25.

“I’m heartbroken that I had to say goodbye to my greatest friend and horse of a lifetime, Toytown. He was the most incredible athlete with the biggest heart,” Tindall said in a statement at the time. “He made my career and I couldn’t be more grateful to him for the amazing times we had together. I will miss you forever.”

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