Queen names her new corgi puppies Fergus and Muick after her uncle and Balmoral

The Queen has ‘named her new puppies Fergus and Muick after her war hero uncle and her favourite beauty spot in Balmoral’.

Last month, the monarch, 94, reportedly bought two new puppies on popular pet-buying website Pets4Home, paying £2,650 for one to keep her company at Windsor Castle while Prince Philip recovers from heart surgery. 

One of the furry companions, Fergus, is a dorgi, a cross between a corgi and daschund. He has been named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen’s maternal uncle who died in France during World War I.   

The second, a corgi, is called Muick – pronounced Mick – after Loch Muick, a lake on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, according to The Sun. 

The Queen has ‘named her new puppies Fergus and Muick after her war hero uncle and her favourite beauty spot in Balmoral’. These two pooches were posted on the Pets4Home site and match the description and how much the Queen reportedly paid for one. Pictured are corgis advertised on Pets4Homes

The Queen walking with her corgis during a day out in Windsor in 1980

The Queen with to of her corgis, which descend from her first corgi Susan, pictured in 2001

Last month, the monarch, 94, reportedly bought two new puppies on popular pet-buying website Pets4Home, paying £2,650 for one to keep her company at Windsor Castle while Prince Philip recovers from heart surgery. The Queen with some of her corgis at the Windsor Horse Trials in 1980 (left) and walking with two of the dogs in the the grounds of Windsor Castle (right)

A source told the Sun: ‘Both name choices are extremely poignant and dear to the Queen.

‘Loch Muick is one of her favourite places on the Balmoral estate and the loss of Uncle Fergus in the First World War is still honoured by the family.’

Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen mother’s brother, died during the Battle of Loos in 1915, aged 26.   

In 1932, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, laid her bouquet on the grave of The Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey in memory of her brother Fergus, starting a tradition for royal brides

One of the furry companions, Fergus, is a dorgi, a cross between a corgi and daschund. He has been named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen's maternal uncle who died in France during World War I.

One of the furry companions, Fergus, is a dorgi, a cross between a corgi and daschund. He has been named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen’s maternal uncle who died in France during World War I.

The second, a corgi, is called Muick - pronounced Mick - after Loch Muick, a lake on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, pictured

The second, a corgi, is called Muick – pronounced Mick – after Loch Muick, a lake on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, pictured

Many Royal brides since have sent their bouquets to the grave at Westminster Abbey, including most recently Princess Beatrice in 2020, Princess Eugenie in 2018 and The Duchess of Sussex in 2017.

Before her death in 2002, The Queen Mother also requested her funeral wreath be placed on the grave of the Unknown Warrior – a wish honoured at the Abbey the day after her funeral.

 Meanwhile, Loch Muick is a place where the Queen her family are often pictured walking and having picnics during summer months. It is famed for it’s fresh salmon and trout.

The royal has always been synonymous with pets and has owned more than 30 during her reign. Pictured: The Queen as a girl with one of the family's corgis. The breed has been synonymous with the royal family since the 1930s

The royal has always been synonymous with pets and has owned more than 30 during her reign. Pictured: The Queen as a girl with one of the family’s corgis. The breed has been synonymous with the royal family since the 1930s

In 2012 Her Majesty's dog Monty appeared alongside James Bond's Daniel Craig in a clip for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics

In 2012 Her Majesty’s dog Monty appeared alongside James Bond’s Daniel Craig in a clip for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics

Her Majesty was pictured at the around the loch last summer with Sophie, Countess Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.  

Earlier this month, breeder Denise Thomas, 60, claimed she was not aware who the puppy, who was at first called Charlie, was for, but was promised the cute pet would have ‘the best life.’ 

Denise had advertised her litter of two puppies online: Charlie, who was swept away to Windsor Palace, and his brother George. The Queen only took Charlie – now Muick-  and it is not known where the other new puppy comes from.  

Which Royal bridal bouquets were laid on the grave of the Unknown Warrior? 

  • The Queen Mother, 1923
  • The Queen, 1947
  • Princess Margaret, 1960
  • Princess Alexandra, 1963
  • The Princess Royal, 1973
  • Diana, Princess of Wales, 1981
  • Sarah, Duchess of York, 1986
  • The Countess of Wessex, 1999
  • The Duchess of Cornwall, 2005
  • The Duchess of Cambridge, 2011
  • The Duchess of Sussex, 2018
  • Princess Eugenie, 2018
  • Princess Beatrice, 2020

Denise’s son, Craig Skyrme, 40, told The Sun that a woman pulled up in a blackout Range Rover on February 26 to take the pup away, and wouldn’t reveal the identity of its new owner. 

‘She would only say he is going to a home in Windsor — but wouldn’t tell my mum who the owners were,’ Craig said.

‘My mum asked if it was anyone famous and the woman said, “I can’t say, but he’s going to have the best life possible”,’ he added. 

The family had a strong hunch the corgi pup might be on its way to meet the Queen, who is historically very fond of the breed. 

Craig revealed the curious family googled the name of the woman who came to pick up the pup and saw she worked for the royal household, which allowed them to connect the dots. 

Craig said it was an honour to see their puppy selected to go live with the Queen and rejoiced it might appear in royal pictures in the future. 

According to the publication, Palace sources confirmed the new pup was indeed Charlie, but added he might have been given a new name. Skyrme admitted the dog was initially called ‘Charles’ due to the corgis’ royal associations. 

The pup, which was born on December 5, is described as a playful fellow who loves to play fetch, but would do well with some house training. 

Craig admitted to walking in wet patches and that the teething pup had nibbled his way around a few items around the house.  

A source close to the royal household who was not named by the Sun revealed it was ‘highly unusual’ for the Queen to buy one of her dogs off a website and that Charlie must have been a very special pup. 

They added Her Majesty was very involved with the breeding of her dogs in the past and was a very responsible dog owner who always made sure the dogs were healthy.  

It is believed the canines were a gift who are said to bring a lot of noise and joy to the Palace. 

It comes after Her Majesty's loyal companion Vulcan, a dachshund-corgi cross, died a few weeks before Christmas last year

It comes after Her Majesty’s loyal companion Vulcan, a dachshund-corgi cross, died a few weeks before Christmas last year

They are also the first corgis Her Majesty has owned that are not direct descendants of her very first corgi Susan – which she was given in 1944 by her parents for her 18th birthday.

 In December, the Queen’s loyal companion Vulcan, a dachshund-corgi cross, died at Windsor Castle, leaving her with just Candy as the last remaining descendant of Susan.

He had had been the Queen’s loyal pet since at least 2007, making him more than 13 years old – a good age for the breed. 

Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen mother's brother, died during the Battle of Loos in 1915, aged 26. In 1932, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, laid her bouquet on the grave of The Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey in memory of her brother Fergus, starting a tradition for royal brides Pictured is Princess Beatrice's wedding bouquet on the grave last year

Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen mother’s brother, died during the Battle of Loos in 1915, aged 26. In 1932, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, laid her bouquet on the grave of The Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey in memory of her brother Fergus, starting a tradition for royal brides Pictured is Princess Beatrice’s wedding bouquet on the grave last year

The Queen’s love of dogs is well documented. One of her favourites, Monty, appeared alongside her and James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a skit for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.  Sadly, Monty died that same year. 

In 2018, her corgi Willow, who was the 14th generation descended from Susan, was put down after suffering from cancer. 

The new puppies are joining the royal household among troubled times, with the Duke of Edinburgh still in hospital.

The latest arrivals come as the Duke of Edinburgh has beendischrge from a monh-long stint in hospital for ‘treatment, rest and recuperation’ after undergoing a ‘successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition’.

Meanwhile, the Queen is also dealing with the fallout from her grandson Prince Harry, 35 and his wife Meghan Markle’s 39, explosive interview with Oprah which was critical of The Firm. 

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