Queen Elizabeth's dogs, pony: the role animals played at the funeral

LONDON – The world watched the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II make its way towards Windsor Castle, the burial place of the British Queen. She was also seen by her corgi dogs and adorable pony.

Elizabeth was the head of state and had important constitutional duties. But those close to her speak of her happiest life as a country woman, enjoying the company of her animals.

So it was perhaps fitting that these three favourites were present during the closing ceremony of the ceremonial procession.

Corgis Muick and Sandy were brought outside Windsor Castle before the coffin reached Long Walk, a 2.6-mile street that leads to the castle.

And out of the way, burdened but without a passenger, her little pony Emma was also waiting.

The Queen is said to have tolerated Buckingham Palace in London. She much preferred Windsor Castle, where she could ride her horses, and was often seen jogging through Windsor Great Park. Castle staff would proudly tell visitors that it considered Windsor ‘home’ and that London was ‘the office’.

At the start of the pandemic, she moved her main residence to Windsor – and showed no interest in leaving even after restrictions were lifted. Her dogs stayed with her there.

One of the public’s biggest fears when the Queen passed away was where Mick and Sandy would go. A spokesman for Prince Andrew later confirmed that they would simply change residences on the estate, Moving in with the prince and his ex-wifeSarah Ferguson. (Despite the divorce, the couple lives together at the Royal Lodge on the land.)

While the Queen had other breeds over her long life, she loved Corgi dogs above all others. She reportedly had over 30 in her life; Princess Diana once called them “the moving carpet.”

A corgi, which she got when she was 18, Susan came to her on her honeymoon — and started a royal breeding line that produced hundreds of puppies. Three of these grandchildren will continue to appear with the Queen when she teamed up with Daniel Craig, aka James Bond, on a sketch of the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremonies.

It was the queen too A constant passion for horses She rode in her nineties. Earlier this year, health issues forced her to miss the official opening of Parliament – an important date in the royal calendar – but a few days later she was taken to the Royal Windsor Horse Show to watch her horses take part in the events.

And some of those creatures played a prominent role on Monday.

The Queen was Commissioner-General of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and helped lead the funeral procession in London on four horses with the RCMP Musical Ride gifted to her during her reign.

Margaret Rhodes, a close friend and cousin of the Queen, once told the BBC: “It’s great when you get a few days off work, she can do the things she loves, that is, be a country person, walk the dogs and think about… Comic and imaginative things.”