The Queen Is ‘Devastated’ By Death of Her New Puppy After Just 5 Months

It’s been a difficult time for Queen Elizabeth, who has been grieving the loss of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip. So as reports emerged claiming one of her beloved pups had passed away this week, the news struck an emotional chord — particularly given this particular dog was gifted to her while Philip was in hospital earlier in the year.

As a surprise gift from her son, Prince Andrew, in February this year, Elizabeth was given two corgi puppies, one of which has now sadly died after falling sick in February. She was said to be “devastated” when the five-month-old puppy died over the weekend, a source told The Sun.

It comes just over a month after the death of her husband Prince Philip, who passed on April 9 aged 99.

“The Queen is absolutely devastated. The puppies were brought in to cheer her up during a very difficult period,” the source told the publication. “Everyone concerned is upset as this comes so soon after she lost her husband.”

The puppy was a Dachshund and a Welsh Corgi mix, and was one of two dogs given to Her Majesty to cheer her after Prince Philip fell ill.

She named the dog Fergus after her maternal uncle Fergus Bowes-Lyon, who died in France during World War I. The second pup, Muick, is named after Loch Muick, a lake on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, and was a corgi.

Her love for corgis started when she was a teenager, ever since her 18th birthday when she was given Susan, a corgi, as a gift. She bred Pembroke Welsh corgis ever since, and has owned more than thirty in her lifetime.

The sad news comes after it was revealed that Queen Elizabeth will reportedly head to her favorite residence, Balmoral Castle, to grieve her husband’s death. The estate is the famed location of the royal couple’s honeymoon and the destination for many of their summer getaways.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Now to Love.