Royal Dogs Of The Ages (GALLERY)

April 26, 2011 Elizabeth Neville

Did you know that Kate Middleton’s dog, Otto, once ate a pair of earrings that Prince William gave her? Or that the first of the Queen’s “Royal Corgis” was named Susan? Just like the royal family, stories about Britain’s royal pets are irresistible. Have a look at these delightful photos featuring royals like Princess Diana, Queen Victoria, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth II, with their noble canine companions. — Global Animal

: Two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels appear in van Dyck’s portrait ‘The Three Eldest Children of Charles I’, painted in 1635. The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

: Landseer’s ‘Windsor Castle in Modern Times’, painted in the early years of Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert, shows the infant Princess Royal and four of the Royal dogs (Eos, Islay, Cairnach and Dandie Dinmont) in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor. The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

: King Edward VII with his terrier Caesar, 1908, Caesar outlived the King and walked behind his coffin in the funeral procession. The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

: The Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) and Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen), photographed at Glamis Castle in Scotland by The Duke of York (later King George VI) in 1930. The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

: Princess Margaret, photographed by her father (The Duke of York) surrounded by dogs on the steps at Birkhall in Deeside, Scotland, in 1933. The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

: Prince Edward of York (later King Edward VIII) with Sammy the poodle, at Sandringham in November 1896. Sammy met a tragic end at Osborne after accidentally eating rat poison. The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

: King George VI with a corgi. This is one of a series of shots taken by society photographer Baron for the King and Queen’s Silver Wedding Anniversary in 1948. The Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

: Tradition: The original royal corgi Susan was bought by the Queen’s father, George VI, when Duke of York, in 1933.

: All smiles: The Queen is greeted by local corgi enthusiasts in May 2005 during a state visit to Canada.

: Before their July 29, 1981 wedding, Lady Diana Spencer spent time with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and his dog.

: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales’ hand is licked by Tamzin the dog as he meets local people attending Sandringham Flower Show on June 29, 2009 in King’s Lynn, England. (July 28, 2009 – Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe).

: This is a picture of Kate Middleton’s dog Otto. He is a black cocker spaniel and he was born into a litter of eight. Kate’s family also has a sister pup named Ella. Otto famously ended up “in the doghouse” last year when he allegedly ate a pair of pearl earrings that Prince William had given her as a gift.