Royal British Pet List

[grandduchessella]

Princess Patricia with pets



Princess Margaret with dog



Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh (Coburg) with dog



Princess Alice of Albany

[mitia]

I am sure this is going to be a wonderful book.
Apart from the various postcards and photos there are very interesting commemoratives about Caesar, HM King Edward VII 's favourite dog : they include a book " written " by Caesar himself and describing the sadness of His Master 's death which was a tremendous popular success in 1910. There is also a very rare ceramic mug with a transfer of Caesar and the motto on his collar " I am Caesar and I belong to the King ".
Not much was done for Peter and Buffalo, the 2 french bulldogs of Edward VII. However there is a postcard, either in colour or in black and white, with the King sitting on a chair and brindle frenchie Peter standing at His feet. There is also a lovely portrait of Peter painted by Maud Earley, a miniature of it was sold in auction last spring in London.

[Keith]

May Teck with dog



Helena Victoria with dogs

[Alixz]

For pictures, at least, dogs are easier to deal with than cats.  Dogs will "sit and stay' but cats..... that's another matter entirely.

"Dogs have owners - Cats have staff."

[Belochka]

For pictures, at least, dogs are easier to deal with than cats.  Dogs will "sit and stay' but cats..... that's another matter entirely.

"Dogs have owners - Cats have staff."

Of course dogs are far more congenial companions than cats with claws.

Margarita

[ChristineM]

Dogs bite.   The Queen's corgis are notorious for biting staff and strangers - even family, I believe.

Princess Anne found herself on a charge because her pitbull - or something of that variety - savaged a person while they walked in Windsor Great Park.

On the other hand, we have the good fortune to have cats which respond in much the same way as dogs.   They are total companion creatures - both sitting with me as I write this and I've never seen either bare their claws.

I love dogs too.   Each species, breed and mixed breed has their attractions as well as more negative aspects, as does each individual animal - pretty much like human beings.

tsaria

[Alixz]

tsaria - you a right as always.  There is something to love in all breeds and all animals.

I have had dogs as pets but do prefer cats.  I like the self maintenance feature of cats.

But as you said, they sit with me and watch what I am doing.  I always have supervision or what we call "cat help" when I work around the house.  Whether dusting or cooking or putting a piece of "knock down" furniture together, I always have at least one of my cats curled up and watching to be sure I do the job right.  In the case of the furniture, they often lie on the directions just to test my knowledge of how to put the furniture together and to see if I am smart enough to do it without bothering them to get off the paper to let me read it.

Back to topic.  I have seen pictures taken on Standart of Alexei with a basket of kittens.  And also, Alexandra with kittens. 

But for vigorous outdoor activity, dogs are better, unless one has a cat like my mother had.  This cat would walk through the woods by her side and no matter how far my mother walked or how long she was out, the cat stayed with her until they got back home.

[Arleen_Ristau]

I don't know why I just NOW found this site I am so crazy about dogs!

The pictures of the Royals with their dogs are wonderful!  Thank you to all who posted them.

GDElla who is Alexandra of Fife?  She has a Scottish Terrier in her arms.....   Empress Alexandra was said to have had a beloved Scotty dog, but it wasn't the one in the picture posted here....is this her Eira dog?

My dearly beloved Annie dog is a Scottish Terrier.....like Bob's Lily whom he loves so well!   So I am interested in that breed first of all, tho I adore ALL dogs.  They are like our children....

Tsaria dear, Princess Anne's dog that bit so many people including killing her Mum the Queen's dog is a BULL Terrier....not a pitbull.  A difference of about 50 or 60 pounds.  I had a Bull Terrier once....they are so ugly they are adorable with that LONG face.....but once they latch ahold of a person or another dog they won't let go.....horribly strong teeth!!!! 

Please keep this going with MORE pictures.....I love it!

Arleen

[Eddie_uk]

I personally prefer the "needyness" of a dog and sweetness and loyalty they can show. There's nothing nicer than coming home to a dog who's tearing around the house delighted to see one! I have the sweetest little Jack Russell Terrier.

Arleen, Alexandra of Fife (1891-1959) was Louise the Princess Royals daughter, granddaughter of Queen Alexandra.

Annes dog was indeed an English Bull Terrier. Very loyal dogs, but can be very fierce!!

[Arleen_Ristau]

Thanks Eddie.....I knew I should have known who A of Fife was....but I'm not into English Royalty like I am Russian.  I know exactly what you mean when your dogs tear around thrilled to see you.  Mine just jump up and down and shreak for joy.....I've never had a person do that for me!  I like Jack Russells too!

Arleen

[helenazar]

There's nothing nicer than coming home to a dog who's tearing around the house delighted to see one!

Believe it or not there are many cats who do the same (well, maybe not "tearing through the house" but doing it in a more dignified way, lol). My 16-year-old cat Mushka, who died last year, used to meet me at the door every time I came home and follow me around the house meowing to show how happy he was to see me. He would jump on my lap every time I sat down and even if I would push him off, he would jump right back... He was the sweeetest "neediest" cat I ever encountered! And the most brilliant too. He actually learned how to open the refrigerator and help himself to food inside! Does anyone know a dog who can do that? ;-) The cat I have now is not nearly as needy or smart, but he meets me at the door too...

Are there any more similar photos out there with cats?

[Eddie_uk]

Thanks Arleen dear, Jack Russells are full of character! Helen you dear old cat sounded adorable!

This book mentions the hundreds of photos in the archives of the RF with there dogs compared with only a few photos of them with cats. It mentions a photo of the young Prince Leopold with his cat....

[eejm]

Also, were there any named cats known to have been favorites of royalty?  I see pictures of various royals with cats, but haven't heard any names or stories of favored kitties.

I have two wonderful cats and a dog.  My oldest cat (who is now eleven) was a farm cat brought to me by my now-husband.  He smelled "farmy" indeed.  While he wasn't feral, it took awhile for him to adjust to be around humans.  For the first three weeks after I got him, I barely saw him.  Then, he began to notice my coming and going.  He'd be at the door when I got home, then run back under my bed.  After a few more weeks, he decided I was all right, and would be waiting and start swishing his tail when he saw me.  Now, after so many years, he has definitely "claimed" me as his own, snuggling at night and getting pets as read or type.  Cats can be unbelievably loyal, but you certainly do have to work for it!

[grandduchessella]

Alexandra had chinchillas and Persian cats. One cat was named Sandy since it was born at Sandringham. At one point, as Queen, she had about 50 cats though 'only' about 2 dozen could claim to be on 'close intimacy' with the Queen.Thora established the first royal cattery at Cumberland Lodge and it was equipped with curtained windows and doors with front knockers. The portals had a crown and the monogram V.S.H. Two of her cats were named Prince Puck III and Princess Imp. It is some of these cats that Maurice Battenberg (who was very close to Thora) owned. They seem to be the 2 big cat lovers in the British royal family. Thora, like Queen Alexandra, was also partial to Persian cats. Princess Alice of Albany owned several valuable cats as well.

[mitia]

Yes Queen Alexandra was a wonderful " pet person " and also a dogs show person. But in those days Ladies were not allowed to show their dogs themselves, only gentlemen could. The Ladies Kennel Association was founded and thus Queen Alexandra could show her barzois. The LKA has a championship show each year in december and it is always a very pleasant occasion.