MY PUP HAS HIS OWN ROYAL CASTLE!
AFTER SUSAN WON THE LOTTERY, SHE COULDN’T LET HER FURRY FRIEND ‘RUFF’ IT
Adog-loving lottery winner commissioned a replica of Windsor Castle – complete with red carpet, throne and hot tub – so her pampered pooch could enjoy the royal wedding as much as her. Susan Crossland, 53, has spent more than $9000 having a two-metre high, hand-painted version of the castle built for Archie – her 10-year-old Lhasa apso. Archie enjoyed Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle, dressed in his tuxedo and top hat, sitting in his very own velvet-lined castle. ‘I love royal weddings and I love the royals,’ Susan tells New Idea. ‘I just thought it might be a bit quirky to have something nice for Archie, so I had him a Windsor Castle made and he absolutely loves it.’
She explains she hosted a barbecue on the wedding day, while Archie just ‘pottered’ around his own miniature castle.
‘It’s worth it,’ she smiles. ‘He’s my dog at the end of the day. Why not spoil your dog?’
Susan and her husband Michael, 49, from West Yorkshire, UK, won $2.1 million on the UK’S lottery – called Lotto – in 2008.
She commissioned specialist sculptor and set designers from the Russell Beck Studio in south London, to create Archie’s very own pet pooch palace.
The structure, which is currently in the couple’s back garden, is two metres by two metres and took a seven-strong team 244 hours to complete.
It weighs 155kg, used more than 15 litres of paint and is based on the King George IV Gate at the castle.
‘We prepared our veranda, getting out the flags and buying lots of red, white and blue trimmings in recognition of the big day,’ Susan says.
‘Archie is obviously a big part of the family, so we couldn’t have him missing out.
‘We love to spoil him and I couldn’t believe it when I heard about a gentleman who was up for all types of projects – no matter how crazy.
‘I wanted it to be just perfect for him and to replicate Windsor Castle as far as possible.’
Susan says she wishes she had been able to attend the actual wedding and says of Meghan: ‘I think she’s really nice and together, they look as happy as anything.’
When she won the lottery 10 years ago, Susan described how she had taken on her father’s line of numbers after his death and won with that sequence on the anniversary of his passing.
She said she believed the win was ‘heaven sent’ – with her father wanting her to look after her two sisters and brother, who all have learning difficulties.
Susan said her good fortune has meant she has been able to care for her siblings in her purpose-built home.
Pooch palace creator Russell Beck says: ‘This was my very first request for a pooch palace, but I have to say I have loved working on this project.
‘It has, however, made our studio dog very jealous. I think he is very upset that it is going and that it will not be his.’
And now the royal wedding is over, Susan is hoping to find a home for the miniature castle – somewhere dogs or maybe children can enjoy it.
‘Although I had it done for Archie – and he does love it – I would like to take it off him, if he’ll let me, to donate it to a place where lots of other people can enjoy it – either for dogs or maybe it can go for a place when children can play in it,’ she says.
‘IT’S WORTH IT... HE’S MY DOG AT THE END OF THE DAY. WHY NOT SPOIL YOUR DOG?’