Corgis earn their keep as dog gifts boost royal takings

FOR years they have enjoyed a pampered lifestyle within the lavish grounds of Buckingham Palace. But now it appears the Queen’s corgis are also earning their keep.

Last year the Royal Collection Trust made £19,034,000 in sales, thanks in part to a new line of pet accessories.

Published today, the trust’s annual report shows that merchandise sales jumped by more than 20 per cent, with lines including leather collars, dog bandannas and coats made in Hunting Stewart tartan proving popular with visitors.

Available to purchase online and in gift shops across the Royal Estate, other highlights include a fine bone china dog bowl embellished with 24-carat burnished gold, a rubber crown chew toy, and a palatial-looking dog bed. The items were launched on the back of the Queen’s own long-standing affection for the animals; over the years she has owned more than 30 dogs, including her current corgis Holly and Willow.

The windfall comes during a year in which the Trust also recorded a 300 per cent increase in ice cream sales at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

Record catering sales were reported at Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, while the release of the Queen’s official 90th birthday chinaware also proved a success.

The report noted that the fall in the value of sterling following the Brexit vote last June had increased the spending power of overseas tourists, with the average spend per visitor growing by 13 per cent.

Visitor numbers were also up on the previous year, with more than 2.7million tourists visiting Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Frogmore House, the Queen’s Gallery London, the Royal Mews, Clarence House, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Queen’s Gallery Edinburgh.

Total admissions income came to just over £39.5million, up more than £5million compared with the same period last year.