Corgis’ cachet on the rise thanks to Crown cameos
The Kennel Club reports a resurgence in popularity of the royal favourite after success of drama series
THE CROWN may be responsible for a revival in the popularity of the corgi.
Long regarded as a breed for the genteel as well as the older generation, the cachet of the corgi has plummeted over the years, threatening its viability.
But the popularity of the Netflix drama, depicting the Queen in her younger days surrounded by her beloved corgis, has boosted the fortunes of the breed.
Figures from The Kennel Club reveal that interest in acquiring a corgi puppy shot up by a fifth following transmission of the second series of The Crown in December.
So much so that the corgi has been taken off the club’s list of British dog breeds at risk.
David Robson, of The Kennel Club, said: “The Crown has certainly been important in the resurgence of the corgi breed. It has increased interest.”
The Queen, who has owned more than 30 corgis over the years, has been devoted to the breed since childhood, and is often photographed with her dogs. They even had a starring role in her James Bond video for the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
In 2015, it emerged that she had chosen to breed no more of the animals as pets, because “she didn’t want to leave any young dog behind”.
But last year she reportedly made an exception and adopted Whisper after the death of Bill Fenwick, its owner, and her former gamekeeper and friend. In one scene in The Crown, depicting the visit to Buckingham Palace of John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline, the Queen and the First Lady were seen surrounded by corgis. Other scenes showed the Queen, played by Claire Foy, walking through the palace grounds with the dogs.
Mr Robson said: “While corgis were in the spotlight because of the Queen, they could be seen by young people as an older person’s dog. Now that’s changed, partly because we are seeing the character of the younger Queen surrounded by them.”
Following the announcement of his engagement to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry revealed that the Queen’s corgis preferred his fiancée to him.
“This has clearly helped raise the breed’s profile and enhance their popularity with dog owners and younger people look- ing to get a dog,” said Mr Robson. The Kennel Club registered fewer than 450 corgis in 2009, but last year, even before the second series of The Crown, the number rose by 7.5 per cent. The club has now launched a Save Forgotten Dog Breeds campaign to raise the profile of at-risk breeds including historic British pedigrees. Newly added to the at-risk list is the bull mastiff, whose numbers have dropped 73 per cent in the last decade.
Others on the list include the Old English Sheepdog, Glen of Imaal Ter- rier, Lakeland Terrier, Curly Coated Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel and English Toy Terrier.
Of those on The Kennel Club’s Vulnerable Native Breeds and At Watch list, 36 breeds have declined by 21 per cent in the past five years.
‘This has clearly helped raise the breed’s profile and enhance their popularity’