Queen Elizabeth's Christmas Traditions Included a 'Personalized Stocking' for Each Corgi and a Dog-Friendly Feast!

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Elizabeth and one of her corgis in 1952.Photo: UPI/Getty

Queen Elizabeth’slove of corgisis well documented, but few know how her beloved dogs would celebrate Christmas.

Caroline Perry, the author ofThe Corgi and the Queen, tells PEOPLE exclusively that special arrangements were made for the late monarch’s corgis to make their holiday extra special.

“The late Queen described her corgis as ‘family,’ and she didn’t leave them out during the holidays!” Perry explains. “She would make each one of her precious pups a personalized stocking, filled with little toys and favorite treats. She loved watching them ‘open’ their gifts on Christmas morning!”

After stepping out for church on Christmas Day, the royal family heads back to Sandringham House for a traditional Christmas lunch complete with roast turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry, bread sauces and Christmas pudding. But the corgis also had their own Christmas menu to look forward to.

“The corgis enjoyed their own special festive feast,” Perry shares. “Chefs called this the ‘Royal Corgis’ Menu’ and ensured that meat was very finely diced to be certain there were no bones. The Queen personally served the meal to her dogs and fed them in a strict order so that none of them felt left out.”

Queen Elizabeth and her corgis take the train to Sandringham in 1972.Spooner/Mirrorpix/Getty

Spooner/Mirrorpix/Getty

And the corgis might have caught a few other scraps around Sandringham in December.

“In the run-up to the big day, it was common for the royal corgis to run in and out of the kitchen to try and swipe some of the delicious food that was being prepared,” Perry says.

Queen Elizabeth and her corgis arrive at Sandringham Train Station in Dec. 1970.Hobson/Mirrorpix/Getty

Hobson/Mirrorpix/Getty

“A lot of people wonder why she chose the corgi breed,” Perry previously shared with PEOPLE. “People who have corgis will tell you — they’re such amazing dogs, but not easy dogs. They’re very spirited — some of her corgis did get into scrapes; Susan did get in trouble a couple of times. Even for a very experienced dog handler like the Queen, corgis are not for novice dog owners. The fact that she loved them so much, I think it speaks to the fact that she wasn’t able to express her emotions and feelings.”

Princess Elizabeth poses with corgis in 1936.Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Hulton Archive/Getty

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Queen Elizabeth, who died at age 96 in Sept. 2022, also had her constant companions at her funeral. As the monarch traveled to her final resting place at Windsor Castle, her remaining pups —Muick and Sandy— were outside waiting for her.

Corgis Sandy and Muick at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Sept. 19, 2022.Justin Setterfield/Getty

Justin Setterfield/Getty

Queen Elizabeth was big on tradition around the holidays, from sending more than 750 hand-signed Christmas cards each year (Perry explains the monarch would start signing them during her summer vacation at Balmoral Castle in Scotland!) to handing out 1,500 puddings from Fortum & Mason to her employees as a holiday gift (in addition to a “personalized card and a gift voucher to spend on things they enjoyed,” Perry explains).

And like many families, Christmas was associated with certain movies.

“The Queen’s favorite festive movie is not one of the usual suspects! In the lead-up to Christmas, she loved getting together with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to watch 1980s ‘space opera’ superhero classicFlash Gordon,” Perry says. “It was one of her all-time favorite movies, and this became an annual tradition that she very much looked forward to.”

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth at Christmas.Bettmann/Getty

When it came to decorations, Queen Elizabeth kept her Christmas trees and other holiday decor up until Feb. 6. “This was the anniversary of her beloved father King George VI’s death, and it was a tribute to him that she maintained throughout her life,” Perry shares.

source: people.com