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Queen’s weekly visits to walk gamekeeper’s dogs

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File photo dated 29/01/00 of Queen Elizabeth II driving herself in a Land Rover Defender 110 to the stables on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, as one of the most-loved and long-lived road vehicles, and a favourite with the Queen, will cease production when the last Land Rover Defender will be produced by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) at Solihull in the West Midlands on Friday.

We have always known that the Queen is a true countrywoman.

One of her retired gamekeepers, Mr Fenwick, died a week ago at the age of 95 and it is said that the Queen is considering giving his dogs a home with her.

She began walking his corgi and Bichon Frise two years ago, after the death of Mr Fenwick’s wife Nancy, who was the Queen’s former dog keeper. The Queen attended her funeral.

After Mr Fenwick lost his wife, Her Majesty would visit the gamekeeper’s grace and favour home near Windsor Castle to help out by taking the dogs for a stroll.

The Queen admires a Corgi at Battersea Dogs Home

A gamekeeper on the Sandringham Estate

Bill began his royal career as a gamekeeper on the Sandringham Estate and was renowned as a national expert on mole-catching. Nancy, his wife, looked after the Queen’s dogs, trained them, managed their diets and care. Mr and Mrs Fenwick’s corgi was bred by the Queen who gave the couple the dog as a gift.

Since 1945 the Monarch has owned more than 30 corgis, all descended from Susan who was a present on Her Majesty’s 18th birthday. The Queen once said: “My corgis are family’ and Susan famously came on the Queen’s honeymoon with her.

The Queen is a true countrywoman at heart

Queen’s way of saying thank-you

“Bill was not in the best of health and was unable to exercise the dogs much.

“As well as the corgi he also had a Bichon Frise. So most Sundays after lunch the Queen would visit him and take the pair out in the park.

“It was her way of saying thank you for being such loyal friends over the years and for looking after her dogs all that time.

“She was very upset to hear about Bill’s death and she is considering taking the dogs if his family can’t look after them.

“Bill was yet another close friend that she has lost in recent years and it must be very hard.”

A royal source added: “It’s true the Queen didn’t want any more young dogs but Bill’s pair are getting on and she is very fond of them, so it’s quite possible that she will take them in.”