Royal who wanted to 'shoot the corgis'

On what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 99th birthday, there is little doubt that among her greatest legacies are what she achieved in the Commonwealth and the steadying hand she brought to the monarchy for seven decades. However, away from the pomp and official duties, she was a devoted countrywoman who was never happier than when she was with her dogs and horses.

As well as other breeds, the late Queen owned over 30 corgis during her lifetime and received her first, named Dookie, when she was just seven years old. She even brought her most famous dog, Susan, with her on her honeymoon in 1947. So, imagine her shock when she heard that one member of her family had openly said the corgis “should be shot.”

Princess Michael of Kent is a member of the Royal Family who is famous for openly discussing her opinions on royal life. Whether she is commenting on the “awful” decor at Windsor Castle or branding the older royals as “boring”, there is no hiding what she thinks.

And this openness lead to one very famous quip about the late Queen’s beloved dogs. When asked what she thought of the pets, Princess Michael is thought to have said the corgis “should be shot”.

While that is shocking enough, the late monarch is said to have had the best comeback. According to the book ‘The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II’, Her Majesty replied: “They’re better behaved than she is.”

Princess Michael became a member of the Royal Family when she married Prince Michael of Kent in 1978. At the time of their wedding, she was known as Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz and was a Roman Catholic divorcee. They have two children, Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Gabriella Kingston, as well as two granddaughters, Maud and Isabella Windsor.

As you may expect, the royal corgis have been raised in the lap of luxury and have experienced everything from flying on private jets to having their own personal chef.

Former royal butler Paul Kidd appeared on a 2011 documentary ‘Royal Servants’ and recalled a hilarious exchange with the Queen.

He said: “When I served lunch to the Queen for the very first time in my life, she picked the menu up, she said ‘What have I got for lunch?’”

He continued: “And she’s reading the menu, she had her spectacles on and she put it back and she looked at me, gave me a beautiful smile and said ‘I think the dogs get better fed’.”