Her death marks the end of an era for the Queen and corgis - as she has been breeding them since she was given Susan, her first corgi, on her 18th birthday
THE Queen is reportedly heartbroken after her last corgi, Willow, died at the weekend.
The 15-year-old dog, who starred in the James Bond Olympics sketch with the monarch in 2012, was put down at Windsor Castle.
Willow is said to have had a cancer-related illness and the Queen made the choice to end her suffering,
But her death marks the end of an era for the Queen and corgis - as she has been breeding them since she was given Susan, her first corgi, on her 18th birthday.
Willow was the 14th generation descended from Susan, but the Queen has loved the breed since her father introduced a corgi, Dookie, into the family in 1933.
A source told the Mail: "She has mourned every one of her corgis over the years, but she has been more upset about Willow’s death than any of them.
"It is probably because Willow was the last link to her parents and a pastime that goes back to her own childhood. It really does feel like the end of an era."
But despite the sad event the Queen still has two corgi-dachsund crosses and adopted another corgi after his owner died.
But she fell in love with Whisper, nine, during regular walks after Bill Fenwick’s death aged 93.
A courtier added: "Willow represents a significant thread running through the Queen’s life from her teenage years to her 90s. For many, many years she bred and raised corgis and to think that the last one has now gone is something of a milestone."
It is thought the beloved companion has been buried in the castle grounds.
Willow's death comes 18 months after Holly died - both had appeared in the famous sketch put together for the opening of the 2012 London Olympics.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are known to be the Queen's favourite breed - she has owned more than 30 during her reign.
In 1999 one of the Queen's royal footmen was demoted from the palace after reportedly pouring booze into the corgis food and water.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
