Entertainment

30+ Photos Of The Royal Family With Dogs To Make Your Day Better

by Jen McGuire

Tim Graham/Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

It doesn't really get much better than browsing through photos of the royal family hanging out with dogs. And, fortunately, there are loads of them. While the royal family is very accustomed to a whole lot of pomp and circumstance when dealing with the general public, they've also always been big fans of all breeds of dogs and, like most of us, can't help but melt when faced with one.

The royal tradition of deep dog love seems to have started back in the 17th century with King Charles I, who loved King Charles spaniels so much they were featured in several royal family portraits, according to the Royal Collection Trust. As for Queen Victoria, she was all about those terriers and Queen Elizabeth II's own father King George VI continued the trend of truly valuing the royal dogs long before he was a king. When he was still the Duke of York, he received the first of the long line of royal corgis, Dookie, in 1933. His daughter Queen Elizabeth continued to breed the line first started by Dookie right up until 2015, over 80 years later, according to The Guardian. That's some doggone commitment.

More modern day royals, like Prince William and Prince Harry, have also been obsessed with pups throughout their lives, so let's have a look back at some of the best photos of royals and dogs.

King George VI Loved Dogs

King George V had several dogs in his lifetime, but was particularly fond of his line of corgis.

Lisa Sheridan/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth Has A Deep Love For Corgis

Even as an adult, corgis have been constant companions of the queen.

PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images

Princess Diana And Prince Harry With A Puppy

Princess Diana and Prince Harry look super content to be hanging out with this adorable puppy back in Spain in 1987.

Anwar Hussein/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Kate Middleton And Prince William Just Playing With Puppies

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got up close and personal with two golden lab puppies at an Army Training Center in Pakistan in 2019.

Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection/Getty Images

Little Princess Charlotte With A Big Dog

In 2016, Princess Charlotte was getting a little love from a big therapy dog during a visit to British Columbia, Canada.

Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection/Getty Images

Prince Charles And Harvey

The look of love on Prince Charles' pet retriever Harvey's face says it all. These two were clearly living the life at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Hulton Deutsch/Corbis Historical/Getty Images

The Queen Mum And Young Prince Charles Bonding Over Pets

Please enjoy the Queen Mother hanging out with her dog and her grandson, a young Prince Charles, in 1950.

Lisa Sheridan/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images

Prince William, The Dog Tamer

Prince William and Prince Harry were all about dogs during a visit to meet the Spanish royal family in Majorca, Spain in 1987.

Anwar Hussein/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Meghan Markle Can't Get Enough Dog Love

Meghan Markle loves dogs so much that in 2018 she threw her patronage behind Mayhew, an animal charity that re-homes dogs in the United Kingdom.

EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP/Getty Images

Prince Harry + Puppies = Pure Joy

In 2010, pre-beard Prince Harry visited a Canine Training Center and looked like he fell in love with a sweet little puppy named Veyron.

WPA Pool/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Kate Middleton And Lucky Little Lupo

Before Kate Middleton became a mother of three, she was a dog mom to Lupo in 2011, the English cocker spaniel she shared with her her husband Prince William. She even took Lupo to polo charity events, although from the looks of this picture he wasn't watching.

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty Images

Corgi-In-Waiting

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip look like they're the ones standing to attention for this little corgi.

PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images

Even Queen Elizabeth Has To Put Her Dogs In A Time Out

In the photo, Queen Elizabeth is definitely giving this dog a time out when he gets back to Windsor Castle.

Anwar Hussein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Queen Mum Passing On The Dog Love

The Queen Mum taught young Prince Charles and Princess Anne how to treat dogs from a young age.

-/AFP/Getty Images

Princess Anne Taking The Leash

Princess Anne has a reputation for being outdoorsy, so when it came time to walk her dog at Gatcombe Park in 1974, of course she did it herself.

Patrice PICOT/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Young Princes With Their Dogs

Prince Andrew and Prince Edward take over corgi duty for their mother while she's busy being queen.

PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images

Anniversary With Dogs

Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 32nd anniversary with Prince Philip with a family portrait, including her dogs.

-/AFP/Getty Images

Passing The Leash

Princess Anne took her granddaughter, Mia Tindall, out to walk the family dog and let her hold the leash.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Two Royals With Two Little Puppies

Prince William and Kate Middleton greet adorable puppies in New Zealand in 2014.

Pool/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Camilla And Prince Charles Meet The Terriers

Maybe Camilla Parker and Prince Charles were considering a Jack Russell terrier after meeting these dogs in 2015.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

A Portrait Of Royal Women And A Dog

Princess Anne inherited her mother's determination and her love of dogs.

STF/AFP/Getty Images

Polo Playing And Corgis

Queen Elizabeth cheered Prince Philip on during a polo match with one of the corgis in tow in a quintessential royal combinations.

PA - PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images

Just A Dog Climbing On A Prince

Prince Harry was in formal attire for Remembrance Day in 2018 at Westminster Abbey, but he still let a dog climb up on him. Why not, right?

WPA Pool/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Sisters Bonding Over Dogs

Princess Margaret clearly loved dogs as much as her sister.

Paul Popper/Popperfoto/Popperfoto/Getty Images

Prince Harry Scratching A Dog

This sweet golden retriever got a little face scratch from the Duke of Sussex in October 2018. Lucky dog.

WPA Pool/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

The Look Of Love

Prince Harry was getting in some serious bonding time with a dog at the Invictus Games in 2017.

Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection/Getty Images

Putting Prince Harry To Work

Prince Harry stepped in to dry off this service dog in 2016 in Orlando because even royals bow down to canines.

Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection/Getty Images

Prince Harry Practicing His Uncle Skills

Prince Harry practiced his good uncle skills with Lupo, Prince William and Kate Middleton's dog, during a polo match in 2012.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

A Royal Back Scratch

In 2010, Prince Harry was visiting Africa and stopped to give this grateful dog a royal back scratch.

Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

Gingers Unite

Prince Harry's hair totally matches the fur of these dogs at Eton. And they all look super proud of that.

KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP/Getty Images

Prince William Hanging In Balmoral

Prince William looked happy to be hanging out with his dog by the river in Balmoral in 1997, sadly just a month before his mom died.

Anwar Hussein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

No Such Things As Too Many Dogs

There is obviously no such thing as too many dogs for Prince William, who was having the time of his life with all the hounds at the Badminton Horse Trials in 1991.

Anwar Hussein/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Prince William Walking A Dog

Prince William looked too happy to be walking a dog as a little boy.

Georges De Keerle/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Riding In Cars With Dogs

Queen Elizabeth shares the back seat with her corgi to head into Buckingham Palace.

And that's all you need to know about how much the royal family loves dogs.

Monty Fresco/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
134