Queen Camilla has suffered a heartbreaking loss after the death of one of her much-loved companions.
It has been revealed that her beloved Jack Russell dog Beth has died in a poignant post on the Royal Family’s official Instagram account. It is understood Beth had an untreatable tumour and had to be put down at the weekend. The social media post shows a charming picture of a casual Camilla out walking in the countryside with Beth in front of her with her lead tied to the Queen’s coat.
A post accompanying the treasured photo reads: “A sad farewell to Beth, The Queen’s much-loved companion from @Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire.”
Camilla shared this photo of Beth to announce her death ( Image: The Royal Family)
Charles and Camilla hold Beth and Camilla’s other dog Bluebell in 2020 ( Image: Clarence House via Getty Images)
In a series of other photo memories, Beth, who was 13, can be seen being cuddled alongside another dog cradled by the late TV presenter Paul O’Grady, with another snap showing her posing alongside Camilla’s other Jack Russell, Bluebell.
In another photo, Beth kisses King Charles’ nose, while the last memory shared shows how Beth once helped the Queen unveil a plaque on a royal visit. The Queen is facing the bereavement having only just returning to shortened engagements last week after falling ill with a nasty chest infection following her tour to Australia and Samoa.
Royal fans flooded the comments of the post to offer their condolences to Camilla. One wrote: “Such sad news. We know how much Queen Camilla loved Beth. Another said: “So sorry for your loss Your Majesty.” While one wrote: “Rest in peace Beth. Sending love to Her Majesty and the King.”
Camilla adopted Beth from Battersea Cats and Dogs home back in 2011 when she was just 12 weeks old after being found tied to a lamppost. The Queen previously told Radio 5 Live: “Along I went to Battersea, and Beth appeared, and she had just been moved from pillar to post and dumped.
King Charles gets a kiss from Beth ( Image: The Royal Family)
A year later she also adopted Beth’s companion, another Jack Russell called Bluebell. Camilla added: “We thought it would be nice for her [Beth] to have a friend. They found [Bluebell] two or three weeks later, wandering about in woods, no hair on her, covered in sores, virtually dead. And they nursed her back to life and her hair grew again.”
Both Beth and Bluebell made history two years ago when they both became the first rescue dogs to move into Buckingham Palace. In 2020, the two dogs appeared in a memorable snap shared to mark Charles and Camilla’s 15th wedding anniversary, with them both being cuddled by their owners during a trip to Birkhall in Balmoral.
That same year, Beth also took part in a historic first when she unveiled a plaque during Camilla’s first visit to the Battersea Dogs and Cats rescue centre Windsor branch. Camilla scooped Beth up in her arms and took her over to the plaque curtain, where a sausage had been attached to the rope cord. Laughing as Beth grabbed hold of the sausage and pulled, Camilla cheered “brilliant” as the curtain fell away, revealing the plaque.
Camilla and Beth with the late TV presenter Paul O’Grady
Last year at King Charles’ Coronation, the dogs weren’t present at the ceremony, however, Camilla made sure they were included in her big day. That’s because she had a dog design stitched into her Bruce Oldfield Coronation gown to represent her two beloved pets.
Peter Laurie, Battersea’s chief executive, said; “We’re very sad to hear that Beth, HM The Queen’s rescue dog, has sadly passed away. Her Majesty, our Patron, rehomed Beth from Battersea in 2011 and we have many fond memories of Beth visiting our centres over the years. Our thoughts are with Their Majesties at this time, we know how difficult it is to lose a beloved pet and Beth was very special indeed.”
The royals are known to all be dog lovers, keeping them as loyal pets. As the Prince of Wales, Charles also owned Jack Russells, including his beloved Tigga, who lived until the age of 18 and grew up with princes William and Harry. A willow and bronze wire sculpture of Tigga stands in tribute to the cherished pet in the gardens of Charles’s Gloucestershire home Highgrove. Tigga’s daughter Pooh went missing on the Balmoral estate in 1994 after running off into the trees, but was never found again.
The current Prince and Princess of Wales have a black English Cocker Spaniel called Orla, who has also accompanied them on outings and featured in an emotional family video where Kate announced the end of her chemotherapy treatment following her cancer diagnosis.
Harry and Meghan have three dogs – beagles Guy and Mamma Mia as well as a labrador called Pula. Of course, the late Queen was known for her love of corgis and her two pets at the time of her death, Sandy and Muick, now live at Royal Lodge with Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, along with their other five Norfolk Terriers.
