Rising costs

Demand for corgi puppies, Queen Elizabeth II's favourite dog breed, has surged in the UK following the monarch's death. This was reported by The Times newspaper on Monday.

Prices for corgis on the website Pets4Homes have risen to £6,000, three times their usual price, it said. "A price between £1,800 and £2,000 would be normal for a corgi puppy. Only speculators can set those prices now, not regular breeders, they are pretty reasonable," the publication quoted breeder Mary Davies as saying. Her corgi, called Timmy, was used as a sire for one of her Royal Corgi brood mates.

Her first dog, the future British Queen was given to her on her 18th birthday by her father, King George VI (1895-1952). It was a West Wales-bred Pembroke Welsh Corgi, named Susan. Ever since, Elizabeth has favoured the breed, and all her dogs are descendants of Susan, of whom she has had about 30 since her gift in 1944. The maximum number of Welsh Corgis owned by the Queen at one time was 13.

On the day of the Queen's funeral, Her Majesty was faithfully waited on the steps of the chapel at Windsor Castle by her last two corgis, Muick and Sandi, exactly one week ago. The footage was shown on all British TV channels. It was confirmed the same day that the dogs would be looked after by the Queen's middle son Prince Andrew.

Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8 at the age of 96, after which her body was flown to London with a stopover in Edinburgh.