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It started with a flurry of stubby legs, wagging tails, and wildly enthusiastic barking. A modest stretch of green turf turned into the stage for one of Britain’s quirkiest tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II: the annual Corgi Derby.
Under a cool grey Scottish sky at Musselburgh Racecourse, dozens of Pembroke Welsh Corgis—Queen Elizabeth’s famously favorite breed—lined up for the third year of this now cherished event. They weren’t there for pageantry or posing. They came to run.
The Corgi Derby, first introduced during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, has since become a heartwarming tribute to her life, her love for animals, and her very particular fondness for these low-to-the-ground, high-energy dogs. And while Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022, her presence was felt in every little pawprint on the turf this past weekend.
This year’s competition featured 16 corgis, each donning a custom-knit racing jumper in bold colors, with their names stitched across the back. They dashed—some more gracefully than others—across a 70-meter track set up on the same field where horses gallop in full stride just days later. It wasn’t exactly the Grand National, but it was charming, chaotic, and completely British.
The winner? A four-year-old corgi named Juno, whose short legs somehow managed to beat out returning champion Rodney in a final race that had the crowd on its feet. Juno’s owners, Edinburgh locals Alisdair Tew and Fran Brandon, could hardly contain their excitement.
“She’s always had a wild streak,” said Brandon, laughing. “We never really trained her for this. I think chasing seagulls on Portobello Beach might’ve been the real prep.”
Juno trotted proudly across the finish line, tongue flopping, to receive her prize: a silver cup filled with gourmet dog treats and an enthusiastic cuddle from none other than Judy Murray, tennis coach and mother to Andy Murray, who handed out the winner’s trophy with a grin.
“Only in Scotland would we crown a corgi queen like this,” Murray joked. “But I think Her Majesty would’ve been delighted.”
A Fitting Tribute to a Lifelong Love
Queen Elizabeth’s affection for corgis wasn’t just a cute detail about her life—it was a defining thread. Her first corgi, Susan, was given to her as an 18th birthday present by her parents in 1944. Susan accompanied the then-Princess Elizabeth on her honeymoon and was the matriarch of a royal corgi dynasty that lasted decades.
In all, the Queen owned over 30 corgis and dorgis (a dachshund-corgi mix she helped introduce), many of whom appeared with her in official portraits, family Christmas cards, and even that unforgettable sketch with Daniel Craig’s James Bond during the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
Her dogs weren’t just pets—they were family. It’s said they had their own footman, their own menu (with freshly prepared meats and vegetables), and lived a life most humans would envy. But more than that, they offered her quiet companionship during the solitude of royal life.
When the Queen passed away, two of her remaining corgis, Muick and Sandy, were adopted by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, who now care for them at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Events like the Corgi Derby, while playful on the surface, serve as a poignant reminder of how deeply personal some royal traditions can be.
A Crowd Full of Joy
Back at Musselburgh, it wasn’t just the dogs having fun. Children in paper crowns waved miniature Union Jacks as the corgis bounded toward the finish line. Elderly couples shared thermoses of tea while swapping stories about meeting the Queen or watching her corgis in royal newsreels.
“It’s such a lovely, silly thing,” said Margaret Glover, a 74-year-old from Glasgow who made the journey just to see the race. “The Queen was such a dignified woman, but she always seemed happiest when she was with her dogs. This just feels right.”
Even the handlers embraced the playful chaos. There was some cheating—one corgi turned and ran back to the starting line, another decided to lie down mid-race and sniff the grass—but no one minded. That was half the fun.
The event also raised money for local animal shelters, with proceeds from entry fees and on-site vendors supporting rescue organizations across Scotland. Volunteers walked around handing out leaflets on adoption and responsible pet ownership while handing out free dog biscuits to just about anyone with fur.
“We wanted it to be fun, of course,” said event organizer Rebecca Lyons, “but also meaningful. The Queen loved animals and cared deeply about their welfare. This is about continuing that spirit—not just honoring her, but doing some good too.”
More Than Just a Meme
While the internet was quick to latch onto the photos—dozens of low-slung bodies in rainbow sweaters, bounding across the grass—it’s not just a viral moment. The Corgi Derby has quietly become a touchstone of royal nostalgia, an annual reminder that beneath the crown, Queen Elizabeth II was a woman who adored her dogs.
And maybe that’s why the event works so well. It doesn’t try to mimic the grandeur of royal ceremonies or state occasions. It leans into something simpler, warmer, and far more relatable.
As the day wrapped up and the last tired corgi was carried off the field like a football star, you could feel something else in the air besides laughter—something closer to affection. For the dogs, yes, but also for the memory of a Queen who, for all her titles, was happiest with a dog leash in hand and muddy paw prints on her tweed skirt.
And as long as corgis are still sprinting for glory each spring, that memory will keep running right alongside them.
Source: @Today
